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The information below summarizes basic health information and policies for BFS students.
• Annual physical exam and other medical forms: Brooklyn Friends School policy requires all students to have a physical examination before the beginning of each school year. It is also essential for parents to complete and return all additional required student health forms to the School Nurse by the due date. Without these forms on file, students cannot participate in school activities and may not attend school.
• Medications and prescriptions: Medication (prescription and/or non-prescription) may be dispensed only by the School Nurse. Written parental permission, a written physician’s order, and a properly labeled pharmacy container are required. Students are not permitted to have or take their own prescription or over-the counter medications, with certain exceptions that must be documented in the nursing office. If your child has a chronic or critical medical condition such as diabetes, asthma, or allergies that requires medication at hand, you must provide the appropriate action plan and authorizations.
• Colds and ‘viruses’: Young children tend to get colds and viruses. If, upon waking, your child has the beginning symptoms of a cold, upset stomach or the flu, your child must be kept at home. If your child is not feeling well, he/she will not have the energy to participate fully in our program. Also, keeping a sick child home will help control the spread of illness.
• The 24-hour rule: Children who have been ill should be without fever, vomiting, or diarrhea for a full 24 hours before returning to school to prevent the spread of disease - if your child has been ill during the night or previous evening, please keep him/her home. Please take your child’s temperature if you have any question as to whether he/she has a fever.
• Reporting contagious diseases, including flu: If your child has contracted strep, flu, conjunctivitis, chicken pox, measles, etc., please inform the School Nurse immediately so that we can try to prevent the spread of these extremely communicable diseases.
• Controlling viral illnesses: Please reinforce with your children these guidelines (from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)) for limiting the spread of viral illnesses:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, or elbow, not into your hands.
- Dispose of used tissues in the trash promptly;
- Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing by washing with soap and water, or with hand sanitizer.
- Keep your hands off your face – it is a portal for bacteria and viruses to enter your body.
- Wash hands thoroughly before eating, and after using the bathroom.
- Do not share food or drink with others.
• Becoming ill at school: If a student becomes ill while at school, parents will be called and are expected to make arrangements for the child to be picked up promptly. In the event that parents cannot be reached, we will phone the emergency contact. It is essential that parents determine the willingness and ability of the emergency person to pick up your child and to act for the family before designating that person or persons.
• Lice and nit policy: BFS has a “No Nits” policy. If a child is found to have head lice or nits, you will be called, and the child will be sent home for treatment and nit removal. In addition to screening by the School Nurse, Licenders comes to the school three times a year to check students for head lice. Children who have been treated need clearance from the School Nurse before returning to the classroom.
• Accident / Injury at school: In the event of a serious injury, the school will contact the parents immediately and when necessary act in accordance with the Emergency Care Authorization that parents sign (part of the BFS Health Form), giving the school permission to administer first aid, to contact the child’s physician for medical instructions, and to take the child to the nearest hospital for necessary care. All accidents/injuries that occur at school or during school-sponsored activities must be reported to the School Nurse, and parents will be informed. If you take your injured child to a physician or hospital, a note documenting care and activity restrictions must be provided to the school.
• Accident / injury outside school: The Nurse must be informed about any significant accident or injury (sprain, broken bone, black eye, etc.) that your child has had outside school, so that appropriate care, elevator permission, etc. can be provided. If your child has seen a physician for such injury, the school requires a note to document both the injury and any restrictions on activity.
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