Student Health Care

The Department of Education Western Australia promotes student health, manages student health care needs and identifies and minimizes health risks, within the context of the schools’ resources and the assistance available from specialist services.

The provision of health care is necessary to promote and maintain the health and wellbeing of all children. Health care provision includes:
  • promoting the health, safety and welfare of all children;
  • managing the health care needs of students who require health care support while under the school’s supervision;
  • informing and preparing staff to manage student health care needs, and respond to health emergencies; and
  • providing staff with access to advice, resources and training when planning to meet the health care needs of students
Student Health Care Summaries
Parents are asked each year to update and complete a Student Health Care Summary for each of your children.  This is essential in ensuring we have the most up to date information regarding the health conditions of your children whilst they are in our care during the school day at our school.

Immunisation
On enrolment at the school parents are asked to show their child's Immunisation Record.  Immunisation provides children the best possible protection against childhood diseases and the school on enrolment checks records.

During any epidemics, where a student has not been immunised the school Principal has the right to exclude the children from school until such time that the outbreak after the last case has been identified in the school.

Medical Emergencies
Principals will develop plans for medical emergencies as a part of the school’s risk management strategy.

In a medical emergency, principals will:
  • organise medical attention for the student; and
  • make appropriate transport arrangements.
Staff providing assistance during a medical emergency, will:
  • promptly record all actions taken; and
  • inform parents and the principal of the actions taken.
Should a student require medical attention during school hours, you will be contacted to decide upon the necessary action to be taken. 

Medical Conditions
It is a parent/guardian responsibility to notify the school, in writing, of any conditions affecting their children, which could possibly require the administration of emergency medications (eg asthma, diabetes, bee sting allergy etc).  In such cases the school will develop an Emergency Management Plan, which will cater for the possible need to administer emergency medications.

Food Allergies
There are varying degrees of reaction for people who suffer from food allergies at school.  The most common food allergy is to peanuts and nut products. Some people are so sensitive that they can have a reaction after touching another person who has eaten peanuts, while some feel unwell whilst in the room where peanuts have been opened.  Some people have a mild reaction, which might include an itchy rash, tingling on the lips, tongue or roof of mouth, stomach pain, diarrhoea or sickness. 

However, some people have a more serious reaction (anaphylaxis), which may include facial swelling, difficulty breathing, weakness, and/or collapse, causing serious medical concern.

Peanut butter sandwiches are not offered for sale from the canteen and teachers have been advised to remove peanut products from use in any lessons e.g. cooking. One of the major causes of concern is with children sharing food items at school. Staff members discourage all children from sharing food and explicitly educate them about possible hazards with this practice.  We ask for your support with this initiative through reminding your children to only eat their own food.  We also request that as a parent you do not include peanuts or peanut products in your child’s lunch box.

All staff will have access to current information on this allergy, and the steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.  

Administration of Medication
School staff are required to comply with reasonable requests for assistance in the administration of medication to students at school.  Such requests will be formalised through the completion of an Administration of Medication Form. There is a legal requirement that proper documentation will be maintained by the school to show the authority to administer medications and provide a record of all doses given. 

It is assumed that parents and prescribing doctors will make every reasonable attempt to schedule the doses outside of school hours.  Staff may only administer medication under written direction from a medical practitioner and a parent/guardian.  A specific form available from the Front Office is required to be completed and signed prior to the administration of any medication.

We do not keep analgesics or non-prescription drugs at school to administer to children.

School Health Nurse
A School Health Nurse based at Community Health in Williams (08) 9885 1006 visits Darkan Primary School on a regular basis.  With parent consent she carries out a full health appraisal for all four year olds. 

This check includes:    
  • Vision screening test
  • Hearing screening test
  • Assessment of coordination, posture and gait, and fine motor skills
  • Speech and Language Skills
Parents will be notified so they can be present at the assessment.  Parents are welcome to contact the School Health Nurse at any time during the school year, to discuss any concerns regarding child health.  Please leave a message at the Front Office.

The main focus of the nurse's role is to foster self-responsibility so that students can begin to take control of their own health.  Health promotion activities undertaken by the nurse place emphasis on students learning to make appropriate decisions about their own health needs in order to develop healthy lifestyles.

Dental Van
The mobile dental caravan visits the school once a year.  The teeth of all children are checked and, subject to parent approval, are repaired free of charge while the dental team is at the school.  They can be contacted at any time on 0428 984 100.

Head Lice
Head lice are an inevitable part of school life. Outbreaks of head lice occur from time to time during the school year and are frequently identified during the primary school years where children are often in very close contact with each other.  Infestation also occurs outside the school in the home and community.

The school will contact parents of children with head lice.  A generic note will then be sent home to the other children in the class, requesting parents to check for head lice in their children and treat where necessary.

There are various treatments recommended by the Health Department for head lice.  For information, please contact the school or the Health Department website:  www.health.wa.gov.au/headlice

Sun Safe
The school has a no hat - no play in the sun policy which operates all year.  Use of sunscreen in conjunction with wearing a hat is recommended. Sunscreen is available to students in the undercover area in Term 1 and 4. The bucket hats will be worn every term during the year.

 

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