What is a life-threatening health condition? A life-threatening health condition puts the child in danger of death during the school day without medication or treatment and a nursing plan in place. Life-threatening health conditions include:
Diabetes
Severe allergies (bees, peanuts, etc.)
Epilepsy / seizure disorder
Severe asthma
Cardiac / heart conditions
Reporting the condition or illness Parents/guardians of students with life-threatening conditions must inform the school and work with the school nurse and the student’s health care provider to create a health care plan. Planning ahead helps schools to be equipped and prepared to care for students in emergency health situations.Parents / guardians must:
Report the life-threatening condition on the nurse alert form
Complete the authorization to administer medication form if student needs medication at school
Complete the health care plan that is specific to the student’s illness, if applicable
Diabetes Disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin. Parents/guardians of students with diabetes must report the condition on the nurse alert form. They must also complete these forms:
Diabetes health care plan
Diabetes health care provider medication order form (for insulin)
Severe allergies Serious abnormal reactions of the body, which are potentially life-threatening. This includes allergies to bees, nuts, milk / dairy, shellfish and wheat or gluten. Parents / guardians of students with a severe allergy must report the condition on the nurse alert form and complete an allergy health care plan in cooperation with the student’s health care provider and school nurse. The authorization to administer epinephrine form must also be completed if the student needs an epipen at school. Epilepsy / Seizure disorder Disorder of the nervous system, characterized either by mild, episodic loss of attention (petit mal) or by severe convulsions with loss of consciousness (grand mal). Parents / guardians of students with seizure disorders must report the condition on the nurse alert form and agree to the school district’s standard seizure health care plan or complete a modified health care plan in cooperation with the student’s health care provider and school nurse. Severe asthma Chronic respiratory disease, characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction and coughing. Parents / guardians of students with severe asthma must report the condition on the nurse alert form and complete an asthma health care plan in cooperation with the student’s health care provider and school nurse. Cardiac / heart conditions A condition in which the heart cannot perform its proper function. Parents/guardians of students with heart conditions must report the condition on the nurse alert form. If the student needs medication while at school, an authorization to administer medication form must be completed by the student’s health care provider. Giving medication The authorization to administer medication form must be completed in order to allow students to have prescription or nonprescription medication at school. One form is required per medication. If a student self carries medication while at school, an authorization to administer medication form must be filled out by the student’s health care provider and be on file at school. Communicating with the health care provider Parents / guardians are encouraged to complete the authorization for release of records/information form to allow the school nurse to contact your student’s health care provider with questions or concerns about their care.