HEALTH & SAFETY

ACCIDENTS & SICKNESS

No matter how close teacher supervision is maintained, accidents do happen. Wherever possible, the parent/guardian is contacted immediately. If the accident is considered sufficiently serious, the Ambulance may be called.

If a child falls ill at school, the parent/guardian is notified so that adequate parental (or medical, if necessary) attention can be provided.

DENTAL SERVICE

A mobile dental clinic visits Fortitude Valley State School annually. Easy access is therefore readily available for our students.

FIRE DRILL

Regular Fire Drills are held with a preliminary practice each year where children new to the school are instructed in the safest route to take and required conduct.

Consequent practices are held throughout the year on a term basis and children are not given any prior warning.

SCHOOL HEALTH NURSE

A Registered Nurse from the State Department of Child Health visits the school annually to examine vision, hearing and spines of the children at specified year levels. Parents are notified if further medical advice should be sought.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

A LIST OF Infectious Diseases and necessary actions listed below. Whenever in doubt please contact the school.

CHICKEN POX                     Exclude until all symptoms of the disease are gone

MUMPS                                 Exclude until all symptoms of the disease are gone

RUBELLA                              Exclude until all symptoms of the disease are gone

(German Measles)

MEASLES                             Exclude for at least seven (7) days from the 

Appearance of rash or until a medical certificate of recovery is produced.

IMPETIGO                              Exclude until treatment is obtained. The child may (School Sores)                    be allowed to return provided that appropriate

treatment is being applied and that sores on exposed surfaces such as face, hands or legs are properly covered with occlusive dressings.

RING WORM / SCABIES     Readmit when appropriate treatment has commenced.

DIPHTHERIA                         Readmit after receipt of a medical certificate of recovery.

VIRAL HEPATITIS                Readmit after receipt of a medical certificate of recovery.

WHOOPING COUGH           Exclude for four weeks from onset of illness and until a medical certificate of recovery is produced. Exclude domiciliary contacts for 21 days after the last exposure to infection if attending a pre-school, and if the child has not previously had Whooping Cough. Do not exclude contacts from any other class or school.

HEAD LICE                           Parents are advised that it is their responsibility to

                                                treat the problem of head lice if it occurs.

MEDICATION

The basic requirements are listed below:-

Because of the risk of:-

            a) the wrong dose being administered or

b) the medicine going to the wrong child very specific guidlelines have been given by the Crown Law Office

In this school the following action has been taken:-

·        All medication and all requests dealing with the application of medication is dealt with by one of the Administration team or another person who is usually located in the Administration Office.

·        One register covering all children will be maintained in the Office.

·        All medication will be administered by one of the Administration team or another person who is usually located in the Administration Office NOT by class teachers or by individual children.

What does this mean to parents?

·        It means that all requests for administration of medicine MUST be in writing.

·        If the medication is one prescribed by a doctor, clear instructions by the doctor or the pharmacist must either be on

      the bottle/ packet or in a separate advice. This should include the date     

      of cessation of medication.

·        All medication including syrup, analgesics, sprays and puffers must be handed to a teacher who in turn will pass it/ them onto the Administration team.

·        If other arrangements are required in relation to asthma sprays please detail in writing.

·        Under no circumstances is medication of any kind to be kept in school bags.

·        Teachers will be asked to assist in reminding children of the time for application when they will report to the Administration Office. Children will be expected to become self motivating in this regard.

·        If medication is to be administered at home, and this is very probable, either two sets of medication (sprays etc) will be required or the medication will need to be halved.

            May I therefore appeal to parents to request doctors to restrict prescriptions requiring administration during school hours to those deemed vital for the maintenance of the functional level of the body.

Further, for the non-prescribed medication, consideration should be given to application at home, immediately before and/ or after school hours.