Emergencies and Health Care
Emergencies and Health Care
Emergency Information
During an emergency, notifications will be sent via ParentSquare via text message, overriding any notification preferences that may have been set. In addition, paper emergency information cards are kept in the office. All student emergency contact information should be updated annually via the Annual Information Update in August. Emergency contacts should live or work in the immediate area. Please advise your emergency contacts that they may be required to pick up your child in the event of an emergency or illness if you cannot be reached.
Please notify the office immediately or update in PowerSchool Parent Portal any changes in emergency information, such as changes in contact information, physician, residence, or emergency contacts.
Student Accidents and Emergencies
The following are the first aid and accident procedures:
- All major accidents are reported to the office.
- Each teacher has a First Aid Kit in the classroom for minor injuries.
- Students with more serious injuries or illnesses are sent to the health office for initial evaluation by the health clerk or school secretary.
- The nurse and parents are contacted in an emergency situation.
- If the parent cannot be reached, the emergency contact person will be called.
- If the office determines that the child is in need of immediate emergency care, 911 will be called and the child may be transported to the hospital emergency room or physician's office. Please make sure the office has current phone numbers.
Emergency School Closing
In the event that school must be closed due to weather conditions or other emergencies, up-to-date information will be shared from the district office via ParentSquare.
In the event that LGUSD is unable to communicate via ParentSquare, information will be shared via the Emergency Broadcast Systems stations:
Local Area Television Station
KNTV 432-4780 (Channel 3)
Local Area Radio Stations
KSCO (810 AM), KCBS (740 AM)
Student Emergency Release Procedures
Staff is extensively trained to assist students during emergencies. Please do not come to the school site until instructed by the school or the district office. Please refer to the communications shared by LGUSD for updated information. It should also be noted that phones may not be answered in the event of an emergency.
The first person who arrives at the school and is listed on the emergency card will be able to sign out and leave with your student. We make a note of who signs a student out and their destination so that a parent/guardian will know how to locate their child.
If instructed to pick up your child, please follow the protocol:
- Bring I.D. (driver’s license or passport). This is critically important to ensure that the students are released only to authorized people.
- Know whom you are picking up. Remember that once the child is released to an authorized adult, that adult is now responsible for that child.
- Park in a safe off-campus location. Do not block driveways, gates, or parking lot drive-throughs.
- Walk onto the campus. The school will already be following its emergency procedures. Calmly follow the directions of the staff.
- After signing out the children, we ask that you leave the campus immediately.
Illness
Any child with a fever (100.0 degrees or higher), who does not appear alert, or is not well enough to play outside, will be sent home. If your child has been absent due to an illness, s/he must be free of fever (without medication), episodes of vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, or diarrhea for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school. If your child has a rash, please do not send her or him to school until your healthcare provider has stated that your child is not contagious. Do not send your child to school if s/he is sick.
In the event a student tests positive for COVID, the current guidance is to stay home/in isolation for 5 calendar days. When the five days have elapsed and the student is feeling better, they may return to school. A negative test is not required.
School Nurse
The district nurse travels to all school sites during the week. She can be reached by phone (408 335-2074) for parent and staff questions and concerns. During the nurse's time on each campus, she conducts mandated hearing, vision, and other health screenings, follow-up checks, participates in Special Education assessments and oversees the fifth-grade Growth and Development Program.
Hearing and Vision Screening
Students in grades K, 2, 5, and special education classes are given hearing screenings each Fall. If a student fails a retest, the parent will be contacted. Vision screening is conducted in the Spring for students in grades 1,3,5, and special education classes. Parents are notified of any deviations from normal. This screening does not replace the more complete examination by your eye physician.
Medication
Students with chronic or acute illnesses may require prescribed or over-the-counter medication during school hours in order to benefit from their educational program. The California Education Code, Section 49423 states "any pupil required to take during the regular school day, medication prescribed for him by a physician, may be assisted by the school nurse or other designated school personnel if the school district receives: A written statement from such physician detailing the method, amount and time schedules by which such medication is to be taken, AND a written statement from the parent or guardian of the pupil indicating the desire that the school district assist the pupil in the matters set forth in the physician's statement."
The Education Code regulations include over-the-counter products. All medication must be administered through the health office, whether prescribed or over-the-counter. All medication needs to be in its original container labeled with the name of the student, physician, and medication. Specific directions for use must be included. "Take as directed" is not acceptable.
Compliance is important to the health and safety of all students. The appropriate Medication Authorization form allows for consultation between the school nurse and physician regarding medication side effects and possible adverse reactions. Parents are required to provide a sufficient supply of medication.
Students with allergic reactions requiring immediate attention should complete the Allergy Action Plan form. The District Nurse will contact families for further instructions.
Head Lice Policy
Head lice are a misunderstood nuisance health problem. Early precautions may prevent outbreaks of head lice in the school. The following is some basic information about head lice. Infestation can happen to anyone, any age, and either sex. It is not a sign of poor health habits or being dirty.
Head lice are tiny insects that live on human hair. They hatch from small eggs, called nits, which are attached to the base of individual hairs. The eggs hatch in approximately seven to ten days, with new lice reaching maturity in about two weeks. The mature lice proceed to lay more eggs. Signs to look for, if concerned about an infestation, are persistent scratching of the head and back of the neck, scratch marks or rash on the scalp, and nits attached to the hair.
Once head lice have been identified, the condition needs to be addressed promptly to prevent the spread to others. There are a variety of over-the-counter preparations that are effective when used according to directions (NIX and RID are two). The use of products to help remove nits from the hair has not been found to be effective.
Once the lice and nits have been removed from the hair and scalp, the problem of re-infestation may still exist unless all articles that may contain live lice or nits, such as clothes, towels, and bed linens, stuffed animals, hair decorations, are washed in HOT water and detergent and dried using the HOT cycle of the dryer (20 minutes), dry cleaned or placed in a sealed plastic bag for a period of 2-3 weeks. Combs and brushes need to be washed in a pediculicide solution. The use of spray products to treat items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned is NOT effective. Items that cannot be washed, such as carpets, car upholstery, mattresses, and sofas should be vacuumed thoroughly.
If school personnel observe live lice or nits on your child's head, you will be notified immediately and s/he will need to be picked up from school. After the initial treatment and removal of ALL nits from the hair, your child may return to school.
If you discover head lice, it is important that you notify the school so your child's class can be checked for other cases. Parents of your child's friends, scout groups, and teams where a helmet or hat is shared, should also be notified.
Animals do not carry human head lice.