Health Services

ALLERGIES: An increasing number of students have mild to severe allergic reactions to food, insect stings or environmental products. We hope to work together to keep all of our students safe at school. We ask that all students with food allergies have a Food Allergy Action Plan (FAAP) from their physician, on file at school. Students are allowed and encouraged to carry their own emergency medications (EpiPen, Benadryl, etc) or they may be stored the school office. Please contact us if you have questions regarding allergies in the school setting. See also link for Emergency Medical Form here.

ASTHMA: We ask that all students with asthma have a rescue inhaler at school. See medication form above, as this will need to be filled out for any medications being kept at school. Our district policy regarding students being allowed to self-carry emergency medications differs from building to building. At the elementary level (Y5-5), we ask that these medications are kept in the office at all times. We have staff in all buildings that are trained to respond to an emergency situation. At the Middle and High School level, students are allowed to carry their own inhalers as long as a medication form (see above) has been completed stating that the student is able and responsible enough to administer the medication without assistance. Please contact us for more specific information regarding asthma management at school.

As a school community we try to minimize the spread of communicable disease by encouraging frequent hand washing and through the regular cleaning of community surfaces. Parents can also help by keeping students home if they exhibit the following symptoms (please see links below for further guidance):

• Fever: Children should be kept home from school if they have a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or above (orally). Children should not return to school until they have been fever-free, without medication, for at least 24 hours.

• Vomiting: In general, children should not return to school until 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting.

• Diarrhea: If a child has had 2 or more episodes of diarrhea within a 24-hour period, they should stay home for at least 24 hours after the last episode of loose stools.

• Rash: Any illness involving a rash should be evaluated by a health care professional.

• Ear or Eye Discharge: This could be a sign of a bacterial infection and should be evaluated by a health care professional.

• Severe Sore Throat: This may indicate strep throat and should be evaluated by a health care professional.

• Flu/Covid like Symptoms: Sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, runny nose, mild sore throat and severe cough. Please seek medical advice for possible testing and contact the school. For Flu, children should not return to school until they have been fever-free, without medication, for at least 24 hours. For Covid, the 1st day of onset of symptoms is day 0, they should stay home for five days and return on day 6 with a mask through day 10.

Any student exhibiting any of these symptoms will be sent home based on the guidelines established by the Washtenaw County Public Health Department.

Parents please report illness to the school office when a child is absent. Each school has a link to their schools reporting form on their website. Please report symptoms, especially respiratory concerns, fever and vomiting as well as any confirmed diagnosis (Strep throat, pink eye, impetigo, etc.) on this form, or call the office This helps us know when to notify other families about illness and also helps us track illness trends at school. This information is also reported weekly to the local health department and is used to track illness trends in our county.

The following is a guideline for some common childhood illnesses and infections.

Exclusion Recommendations

• Chickenpox (Varicella) -Until all lesions are crusted over and until at least 6 days after appearance of first lesion.

• Conjunctivitis (pink eye), bacterial - Until there is no drainage from eye and after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment

• Fifth Disease - May return to school when feeling better

• Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease - Until recovered from acute illness and fever-free for 24 hours

• Impetigo - Minimum of 24 hours of antibiotic and until lesions are dry.

• ​Mononucleosis - Upon recommendation of health care provider

• Ringworm - Minimum of 24 hours of treatment, area should be covered. Don't use steroid creams on this.

• Scabies - May return upon completion of health care provider prescribed treatment

• ​Scarlet Fever - May return if feeling better and after 24 hours minimum of antibiotic treatment

• Strep Throat - May return if feeling better and after 24 hours minimum of antibiotic treatment

• Pediculosis (Head Lice) - Refer to Infestation Menu Bar

MORE RESOURCES:

Common Communicable Disease Guidance (Washtenaw County Health Department) - Information on common childhood diseases and when an infected individual can be readmitted to school.

Common Communicable Disease Guidance

Food Allergy Action Plan

Immunization Requirements for Kindergarten, 7th Grade and new students

Immunization Requirements for Preschool and Childcare Centers

Immunization Translation

Protect pre-teens and teens from serious disease (information pamphlet)

Vision Screening

SRSLY

Hearing and Vision Screening is provided in Chelsea School District by the Washtenaw County Public Health Department.

Vision Screenings: Each child is tested for: visual acuity, farsightedness, ability to use two eyes together and symptoms of eye problems

• Preschool
• Vision Screening
• Young 5's Kindergarten
• Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
• Students new to Michigan
• Special education students​

Hearing Screenings: Hearing screenings are done with the use of an audiometer and other equipment based on the child's needs.

• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• Grades 2, 4
• Students new to Michigan
• Special education students

In the event that a student becomes ill and needs to be sent home during school hours, the parent or guardian will be contacted. Chelsea School District follows the guidelines established by the Washtenaw County Health Department when making a decision to send a student home due to illness.

Please refer to the Communicable Diseases tab for more detailed information, regarding illnesses and the different guidelines we follow for each

In general, students considered well enough to attend school are expected to participate in all school activities including outdoor recess. If a student has limitations due to illness or injury that prohibit them from participating in regular classroom, recess and/or physical education activities, documentation from the physician outlining the restrictions and a timeline for the restrictions is required. In addition, students absent from school are expected not to participate in extracurricular activities that day. This helps prevent the spread of illness to others.

IMMUNIZATIONS

School Entry Immunization Documentation Requirements
    
Immunization Requirements for Kindergarten, 7th Grade and New Students
     
Preschool Immunization Requirements

Vaccine-preventable diseases continue to occur in Michigan, and may result in disability or death. Immunization is a powerful cost-effective measure to protect children from disease. To prevent outbreaks from occurring in school settings and other places where children congregate, a high percentage of children must be immunized.

Since 1978 Michigan Law requires that each student upon entry into kindergarten or into a new school district involving grades 1‐12 possess a certificate of immunization at the time of registration and no later than the first day of school. Additionally, an immunization assessment must be completed for each seventh grade student. These laws were implemented to ensure that children are adequately immunized against vaccine‐preventable diseases prior to achieving adolescence.

Prior to a child entering or attending school, parents or guardians are required to produce documentation confirming their child has received all required immunizations, or in the alternative, their child has received at least one dose of each required immunization and is awaiting receipt of subsequent doses to be administered at appropriate intervals. There are also provisions to waive vaccines under certain circumstances. If you have a kindergarten student, a seventh grade student, or are enrolling a student who is new to the school district or new to a private school you must present immunization documentation to your school at the time you register that student or not later than the first day of school.

Immunization Translation

Protect Pre-Teens and Teens from Serious Diseases Pamphlet

Vaccines for Uninsured Children

Where can I get my child immunized?

Washtenaw County Public Health - or call 734-544-6700 to schedule an appointment.

Immunization Waiver Information

In December, 2014, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules for the state of Michigan approved a new educational requirement for Michigan parents opting their children out of getting vaccinated before entering school.

The new rule allows parents/guardians to have the opportunity to speak with a health educator from their local health department about their concerns and questions regarding immunizations prior to the nonmedical waiver being signed.

Any parent/guardian who wants to claim a nonmedical waiver will need to receive education regarding the benefits of vaccination and the risks of disease from a county health department before obtaining the certified nonmedical waiver form through the Local Health Department. The new rule requires the use of the State of Michigan nonmedical waiver form dated January 1, 2015.

MDCH Communicable and Related Diseases Administrative Rules

Claiming a Nonmedical Waiver for Michigan Schools and Licensed Childcares (key points for parents/guardians)

New School and Licensed Childcare Rule for Claiming a Nonmedical Waiver for Immunizations (frequently asked questions for parents/guardians)

For more detailed information regarding Immunizations for Preschool and K-12, please refer to this link

Procedures in progress.

· Head Lice Manual

· Washtenaw County Public Health Department Fact Sheet - Fact Sheet for Parents (English)

· Bed Bug Website

Comprehensive information on bed bugs provided by the Michigan Dept of Community Health.

Emergency procedures are in place for injury and illness that occur during school hours. Whenever an injury occurs at school that is serious enough to require the attention of a health care provider, the parent or guardian will be contacted immediately to pick up the student from school. If the parent cannot be reached, the individuals listed on the student’s emergency card will be contacted. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, the emergency medical service will be contacted first along with our Emergency Response Teams.

Whenever possible, medication should be given at home either before or after school hours. This minimizes the time a student must be away from the classroom. We understand, however, that there are times when it is necessary for students to take medication at school.

Medications fall under two categories: prescription and non-prescription (over-the counter). Both types require a medication permission form to be filled out with the following information before medication can be administered at school.

• First and last name of student
• Name of medication to be given
• Dosage, route and time to be given
• Date
• Parent signature (for all medications)
• Medication forms are available in the school office or on the school website.
  
  Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization

• All medications must be brought into school in the original container and stored in the school office. Prescription medications must be brought into school in a current pharmacy-labeled container. If there is a change in the prescription or if the prescription is discontinued, documentation from the physician is required. Non- prescription medications including pain relievers, topical medications, eye drops and cough drops must also be brought into school and stored in the office with the appropriate paperwork.
• Medication cannot be stored in the school office over the summer months. It should be picked up at the end of the school year by a parent or guardian.

SRSLY Resource Guide