Health Information

BACK TO SCHOOL! 

I am so excited to spend another year with all of our students, parents and staff at CCA! As always, if your child has any medical conditions I should be aware of, please email me or find me in my office. For the 2024-2025 Academic Year, I will be at the school every Tuesday and Wednesday from 7a-4p. My office hours are M-F from 6:30am-8:30pm. If you have an emergent need, my cell phone and email are always open for any questions, concerns or assistance needed. I normally respond within a few hours, however, please expect up to 24 hours to receive a response from me. I look forward to another safe and healthy year at CCA! 
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The How Sick Is Too Sick  document provided by the State of Colorado has been updated below in the Folders section to reflect our new data on COVID-19 and RSV in children. For those that have questions about RSV, you can find a FAQ sheet below as well. Please read and let me know if you have any questions on the changes! 


August is Children's Vision Health and Saferty Month! 

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Health ServicesMrs. Nighswonger

School Nurse
The roles and responsibilities of the school nurse include:
Ensuring that health needs of students are addressed during the school day
Managing communicable disease outbreaks
Directing the immunization program
Overseeing delegated nursing tasks
Developing and implementing Health Care Plans
Being a liaison between teachers, administrators, parents, and community health providers
Providing for the care of acute health care needs, including emergencies
Conducting health assessments
Participating in the identification process of children with special needs
Overseeing vision and hearing screening programs

First Aid/Illness
Students needing medical attention shall report to the health room or main office.  Health service personnel are not always available; all CCA staff is trained in first aid/CPR with several trained in medication administration. Keep contact information up to date so we can reach you quickly if your child becomes sick or injured. When determining if your child is too sick for school, refer to the How Sick is Too Sick document below. This document is extremely helpful as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, the symptoms and quarantine guidelines. 

Medications at School
Prescription Medications: Student requiring prescription medications to be administered by school personnel must have a Permission for Medication Form signed by the physician and parent. The medication must be in its original pharmacy issued container. 
ALL MEDICATIONS WILL BE SECURELY STORED IN THE HEALTH OFFICE. 

Over-the-counter medications: Comfort medicine may be given only if Permission for Medication Form is signed by the physician and parents/guardian. The medication must be in its original container with current expiration date.

Emergency Medication: Students who need to carry asthma inhalers or epi-pens may do so as long as there is a Health Action Plan signed by a healthcare provider on file in the health office. Health Care Plans for Severe Allergies, Diabetes, Asthma, and Seizures are available from the school nurse or from the CCA website. 

Immunization Requirements
Colorado State Immunization Requirements for school enrollment are provided to parents annually. Colorado follows the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) for immunization requirements. Non-medical (religion/personal) exemptions must be updated annually (Colorado Board of Health rule 6 CCR 1009-2). Forms are available on-line or from school nurse. CCA utilizes the Colorado immunization Information System (CIIS), a confidential, secure, statewide immunization registry to verify immunization status. No information is entered into the CIIS system.  Please contact your school nurse for further information.

Permission for Health Advisory/Need to Know
School nurses develop a Student Health List and/or a Health Care Action Plan from the Health History form in the registration packet. All information is confidential and is shared only on a need-to-know basis. Alert the school nurse if you do not want your student’s medical information shared with appropriate school personnel. 

Permission for Emergency Care
In the event of a medical emergency CCA staff will render emergency aid and/or transportation to a medical facility, as needed. Costs incurred are at the expense of the family. Every effort will be made to contact the family in such a situation.  If this practice concerns you, contact the school administrator. Please keep emergency contact information current with the school. 

Screenings 
Parents/guardians may opt out of routine non-emergency screenings provided by CCA.  Current screenings include hearing and vision. Contact your school if you do not want you child to participate in these screenings. Parents are encouraged to have physical and dental examinations for their school-aged child before entering school and again before 4th and 7th grade. 

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