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Health Documents

Health documents for varying conditions can be found here.

PEANUT POLICY

General Health Information

If your child has special health care needs, requires medication and/or treatments during the school day, or has a chronic health care condition (such as anaphylactic allergy, asthma, diabetes, seizure, etc.) please contact the school nurse/aide who will give you the necessary forms to be completed by you and your primary care physician. This will allow us to provide a safe and stable environment for your child while at school.

Illness: Student attendance is important. We want students in school as much as possible. However, if your child is ill, please keep him/her home so other students and staff are not exposed. When a child becomes ill while at school, a determination will be made whether the child requires exclusion. Harrisburg School District follows recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the South Dakota Department of Health.

Children should be excluded for the following illnesses:

  • Illness thatprevents the child from participating comfortably in program activities.
  • Illness that results in agreater need for care than the staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children.
  • Fever of 100.0 or greater, lethargy, irritability, persistent crying, difficult breathingand/or other manifestations of possible severe illness.
  • Persistent abdominal pain(continuous for more than two hours) or intermittent abdominal pain associated with fever, dehydration, or other systemic signs or symptoms.
  • Chicken Pox (Varicella): Exclude until rash or lesions have crusted over.
  • Diarrhea exclude while symptomatic only if person is unable to practice independent hygiene or for stools that contain blood or mucus.Haemophilus Influenzae, type B invasive (Hib): exclude until after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment
  • HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or other blood borne diseases:generally no exclusion; considerations may exist if potential for blood borne exposure exists. Consult healthcare provider for guidance.
  • E. Coli 0157:H7 or Shigella infection: exclude until diarrhea resolves and two stool cultures are negative.
  • Hepatitis A virus infection: exclude until one week after onset of illness or jaundice (if symptoms are mild).
  • Influenza and Influenza-like Illness: exclude as long as fever ≥ 100 degrees Fahrenheit is present in an un-medicated state. Additional exclusions may be necessary for documented novel strain or pandemic influenza based on state or federal guidance.
  • Measles: exclude until four days after onset of rash.
  • Meningococcal disease (Neisseria meningitides): exclude until after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): exclude only if confirmed MRSA is present from a wound in which drainage is occurring and cannot be covered and contained.
  • Mumps: exclude until five days after the onset of parotid gland swelling.
  • Pinkeye, scabies, head lice, ring worm, herpes gladiatorum, mollescum contagiosum, and skin rashes without fever: Generally no exclusion; consideration may exist for certain sports, extracurricular activities or behaviors that might increase risk of transmission. Consult healthcare provider for guidance..
  • Rubella: exclude for seven days after appearance of rash.
  • Shingles (Herpes Zoster): generally no exclusion if lesions can be covered. If lesions cannot be covered exclude until rash or lesions have crusted over.
  • Strep Throat (Streptococcal pharyngitis) and streptococcal skin infections (Impetigo): exclude until after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.
  • Tuberculosis: exclude until a physician and Department of Health determine person is not infectious.
  • Vomiting: exclude if vomiting occurs two or more times in 24 hours or accompanied by a fever. Exceptions for vomiting that is caused by a non-communicable condition and the child is not in danger of dehydration.
  • Whooping Cough (Pertussis): exclude until five days of the appropriate antibiotic therapy has been completed.
  • (2009 Red Book, American Academy of Pediatrics, 28th Edition; Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools, A Quick Reference Guide, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2nd Edition; 2008 Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 19th Edition.)
  • Medication and Treatment Administration: In the event that your child needs medication while in school, both prescription or over-the-counter, the Harrisburg School District requires a completed Medication and Treatment Authorization Form prior to administration. This form needs to be completed by the parent/guardian for OTC medications and parent/guardian AND primary care physician for prescription medications/Herbal medications. Forms can be picked up in the health office in each school building as well through the link above, leading to the Health Information Folder in the Documents section of the website. If at all possible, medications should be scheduled and given outside of school hours. The school district does not provide OTC medications. Medication must be delivered directly to the school nurse/aide or trained personnel by the parent/guardian in the original pharmacy or manufacturer’s container. For your child’s safety and the safety of other children, students in kindergarten-5th grade are not allowed to carry and self-administer medication. Parent/guardians are responsible to pick up unused medication within one week after the last day of school. If medication is not picked up within one week after school is out, it will be destroyed. Medication renewal is required at the beginning of each school year. Please see this form for further information. For more information on our Medication Administration Policy, please see online.

Annual Health Record

 Each student is required to have a new annual health record completed each school year. This record is typically handed out as part of the registration packet given at open house. It should be completed and returned by the first day of school and will be kept on file in the School Health Office. Please see the school nurse/aide if you have not received or completed this form.

Immunizations

Harrisburg School District complies with the South Dakota Department of Health requirements in obtaining and verifying immunization records for all new and transferring students. If records are not current, the law allows for the school district to exclude children from school. Completed forms are due by the first day of school.

South Dakota Codified Law 13-28-7.1 requires students entering school or early childhood programs to present certification that they have been adequately immunized, according to the recommendations of the Department of Health. The law applies to all children entering school for the first time, including transfer students. Minimum immunization requirements are defined as:

  1. Four or more doses of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus containing vaccine, with at least one dose administered on or after age 4. Children 7 years and older needing the primary series only need three doses. The first dose of the primary series should be Tdap and the second and third doses should be Td, with at least 6 months between dose two and three. Children receiving six doses before age 4 do not require any additional doses for school requirements. The maximum a child should receive is six doses. If a child 7 years and older has an incomplete DTaP primary series, please contact the Department of Health Immunization Program (1-800-592-1861) for assistance.
  2. Four or more doses of poliovirus vaccine, at least one dose on or after age 4. (Although not the recommended schedule – If a child has three doses of polio with the third dose administered on or after the age of 4 and at least 6 months after the second dose, no other doses are required.)
  3. Two doses of a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) or submit serological evidence of immunity.Minimum age for the first dose is 12 months. Administer the second dose routinely at age 4 through 6 years. The second dose may be administered prior to age 4 provided at least 28 days have elapsed since the first dose.
  4. Two doses of varicella vaccine. The minimum age for the first dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine is 12 months. History of disease is acceptable with parent/guardian signature. Administer the second dose routinely at age 4 through 6 years. The second dose may be administered prior to age 4 provided the minimum interval between the two doses is 3 months.

Requirements for 6th Grade Entry

  1. One dose of Tdap is required for 6th grade entry IF the child is 11 years old. If the child is 10 years old when entering 6th grade they 45 days after their 11th birthday to receive the Tdap vaccination. If a child has a contraindication to Tdap, Td is acceptable. If a child receives a Tdap at age 7 or older, the dose does not need to be repeated. If a child 7 years and older has an incomplete DTaP primary series, please contact the Department of Health for assistance.
  2. One dose of meningococcal vaccine is required for 6th grade entry IF the child is 11 years old. If the child is 10 years old when entering 6th grade they 45 days after their 11th birthday to receive the meningococcal vaccine. If a child receives a dose at age 10 or after, the dose does not need to be repeated.

Haemophilus Influenzae B, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Pneumococcal vaccines are recommended but not required.