Morning Creek Health Procedures

Student Health

Morning Creek has a Health Attendant, Michelle Watkins (858-748-4334 ext. 2201), to take care of first aid and emergencies. In case of student illness at school, the health attendant will notify parents or the emergency contact listed on the enrollment form. No registered nursing services are provided at the school on a daily basis.

Keeping Everyone Healthy

Please remember that PUSD Guidelines state that your child must be fever- and vomit-free for 24 hours before returning to school. Students with Upper Respiratory Infections common symptoms: persistent nasal discharge that is purulent or discolored, productive cough, excessive coughing or appears to be too ill or uncomfortable to adequately function in classroom setting should stay home until no symptoms for 24 hours or a written medical release is obtained.

Whooping Cough/Pertussis

The entire state is currently experiencing an epidemic of whooping cough cases which is the common name for pertussis. Whooping cough is a bacterial respiratory illness characterized by severe spasms of coughing that can last for several weeks or even for months. Whooping cough is usually spread from person-to-person through close contact with respiratory droplets released when a person coughs or sneezes. Whooping cough, which gets its name from the noise children make when they gasp for breath between violent coughs, can be deadly in infants under the age of 12 months. It is usually just an annoying illness in older children and adults, although it can turn into bronchitis or other lung infections.

The best way to prevent the disease is with vaccination. Infants begin receiving this vaccine at two months of age. By the time children reach young adulthood, they no longer have the immunity and require a booster. A vaccine for older children and adults became available in 2005. Parents can protect their infants and children by checking with their health care provider to make sure that all family members’ immunizations are up to date. For the most recent local information or local immunization clinics please go to the County of San Diego Public Health Department’s Immunization website at www.sdiz.org | MORE ABOUT PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough)

Medication

According to California State law, prescription and non-prescription medications are permitted to be taken at school only with a written statement from the physician AND a written statement from the parent or guardian. The Health Office has a form available titled “Authorization for Medication Administration”.

Written information that must be provided is:

Student’s name
The name of the medication
Physician’s instructions detailing the date(s), method,amount and time medication is to be given
Parent/guardian and Physician signature

This information is required for all medications including “over-the-counter” Tylenol, ibuprofen, cold/allergy medicines, etc. All medications MUST be labeled with the student’s name and above information, in the original Rx or OTC container. NO PLASTIC BAGGIES WILL BE ACCEPTED!

Sunscreen, cough drops, lip balm and Vaseline, etc, must have a note from the parent on file and will also be monitored by the school personnel.