ILLNESS OR INJURIES  

• When a student has a minor illness or injury, the School Nurse or a trained JPS employee will provide first-aid and notify the parent/legal guardian.  
• If the student has a life threatening illness or injury, 911 will be called and the school will contact a parent immediately.  
• All parents/guardians are asked to complete or update the Student Emergency Card every year, with their current phone and address information, in order for school staff to contact the parent/guardian in the event of a medical emergency or illness.

HEALTH CONDITIONS

• It is the parent's/guardian's responsibility to inform the school nurse about their child's health conditions (i.e., asthma, diabetes, ADHD, seizures, heart problems, sickle cell anemia, etc.) by completing the JPS Health Information Form or by scheduling a health conference with the School Nurse.
• If the student requires special health accommodations or procedures during the school day (i.e., blood sugar checks, catheterization, tracheostomy care, g-tube feedings, etc.), a State of Louisiana Physician’s Authorization for Specialized Care form must be completed by a Louisiana licensed physician  and submitted to the school nurse.
• In order for the school to send or receive information to or from the physician or school outside of JPSS, the parent must complete a Release of Information Form.
• It is the parent’s responsibility to provide all required equipment and supplies for the medical procedures performed at school.
• Applicable forms that may be needed can be downloaded and printed by clicking on the link below:
  • Physicians Authorization for Special Healthcare Form
  • Release of Info Form
  • Diabetic Order Form
  • Emergency Seizure Medication Order Form (Diastat, Valtoco, Nayzilam)

FOOD ALLERGIES & DIETARY MODIFICATIONS

• Students with food allergies or special dietary needs should submit a Medical Statement to Request School Meal Modification completed by a Louisiana licensed physician to the school nurse.
• The following form is required to be completed by the physician annually for a student's diet to be modified:
  • Meal Modification Form 23-24

IMMUNIZATIONS

• In accordance with Louisiana law, all students registering at a Jefferson Parish School must be immunized according to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health Immunization Schedule.
• A STATE OF LOUSIANA UNIVERSAL CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNIZATIONS with a valid expiration date must be presented at registration.
• Medical, religious or personal dissents must be submitted in writing to the school and signed by the appropriate authority based on the type of dissent.  
• If there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease for which the student is not immunized, he/she will be excluded from school by the Office of Public Health for an extended period of time until the threat of transmission has passed.
• Information regarding the required vaccinations for school entry in Louisiana can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
  • English Vaccination Schedule
  • Arabic Vaccination Schedule
  • Spanish Vaccination Schedule
  • Vietnamese Vaccination Schedule
• Free vaccinations are available for all children from birth to 18 years old through the Greater New Orleans Immunization Network.  You can view their calendar here.  GNO Shot Bus Calendar  

VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS

• JPS School Nurses conduct routine vision and hearing screenings every year for all students in PreK, Kindergarten, 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th, and 9^th grades.  Students in other grades may also be screened at the request of a parent or school staff, if a problem is suspected, or, if they are being evaluated for special education services.
• If a student fails his/her vision or hearing screening, the nurse will send  a letter to the parent/guardian. Evaluation by an LA licensed eye doctor/audiologist is strongly encouraged for all screening failures.
• A copy of the doctor’s evaluation or prescription should be returned to the School Nurse.

MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE ALLERGIES

Anaphylaxis is a severe systemic allergic reaction from exposure to allergens that is rapid in onset and can cause death. Parents of students with known life threatening allergies and/or anaphylaxis are encouraged to notify the School Nurse and should provide the school with written instructions and prescribed medications from the student’s health care provider for handling anaphylaxis on an annual basis.

In order to comply with Louisiana state legislation R.S. 17:436.1 (K), it is the policy of Jefferson Parish Schools to follow the guidelines developed for students with an identified severe allergy to food, insect stings, latex, and/or unknown allergens, in addition to those who may have not yet had an identified allergy or condition which puts them at risk of experiencing an unexpected event that is at a potential risk of a life- threatening reaction (anaphylaxis).

These guidelines include:
1. Education and Training for school personnel on the management of students with life- threatening severe allergies, including training related to the administration of medication with a cartridge injector.
2. Procedures for responding to known and unknown life-threatening allergic reactions.
3. A process for managing students at high risk of anaphylaxis.
4. Protocols to prevent exposure to food allergens or precautions to avoid exposure to other allergens.

Stock Epinephrine Auto Injector Policy

Jefferson Parish Schools will make every effort to provide at least two (2) doses of auto-injectable epinephrine (hereinafter called ‘unassigned or stock epinephrine’) in each school, under the standing order of a Louisiana licensed physician, to assist those students who experience an anaphylactic emergency for the first time, without prescribed treatment. The stock epinephrine may be administered by a school nurse or employee of the school board who is authorized and trained in the administration of epinephrine to any student who, in good faith, is believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction on school premises, during the academic day. This policy is not intended to replace or override student-specific orders or currently prescribed medications for anaphylaxis. This policy does not extend to activities off school grounds.(including transportation to and from school, field trips) or outside of the academic day, such as sporting events or extra-curricular activities.

Students at High Risk for Anaphylaxis

Jefferson Parish Schools shall allow a supply of auto-injectable epinephrine to be maintained in a secure location in each classroom assigned to a student who is deemed by his/her physician to be at high risk for anaphylactic reaction and incapable of self-administration of auto-injectable epinephrine. The parent/legal guardian will be responsible for providing the school in which the student is enrolled with the supply of auto-injectable epinephrine to be kept in each classroom,  written authorization from a Louisiana licensed medical provider, written certification from the licensed medical physician or other authorized prescriber that the student is at high risk of having anaphylaxis and is not capable of self-administration of auto-injectable epinephrine, and a written treatment plan fro managing analphylactic episodes from a licensed 
medical provider.