Health Services Department
Welcome to Health Services
Helping children stay healthy and safe at school is our priority. This page contains information about health-related topics such as medications at school, immunizations required for school entry, concussions, communicable diseases, and other health-related topics.
If you have health-related questions or concerns, please email the school nurse:
Sarena Muzzi, RN MSN
Concussions
What is a Concussion? The CDC defines a concussion as, "a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells."
Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion:
- Headache or “pressure” in head.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.
- Bothered by light or noise.
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
- Confusion, or concentration or memory problems.
- Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”
- Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall.
- Appears dazed or stunned.
- Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score, or opponent.
- Moves clumsily.
- Answers questions slowly.
- Loses consciousness (even briefly).
- Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes.
If you suspect your student has a concussion, they should be evaluated by a licensed health care provider as soon as possible. If your student is diagnosed with a concussion or is being evaluated for a concussion, please communicate this information to the school.
Recovery: Every student’s recovery from a brain injury or concussion will look different. Some students may feel better in a few weeks whereas others may take several months to fully recover. Concussion symptoms may be present during the recovery process, however if any symptoms are getting worse be sure to seek medical care.
Dangerous Signs and Symptoms: In rare cases, a concussion can progress and your student may develop severe symptoms. If your student has one or more of the follow symptoms following a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, call 911 or seek emergency services immediately.
- one pupil is larger than the other
- drowsiness or inability to wake up
- a headache that gets worse and does not go away
- slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
- repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching)
- unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
- loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out)
Concussion Resources:
Acute Concussion Care Plan (to be completed by a physician)
Immunization Information
- Under the California School Immunization Law (California Health and Safety Code, Sections 120325-120375), children are required to receive certain immunizations in order to attend public and private elementary and secondary schools, child care centers, family day care homes, nursery schools, day nurseries and developmental centers.
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While evidence of these vaccinations are required for school, we also appreciate that given the current COVID-19 situation, access to your healthcare provider may be difficult and/or delayed. We encourage you to contact your health provider now to see about scheduling an appointment. If you are not able to get your child’s immunizations before school starts, we will accept proof of an upcoming appointment date as an alternative.
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At this time, we do not have any more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students than what has already been released. Please refer to the Shots for School website below for any new information.
Immunization Resources:
Illness Information for the 2022-23 School Year
Please read the Illness Information sheet below regarding the illness policy for the 2022-23 school year.
Individualized School Health Plans (ISHP)
What is an ISHP?
ISHP stands for individualized school health plan. It is a document that is created to support your student and their health in the educational environment.
Who should have one?
Students with mild to severe health care needs and require frequent nursing services at school, or students who have health conditions that have the potential to result in a medical emergency. Each plan is created by the school nurse and is individualized to meet the needs of the student.
What is the purpose of an ISHP?
The ISHP helps assure consistent and safe health care for the student, and sets procedural guidelines that provide specific directions for staff about what to do in a particular emergency. ISHP are provided to your student’s teachers each school year.
Conditions that might require an ISHP:
Asthma, allergic reactions, bleeding disorders, cardiac conditions, diabetes, fainting, irritable bowel syndrome (ex: Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis), migraines, scoliosis, seizures...etc.
If you think your student needs to have an ISHP, please contact the school nurse for more information.
Medication at School
The school health office supervises students who are required to take medication during the school day. A written authorization from the student’s physician and parent or guardian is required before designated school staff can assist the student in taking medication, including medications prescribed by the physician AND over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Motrin, cough drops, and ointments.
Any medications that will be stored in the Health Office must be signed in by a parent/guardian and staff member. The Health Aide/staff member will verify the medication against the physician’s orders, noting the medication’s expiration date, quantity, and form (liquid, pills, inhaler, nasal spray, eye drops, etc.)
All medication must be in the original container and placed under lock and key in the health office in the administration building for the safety of all students, except those medications that a physician requests the pupil be allowed to carry (e.g., inhalant for asthma, Auto-injector Epi-Pen for severe allergies). Doctor’s orders are required to be kept on file at the school for student carrying authorized medication. When on a field trip, the medications shall be monitored by and in possession of a teacher at all times.
To request medication administration at school, please print out and review the form and take it your child's doctor to complete.
Medication At School Form
When to Keep Your Student Home from School
Sometimes it can be difficult to know when to send your student to school or keep them home. Below are some examples of when you should keep your student home.
Fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Fevers mean the body is fighting an illness and your child may be contagious. Children should be fever-free, without the use of fever-reducing medications, for 24 hours prior to returning to school.
Vomiting or diarrhea. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs more than once in the 24 hours before school starts, your child should stay home. Your child can return to school once it has been 24 hours with no vomiting or diarrhea.
Skin rashes. Any rash with a fever means the child should stay home until the fever is gone. If the rash has liquid coming from sores then your child needs to stay home until it is treated. It is also necessary to have your child seen by a licensed health care provider to determine if the rash is contagious.
Red eyes with drainage or crusting. It is necessary to have your child evaluated by a licensed health care provider to determine if this is contagious and from a bacteria or virus or an allergic reaction.
Head lice or scabies. It is recommended that your child stays home until they have been treated appropriately. Please notify the school if you have treated your children for lice or scabies.
Strep throat. Children awaiting results from a throat culture must remain at home until a negative result is known. Children with a positive strep culture must be treated with prescribed antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school.
Communicable Diseases. If your student is diagnosed with any other communicable disease (example: chicken pox, pertussis, measles, hand, foot, and mouth disease) please keep them home and notify the front office. Please make sure your student has met all of the re-entry conditions prior to sending them back to school.
If you aren't sure if your student should come to school, please contact the front office (530) 346-2202.
Health Resources
Below are links to various websites that contain health-related information and resources.
California Children's Services - California Children's Services (CCS) is a statewide program that arranges, directs, and pays for medical care, equipment, and rehabilitation, when the services are authorized. Services can be authorized for children and young adults less than 21 years of age who have eligible medical conditions and whose families are unable to pay for all or part of their care.
Choose My Plate - Choose My Plate is a program that encourages healthy eating. "The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, bite by bite. Small changes matter. Start Simple with MyPlate." The MyPlate website has games and activities for children to engage with and learn about healthy eating.
My Plate Kitchen - My Plate Kitchen provides recipes and resources to support building healthy and budget-friendly meals.
Oral Health - Placer County Oral Health program focuses on promoting preventive dental care knowledge and access to early preventive dental services with the aim of boosting the number of Placer County's residents who remain cavity-free.
Placer County Community Resources - This link directs you to another webpage that contains information about various community resources in Placer County.
WIC (Woman, Infants, & Children) - The purpose of WIC is to improve the health of families during critical times of growth and development.
California Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP)
CHDP is a preventive program that offers health assessments and services to children and youth of families with limited income in California. CHDP provides care coordination to assist families with medical appointment scheduling, transportation, access to enrolled physicians and dental referrals.
Contact Placer County CHDP to find out if your child is eligible for a free exam and to locate a doctor near you.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (530)886-3620
Dental and Vision Providers that accept Medi-Cal Insurance
Below are attachments that contain a list of vision and dental providers in Placer County that accept Medi-Cal insurance.