Question: Can you accept a note from a physical therapist excusing or returning a student to PE or sports?
Answer: You can accept a note from a physician, a nurse practitioner, a physician's assistant or a chiropractor if the issue is within their scope of practice. The only way you can accept a note from a physical therapist is if one of the practitioners listed above writes a note that says: "Cleared to return to PE and sports when cleared by the physical therapist".
Question: What is the definition of "persons in parental relation"?
Answer: The term "persons in parental relation" to a child includes the parents, guardians or other persons, whether one or more, lawfully having the care, custody or control of such child, including persons who have been designated pursuant to title fifteen -A of article five of the general obligations law as persons in parental relation to the child.
Pursuant to General Obligations Law Section 5-1551, "a parent of a minor or incapacitated person may designate another person as a person in parental relation to such minor or incapacitated person pursuant to sections [2164 - immunizations] and [2504 - medical consent] of the public health law and sections two and [3212 - definition of persons in parental relation with respect to the compulsory education provisions] of the education law...."
Question: Are acorns and pine cones considered tree nuts? Should someone with a tree nut allergy avoid contact with them? Are walnut trees in the yard a hazard to someone with a tree nut allergy? Answer: The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) has a FAQ that states that there is no information in the literature that suggests that individuals with a nut allergy should avoid skin contact with acorns and pinecones.
There is also no known allergy risk with having a tree in the yard, the hazard would be ingesting the nut meat inside the hulls of the nut.
The full text of these Frequently Asked Questions from FAAN can be found under "A" for allergies in our A - Z Index.
Question: What guidance is available regarding animals being in the school setting? Answer: The Centers for Disease Control states the following:
Animals are effective and valuable teaching aids, but safeguards are required to reduce the risk for infection and injury. These abbreviated recommendations are based on guidelines developed by the Alabama Department of Public Health* and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment†. Recommendations are also available from the National Science Teachers Association§ and the National Association of Biology Teachers.
General Guidelines for School Settings**
- Wash hands after contact with animals, animal products, or animal environments.
- Supervise human-animal contact, particularly for children aged <5 years.
- Display animals in enclosed cages or under appropriate restraint.
- Designate specific areas for animal contact.
- Do not allow food in animal contact areas; do not allow animals in areas where food and drink are prepared or consumed.
- Do not allow animals to roam, fly free, or have contact with wild animals.
- Clean and disinfect all areas where animals have been present. Children should only perform this task while supervised by an adult.
- Obtain appropriate veterinary care, a certificate of veterinary inspection, and/or proof of rabies vaccination according to local or state requirements.
- Keep animals clean and free of intestinal parasites, fleas, ticks, mites, and lice.
- Parents should be informed of the benefits and potential risks associated with animals in school classrooms. Consult with parents to determine special considerations needed for children who are immunocompromised, who have allergies, or who have asthma.
- Ensure that personnel providing animals for educational purposes are knowledgeable regarding animal handling and zoonotic disease issues. Individuals or facilities that display animals to the public should be licensed by the USDA.
Animal-Specific Guidelines
- Fish --- Use disposable gloves when cleaning aquariums, and do not dispose of aquarium water in sinks used for food preparation or for obtaining drinking water.
- Nonpsittacine birds --- See General Guidelines.
- Psittacine birds (e.g., parrots, parakeets, and cockatiels) --- Consult the psittacosis compendium,†† and seek veterinary advice. Use birds treated or testing negative for avian chlamydiosis.
- Domestic dogs, cats, rabbits, and rodents (e.g., mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and chinchillas) --- See General Guidelines.
- Baby chicks and ducks --- To prevent Salmonella or Campylobacter infection, children aged <5 years should not have contact with baby chicks and ducks.
- Reptiles (including turtles, lizards, and snakes) and amphibians --- To prevent Salmonella infection, children aged <5 years should not have contact with reptiles and amphibians.
- Ferrets --- To prevent bites, children aged <5 years should not have direct contact with ferrets.
- Farm animals --- See General Guidelines. Certain animals (e.g., young ruminants and young poultry) excrete E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Cryptosporidium intermittently and in substantial numbers; therefore these animals are not appropriate unless meticulous attention to personal hygiene can be assured.
- Mammals at high risk for transmitting rabies (e.g., bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes) --- Students should not be permitted to touch these animals, nor are these animals appropriate as residents in the classroom.
- Owl pellets --- Assume owl pellets to be contaminated with Salmonella. Dissections should not be done in areas where food is consumed. Thoroughly clean and disinfect contact surfaces. Wash hands after contact.
Animals Not Recommended in School Settings
- Inherently dangerous animals (e.g., lions, tigers, cougars, and bears).
- Nonhuman primates (e.g., monkeys and apes).
- Mammals at higher risk for transmitting rabies (e.g., bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes).
- Aggressive or unpredictable animals, wild or domestic.
- Stray animals with unknown health and vaccination history.
- Venomous or toxin-producing spiders, insects, reptiles, and amphibians.
Question: Where can I find health related posters for my Health Office? Answer: Some health related posters can be downloaded from websites. If you don't have a color printer in your office, consider asking your computer lab or print shop to print and possibly laminate the posters for you. Posters available include:
Handwashing:
Health Hygiene
Chronic Health Conditions
Question: What references are available for dermatology? Answer: There is a wonderful resource from the University of Iowa which is complete with pictures of many issues seen in the Health Office. We have put the link in our A-Z Index, under "D" for Dermatology and "S" for Skin.
Question: Are there any state mandated templates for Individualized Healthcare Plans? Answer: There are no mandated templates for Individualized Healthcare Plans, however there are some templates on the School Nurse Tool Kit on our website. There is also a good book available from SunRise River Press with customizable software titled, "Individualized Healthcare Plans for the School Nurse."
