Health Services

Health and Wellness

The Mayfield Health Services office supports student academic success by promoting health in the school setting. Each building has its own health office staffed with full-time nurses to serve student health needs.

The Health Services office provides:

• Medication administration
• First aid for accidents and illness
• Physicals for sports and working papers
• Screenings for vision, hearing, and scoliosis
• Immunization record maintenance for all students

Back to top

Special Health Needs

Please be sure to let us know of any special health needs or concerns your child may have, whether it be on a temporary or permanent basis. This information may be shared with school personnel to ensure your child’s safety unless otherwise requested. Examples of such needs are as follows:

• Diabetes
• Epilepsy/Seizures
• Asthma
• Allergies
• Severity and treatment (please be as specific as possible). Requires a doctor’s diagnosis, medication order, and emergency plan completed by the physician.
• New diagnosis or new medication prescribed. Requires a doctor’s diagnosis and medication order if needed.
• Surgical procedures, including any dental procedures or need for special equipment such as crutches, wheelchairs, splints, etc. Requires a note from the doctor for gym and sports to be excused /or clearance to return to gym and sports.
• Diagnosis of communicable disease, such as, but not limited to, pneumonia, fifth’s disease, COVID, etc.
• Head lice or bed bugs. Please notify the school nurse for guidance.

Back to top

Head Lice/Bed Bug Procedures

MCSD’s head lice policy follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics, and National Association of School Nurses (NASN).

When a case of head lice is suspected, the student will be sent to the health office to have his/her head checked by the school nurse.

If the student is found to have LIVE head lice, the following procedures will be implemented.

• The parent/guardian will be made aware of the findings.
• Information will be sent home with the student regarding the prevention of head lice/bed bugs and eradicating them from the home.
• The student’s absence will be excused for one full day for treatment.
• It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to treat appropriately.
• The student will be rechecked in the health office in 7 – 10 days following treatment.

It is the CDC and the NASN recommendation that the student NOT be sent home, but be allowed to finish out the school day if head lice are found.

As with all illnesses, prevention is the key, and treatment is necessary.

PREVENTION

Avoid sharing or borrowing hats, scarves, coats, brushes, combs, or other hair-related items. Keep hair pulled back or up throughout the day.

TREATMENT

Over-the-counter treatments for both head lice and bed bugs are available. Your doctor may write a prescription for treatment.

More information on head lice and bed bugs can be found on the CDC’s website and the EPA’s website.

Back to top

Medication

Every effort should be made to administer medication at home. However, if a child needs to take medication in school, even over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol or Advil, parent(s) must have the child’s health care provider complete the medication administration form and return the completed form to the appropriate school nurse. Medications cannot be administered at school until this form is on file. Per New York State regulations, all medications, prescription and over-the-counter, that are taken at school must be administered by the school nurse.

Students may not have any medication (prescription or over-the-counter) with them during the school day. The only exceptions are asthma inhalers or EpiPens, which may be carried by students who have written permission from their physicians and parents, along with the approval of the school nurse.

Parents who wish their children to have routine access to pain relievers or other over-the-counter medications must provide the school with written permission and a doctor’s standing order. These authorizations must be renewed annually.

All medications, prescription and over-the-counter, must be supplied by parents in the original container. Parents should deliver medications to the Health Services office. The child’s name should be visible and readable on the container.

Back to top

Immunizations

The New York State Department of Health and the New York State Department of Education provide immunization requirements for children entering/enrolled in public school. Parents should consult with their child’s physician regarding their immunization schedule. Immunizations must be completed by the first day of school in September, with a 14-day grace period, or your child may be excluded from school. Documented proof of immunizations is required. Parent recall is not acceptable. For more information on immunization requirements, please contact the school health office.

Back to top

Screening Guidelines

View the required NYS School Health Examination Form that is to be completed by a private healthcare provider or school medical director.

View the Dental Health Certificate on which parents/guardians complete Section 1 and then take the form to your dentist/dental hygienist for an assessment. Request the dentist/dental hygienist to fill out Section 2 and then return the completed form to your child’s teacher as soon as possible.

If you do not wish for your student to be examined at school, please contact the school nurse and provide a current physical and immunization record within 30 days of the start of school.

Back to top

Injuries/Accidents In School

If an accident occurs in school, the parent will be notified. The student will be treated with appropriate first aid measures until the person in parental authority can authorize further treatment. The Mayfield Central School District maintains a Student Accident Insurance Policy, which is non-duplicating. If an accident occurs during school or a school-sponsored activity, this policy will pay claims in excess of other coverage you may have on your child, up to the usual and reasonable expense as determined by the insurance carrier.

If your child is injured in a school-sponsored activity, you have 30 days from the date of injury to seek medical treatment. You must notify the school nurse that your child’s injury was medically treated so that claim procedures can be initiated.

Back to top

Emergency Contact Information

Please keep emergency contact information up to date. It is essential for the protection of your child to be able to reach someone in case of an emergency. Please list only names of people you would entrust your child to in case you cannot be reached. Please call the guidance office for any changes.

Back to top

Attendance

Written parental explanation is required by state law for all absences. Please notify the school by 8 a.m. if your child is arriving late, leaving early, or will be absent from school by calling the attendance office at the appropriate school.

• Elementary School: 518-661-8251
• Jr/Sr High School: 518-661-8213

Back to top

BMI Reporting

As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured. These numbers are used to figure out the student’s body mass index or ‘BMI’. The BMI helps the doctor or nurse know if the student’s weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low. Recent changes to the New York State Education Law require that BMI and weight status groups be included as part of the student’s school health examination.

A sample of school districts will be selected to take part in a survey by the New York State Department of Health. If our school is selected to be part of the survey, we will be reporting to the New York State Department of Health information about our students’ weight status groups. Only summary information is sent. No names and no information about individual students are sent. However, you may choose to have your child’s information excluded from this survey report. The information sent to the New York State Department of Health will help health officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier.

If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included as part of the Health Department’s survey this year, please complete and return this form to the nurse at your child’s school.

Back to top

Concussion Management Protocol

More information about the Concussion Management Protocol, Return to Play, and Concussion Management can be found in the Athletics section.

Back to top

When Is Your Child Too Sick To Send To School?

Please don’t send your child to school if they are “sick.” Children who have been running a temperature above 100 degrees should not return to school until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours.

When your child returns to school, they should bring a note to the Health Services office explaining the reason for the absence. If your child is absent as a result of a contagious disease or head lice, they should report directly to the Health Services office before returning to their classroom.

Back to top

Fight Flu At Home and School

Flu, or influenza, spreads easily and can make people very sick, especially kids. You can help stop flu spread!

Flu Symptoms Include

Fever or chills, body aches, cough, sore throat, headache, runny or stuffy nose, feeling very tired. Some people, especially children, may have stomach problems and diarrhea. Unlike a cold, the flu comes on very suddenly.

Prevent flu!

• Flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu. It is recommended every year for everyone 6 months and older.

• Get the flu vaccine for you and your children every year! It helps make flu sickness milder or prevents it altogether.
• Getting the vaccine early in the fall means you and your children will be protected when flu season starts.
• Ask people close to your children, like babysitters and relatives, to get the vaccine, too.
• The vaccine is especially important for people with certain health conditions, like asthma, diabetes, heart or lung conditions, because the flu can make them even sicker.

If Your Child Gets the Flu:

• Your child will need plenty of rest and lots of fluids.
• Keep your child home from school for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without using fever-control medicine. This helps avoid giving the flu to others.
• Talk with your child’s health care provider before giving a child any over-the-counter medicine.
• Never give your child or teenager aspirin or any medicine that has aspirin in it. Aspirin can cause serious problems.
• If your child gets flu symptoms and is younger than 5 or has a medical condition like asthma, diabetes, or heart or lung disease, call their health care provider. Young children and those with certain medical conditions are at greater risk of getting seriously ill from the flu. Ask their health care provider if they recommend an antiviral drug.
• If you are worried about your child, call their health care provider.

Don’t spread flu!

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water aren’t handy, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, not your hands. Put used tissues in the trash.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. That’s how germs spread.
• Stay away from people who are sick.

Find out more at the NYS Department of Health’s website.

Back to top

School Physicals

If you do not wish for your student to be examined at school, please contact the school nurse and provide a current physical and immunization record within 30 days of the start of school.

Back to top

Other Health-Related Items

• A note from a physician is required to excuse a student from gym or sports and to return to play following any injury or illness. If a student has sutures or a cast/splint, they will not be able to participate in gym, recess, or sports until cleared.
• Provide extra clothing in cold weather for outdoor activities (hat, gloves, snow pants, etc.)
• A change of clothing is highly recommended for ALL students.
• Keep the health office informed of any changes in your child’s medical/emotional condition and any updates in medication or illness. Open communication ensures health and wellness from home to school.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Back to top