Health and Safety

Medication may not be administered in the school setting without written permission from a parent/guardian and a written order from a licensed physician or any health professional licensed to prescribe.

NO medication should be kept in a classroom, nor should any student be carrying medication on their person. This includes all prescription medication and over-the-counter medications. Medication must be brought to school by an adult and given to the school nurse.

All prescription medications need to be in a pharmacy labeled vial (ask your pharmacist for two labels in advance) or in the case of over-the-counter medications, in an unopened bottle with children’s dosages listed.

Medication orders need to be renewed for each school year and unused medication needs to be picked up by an adult at the end of each school year or it will be discarded.

Asthma inhalers and epi-pens only may be carried by self-directed students with advanced written permission by a physician, a parent, and the nurse.

If your child is ill, please keep them home from school. Students who are not feeling well are not able to learn.

Keep your child home when he or she:

• is vomiting
• has diarrhea
• is in the first 24 hours of antibiotics for strep throat or pink eye
• has a fever higher than 100.4 or greater degrees 
  NOTE: Students may not return until fever free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication. 
• Click here for more information.

Please keep your school nurses updated with any changes in your child’s medical history. The nurses are legally and ethically bound to maintain confidentiality but are not able to safely and thoroughly care for your children without knowledge of their medical history. In addition, please notify the nurse of any changes in contact information so they may readily be in touch with you if necessary.

Immunizations are an important part of our children’s health care, and South Carolina state law requires that children going to school be vaccinated to prevent vaccine-preventable disease unless they are exempt. All students are required by South Carolina law to provide documentation that includes month, day, and year the vaccine was administered. Doses documented on the immunization certificate must be VALID doses according to accepted practice standards for the minimum age(s) and intervals. If the child is exempt, the parent must provide valid proof of exemption.

All immunizations must be completed on a SC- 4024 form and presented to the nurse within 30 days of starting school. For more information click here.

Click here for HCS District Student Health Services information.