Health Information

Concussion
A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. Concussions are a type of brain injury that can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. 

Darien School District 61 is committed to the safety and health of all our students and abides by state and federal recommendations for students diagnosed with concussions. To that end, Darien School District 61 has convened a Concussion Oversight Team and devised Return To Learn and Return To Play protocols. 

Links to Darien School District 61 Return To Learn and Return To Play forms can be found below.
For more information on The Illinois Youth Sports Concussion Safety Act/Illinois Public Act 99-0245 and its companion legislation, Illinois Public Act 99-0486 (click here).

Injury
If your child sustains an injury that will keep them from participating in physical education and/or recess, please have your child's medical provider write a note to explaining what physical limitations your student has and how long the limitations are expected to last. Please turn in this note to your school nurse or health aide. 

When your child has been released to participate again in physical education and/or recess, the medical provider should provide a note stating that all restrictions and limitations are lifted.

Food Allergies

Twenty-five percent of first time life threatening allergic reactions occur at school.  One in 13 children suffers from some type of food allergy, and this number is on the rise.  Your child's health is our concern.  

Below is some health information for you regarding food allergies.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school nurse or health aide at your child's school.

FOOD ALLERGY ACTION PLAN: Parents/guardians of all students diagnosed with severe allergies are requested to provide an Allergy Action Plan to the school on a yearly basis. This Allergy Action Plan should be completed by your student's primary medical provider and turned in to the school nurse or health aide. Link to blank Allergy Action Plan forms can be found below.

SELF-ADMINISTRATION/SELF-CARRY OF MEDICATIONS FOR ALLERGY: Information regarding the Self-Administration and Self-Carry of Medications for Allergy/Illinois Public Act 98-0795) (click here)

STANDING ORDERS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF SCHOOL SUPPLIED EPINEPHRINE: Information on the Standing Order of the Administration of School Supplied Epinephrine Auto-Injectors/Illinois Public Act 97-0361: (click here).

If you wish to opt your student out of or decline the standing order for anaphylaxis protection, please contact the District Nurse, Teri Shiley, MA, RN, PEL-CSN, at 630-968-7505 or tshiley@darien61.org.

Asthma

ASTHMA ACTION PLAN: Parents/guardians of all students diagnosed with asthma are requested to provide an Asthma Action Plan to the school on a yearly basis. This Asthma Action Plan should be completed by your student's primary medical provider and turned in to the school nurse or health aide. Link to blank Asthma Action Plan forms can be found below.

Information regarding Asthma Episode Emergency Response Protocol/Illinois Public Act 099-0843: (click here). Asthma Emergency Response Protocol (click here).

Information regarding the Self-Administration and Self-Carry of Medications for Asthma/Illinois Public Act 98-0795: (click here).

Diabetes

DIABETES MEDICAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SCHOOL: Parents/guardians of all students diagnosed with Type1 or Type 2 Diabetes should provide a Diabetes Medical Management Plan to the school on a yearly basis. This Diabetes Medical Management Plan should be completed by your student's medical provider and turned in to the school nurse or health aide. Link to blank Diabetes Medical Management Plan forms can be found below.

Seizures

EMERGENCY SEIZURE ACTION PLAN: Parents/guardians of all students diagnosed with Epilepsy or a Seizure disorder are requested to provide an Emergency Seizure Action Plan to the school on a yearly basis. This Seizure Action Plan should be completed by your student's medical provider and turned in to the school nurse or health aide. Link to blank Seizure Action Plan forms can be found below.

Obesity

District # 61 Procedure for Administration of Medication to Students

Medication shall not be administered to a student at school unless absolutely necessary to maintain the continued attendance of the student.  This policy shall apply to both prescription and nonprescription medication.  If it is determined that medication must be given to a student at school, the procedure set forth below shall be followed.

1. Medication shall be administered by the school nurse, or an employee designated by the superintendent.

2. The student’s physician shall provide written orders detailing the name of the student, the diagnosis for which the medication is ordered, the name of the medication, the desired benefits of the medication, and an emergency number where the physician can be reached.  In addition, the physician’s written order shall indicate any expected reactions to the medication and shall advise school personnel of adverse symptoms for which to watch.  The physician shall detail steps to be followed if the student experiences an adverse reaction.  The order shall be renewed periodically.

3. The student’s parent or guardian shall provide to the health aide/school nurse a signed authorization to administer the medication, which has been ordered by the physician.  The authorization shall include the parent or guardian’s name and telephone number for use in case of an emergency.

4. Medication shall be brought to school and given to the health aide/school nurse in the original package or an appropriately labeled container.  Prescription medication shall display:  student’s name, prescription number, medication name and dosage, administration route or directions, date and refill, licensed prescriber’s name, pharmacy’s name, address, and phone, and name or initials of pharmacist.  Over-the-counter medication shall be in the original container with manufacturer’s label listing all contents, the student’s name affixed to the label.  Medication should be delivered to the school by the student’s parent or guardian.

5. Medications shall be kept in a locked place at school.

6. The school health professional shall keep a written and/or electronic record of all medication administration.  This record will include:  students’ name, medication, dosage, time, date, who administered medication, and absenteeism or other reason for missed dosage.  This record will be placed in the student’s health file along with the physician’s written order and the parental authorization to administer the medication.

7. The student’s parent shall remove any unused medication from the school at the end of therapy, or the end of the school year.  If the parent fails to remove unused medication, the school nurse will appropriately dispose of it in the presence of a witness.

No medication will be administered to students unless these guidelines are followed.  If it is determined by physicians or parents that a student should retain medication on himself/herself for self-administration, it is recommended that the parents inform the school nurse of the situation, but the school assumes no responsibility for administering medication unless the above guidelines are followed.  

A student with asthma may self-administer his or her prescribed asthma medication provided that the following information is kept on file in the Health Office:  the student’s parent/guardian will provide a parental written authorization for the self-administration of medication, and a written order from the student’s physician containing the following information:  name and purpose of medication, prescribed dosage, and time or special circumstances under which the medication is to be administered.  

A student with an allergy requiring use of epinephrine for prevention or management of anaphylactic reaction may self-administer his or her prescribed epinephrine provided that the following information is kept on file in the Health Office:  the student’s parent/guardian will provide a parental written authorization for the self-administration of medication, and a written order from the student’s physician containing the following information:  name and purpose of medication, prescribed dosage, and time or special circumstances under which the medication is to be administered. The superintendent shall have the discretion to reject requests for the administration of medication subject to the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

All students who participate in school sponsored interscholastic sports (where students from different schools participate in competition against one another) are required to have a completed sports physical form on file with the school. The form must be dated within 1 year prior to the end of the sports season they are participating in. This includes student-athletes in grades 5-8 who compete for Eisenhower Junior High.

Dear District 61 Parents,

In October of 2016 our District tested for lead in water in a number of locations in the District.  Fifteen locations at Mark DeLay School, eleven locations at Lace, and twenty-four locations at Eisenhower Junior High were tested in anticipation of the proposed legislation.

It was determined, from the testing, that one drinking fountain had results that required attention and has been shut off.  That fountain is no longer being used in the music room at Eisenhower Junior High. 

Recently enacted Illinois Plumbing Licensing Law (225 ILCS 320/35.5) requires that all schools test for lead in water used for drinking or cooking.  This includes all potable water taps, faucets, drinking fountains, and hand washing sinks in classrooms occupied by PreK through fifth grade students.

We submitted the October results to the proper authorities and in March of 2017 submitted sixteen additional hand washing sink samples for Mark DeLay School.  Of those results one hand sink, while not above the 5.00 ug/L limit, it did show a small amount of lead.  This faucet has been replaced, retested and came back clear. 

The health and safety or our students is one of the most important responsibilities you have entrusted to us as a school district.  The quality of the water in our schools is important and we will continue to monitor and assess the safety in each of our schools.  If you would like to learn more about the drinking water testing, click the links below.

You may also contact my office at 630-968-7505 if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Superintendent of Schools