What to do when your child has a serious illness or medical concerns that may affect your child at school

What is a life-threatening health condition?

A life-threatening health condition puts the child in danger of death during the school day without medication or treatment and a nursing plan in place (see Washington state law RCW 28A.210.320).

• Diabetes.
• Severe allergies (bees, peanuts, etc.).
• Epilepsy/seizure disorder.
• Severe asthma.
• Cardiac/heart conditions.

Reporting the condition or illness
Parents/guardians of students with life-threatening conditions must inform the school and work with the school nurse and the student’s health care provider to create a health care plan. Planning ahead helps schools to be equipped and prepared to care for students in emergency health situations.

Parents/guardians must:

• Report the life-threatening condition on the nurse alert form.
• Complete the authorization to administer medication form if student needs medication at school.
• Complete the health care plan that is specific to the student’s illness, if applicable.

All student health forms are available in the forms library or at the school office. Required documentation must be completed before the child attends school.

Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin.

Parents/guardians of students with diabetes must report the condition on the nurse alert form and provide the following items:

• Diabetes Individual Health Plan.
• Medication Administration Authorization form for insulin and glucagon/baqsimi completed by the student’s health care provider OR Seattle Children’s School Diabetes Care Plan with medication orders.  
• Emergency and daily medications.
• Diabetes testing supplies (glucometer, lancets, ketone strips, etc.).
• Snacks to treat low blood glucose to be stored at school.

Severe allergies
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis symptoms usually occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen. Sometimes, however, anaphylaxis can occur a half-hour or longer after exposure. In rare cases, anaphylaxis may be delayed for hours. Common allergens include, but are not limited to, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.  

Parents/guardians of students with a severe allergy must report the condition on the nurse alert form and provide the following items: 

• Allergy Individual Health Plan.
• Epinephrine Medication Administration Authorization form completed by the student’s health care provider.
• Emergency medication.

Epilepsy/Seizure disorder
Epilepsy is a disorder of the nervous system, characterized either by mild, episodic loss of attention (absence seizures/petit mal) or by severe convulsions with loss of consciousness (tonic-clonic/grand mal). 

Parents/guardians of students with seizures must report the condition on the nurse alert form and provide the following items: 

• Seizure Individual Health Plan.
• Seizure Medication Administration Authorization form completed by the student’s health care provider.
• Emergency medication if prescribed.
• 72 hour supply of daily medication(s) if applicable, to be used in the event of a natural disaster.

Asthma
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease, characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction and coughing. 

Parents/guardians of students with severe asthma must report the condition on the nurse alert form and provide the following items: 

• Asthma Individual Health Plan.
• Inhaler Medication Administration Authorization form completed by the student’s health care provider.
• Emergency medication.

Cardiac/heart conditions
Conditions in which the heart cannot perform its proper function.  

Parents/guardians of students with heart conditions must provide the following items: 

• Cardiac Individual Health Plan.
• If the student needs medication while at school, Medication Administration Authorization form must be completed by the student’s health care provider if the student requires medication at school, either daily or in the event of an emergency. 
• Emergency and/or daily medication(s) if prescribed.

Giving medication
The authorization to administer medication form must be completed in order to allow students to have prescription or nonprescription medication at school. One form is required per medication. If a student self carries medication while at school, an authorization to administer medication form must be filled out by the student’s health care provider and be on file at school.

Communicating with the health care provider
Parents / guardians are encouraged to complete the authorization for release of records/information form to allow the school nurse to contact your student’s health care provider with questions or concerns about their care.

Complete the forms
All student health forms are available in the forms library or at the school office.