Health Office Information

Physicals:

  • A comprehensive physical (blue form) is required by the board of education and Connecticut State law during the 7th grade and 9th grade. Physicals need to include vision, hearing, and postural screening and immunization records. Without this physical, your child will not be allowed to move on to the next grade. 
  • If your child is planning on playing a sport, an updated physical must be on file in the health office. Sports physicals are valid for 13 months and need to be received prior to any participation including tryouts. Bridge notes will not be accepted per CIAC rules. 

Immunizations:

  • All students entering Westbrook Public Schools must show proof of receiving the following immunizations:
    • DPT/DTaP/Td (tetanus) - At least 4 doses
    • Polio - At least 3 doses
    • MMR - 2 doses
    • Varicella 2 doses
    • Hepatitis B - 3 doses
    • Hepatitis A - 2 doses (Grades Pre-K- 12th Grade)
    • Tdap - 1 dose (Grades 7-12)
    • Meningococcal - 1 dose (Grades 7-12)

Health Screenings: 

  • Routine health screenings will be conducted by the nurse yearly:
    • Hearing Screening: Grade 5     
    • Vision Screening: Grade 5         
    • Scoliosis/Postural: Females Grade 5 and 7   Males Grade 8 or 9
  • 7th and 9th graders must receive all their screenings (Hearing, Vision and Scoliosis) by their MD at their required comprehensive physical exam.

Accommodations and Medications:

  • The nurse can administer over the counter and prescription medication ONLY with an order from the physician and signed parental permission. The form must be complete and include the following:
    • Provider order and written authorization to administer medication.
    • Parental written authorization to administer medication.
    • If the student will be self-administering, the form must be checked and signed by the provider and parent. 
  • Medication must be in the original container with the pharmacy label and have a current expiration date.
  • Middle school and High school students may receive Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Zyrtec with just signed parental permission. If you would like your child to be able to take these medications at school, please fill out the Authorization to administer non-aspirin medication on the Annual Health Report Update Form. 
  • The parent/guardian is responsible for forwarding any treatment plans (Asthma Action Plan, Allergy Plan, Diabetic Plan, etc) and doctor orders to the nurse. 
  • All medication authorization needs to be updated annually. All forms can be found on the website.
  • If your child requires any accommodation at school, please send in a note with instructions from the health care provider. 

Additional Information:

  • If your child is out sick or will not be in school for any reason, please call the main office every day they are out prior to 8:00 am.
  • After 9 absences, appropriate documentation is required for any and all subsequent absences. 
  • Please have your child eat breakfast and pack healthy snacks for school. The school does offer breakfast service and reduced pricing is available to those that qualify. Students who do not eat breakfast feel tired, dizzy, and have poor concentration. Breakfast improves school performance and increases focus.
  • Please notify the nurse of any health updates throughout the year. If there is any significant medical history you would like the nurse to be aware of please feel free to contact me.

Ticks and Lyme Disease

Ticks are most active in spring and summer, but can be found at any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing.

Ticks are a part of nature and they’re more likely to be found in forests, tall grasses, bushes and wet areas with lots of leaf litter. But they can also be carried by birds, raccoons and other animals, meaning they can end up in your backyard too. 

Preparation for Outdoor Activities

  1. Wear light colored long sleeves, pants, and socks.
  2. Tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your waistband
  3. Use bug spray with DEET or Icarid​in, and stay on marked trails.

Do a Thorough Tick Check

The best way to do this is to remove all clothing and look for ticks. You can run your hands over your skin to find any that are embedded.  Ticks are commonly found in these areas on your body Head and hair, in and around ears, back, under the arms, waist, belly button, groin, leg, behind knees, between the toes.  It’s also good practice to brush off all your clothing and gear before getting in your car or venturing around back at home.  

 

Ticks and Pets

It’s also important to check your pets regularly for ticks. Although they cannot spread Lyme disease, dogs and cats can bring infected ticks into your home.

 

 

So you found a tick! Now what?

DON’T PANIC! KNOW THAT NOT ALL TICKS ARE BLACK-LEGGED TICKS, AND NOT ALL BLACK-LEGGED TICKS CARRY LYME DISEASE. 

THOSE THAT DO MUST BE ATTACHED TO A HUMAN FOR A PERIOD OF 24 TO 36 HOURS BEFORE THE DISEASE IS TRANSMITTED.​​

 

Lyme Disease Signs and Symptoms

 

Most symptoms of Lyme disease in humans usually appear between three and 30 days after a bite from an infected blacklegged tick.

You should contact your health care professional right away if you have been somewhere that ticks might live and experience ANY of the following symptoms:

  • rash
    • bull’s-eye rash (a red patch on the skin that is usually round or oval and more than 5 cm that spreads outwards and is getting bigger
    • a bruise-like rash (usually on darker skin tones)
    • another type of unusual rash

 Fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, muscle aches and joint pains, fatigue (more tired than usual), swollen lymph nodes, spasms, numbness or tingling  and or facial paralysis