Health Services

Should a student request to contact their parent/guardian or to go home due to illness or injury we request they do so through the health office.  Please be sure that you provide and update the school with your most current contact information and that phone mail boxes are functioning.  Be prepared for a call should you send your child to school ill and have indicated to them that they can call should they not feel better.

Students will be excused through the health office to go home if:

• They have a fever (eardrum temperature of 100.4 or above)
• They have been witnessed vomiting

Over-the-counter and prescription medications are kept in the Health Office and dispensed by Health Office staff.  Students are not allowed to carry medications unless they are emergency rescue medications, and we have received written permission from their physician to do so for the current school year.

Over-the-counter medications must be age-appropriate and will be dispensed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.  We dispense ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Benadryl for allergic reactions only, and antacids.  If you want your child to take any other over-the-counter medications while at school, we need your written permission along with the medication in the original container with your child’s name written on it.  Should your child’s medical provider recommend a dosage or frequency that exceeds the manufacturer’s recommended dose, a physician order is required.   

Written orders from a physician or health care provider detailing the name of the student, the drug, the dosage, route, and time to be dispensed and/or scheduled with the physician's name and signature must be received by the health office before any prescription medication can be given.  Prescription medications must be in an appropriately labeled pharmacy container.  Your pharmacy will provide a second labeled bottle to you upon your request. 

All prescription medication must be brought to school by an adult and kept in the Health Office during school hours.  For safety reasons, students should not bring medicine to school on the bus.  Please notify health office personnel should your child need to take prescription medication at school.  A student’s first dose of any medication that they have not taken before should occur at home.  Narcotic medications will not be dispensed at school. 

A Prescription Medication Form can be found in our online Links.

Vermont law requires the following:

• students must meet school entry requirements for immunization
• schools must notify parents when the student does not meet school entry requirements for immunization
• schools must assure that students initially provisionally admitted meet vaccine requirements as soon as possible, not exceeding 6 months from enrollment

For entry into the seventh grade, or if your child is newly enrolling in our school, proof of the following immunizations is required:

• 5 doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine
• 4 doses of polio vaccine
• 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine
• 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine
• DTap booster (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
• Varicella (chicken pox) – (2) doses; or proof of immunity; or history of disease

Immunization Exemptions: Vermont law allows for certain medical and religious immunization exemptions. Parents and caregivers seeking an exemption should complete the appropriate Vermont Department of Health exemption form and submit it to the school. Additional information, exemption requirements, and the necessary forms are available on the Vermont Department of Health website.

For more information on the Vermont Recommended Child and Teen Vaccination Schedule, contact the Vermont Department of Health Immunization Program at (802) 863-7638 or toll-free in VT (800)-640-4374 or visit their website:  HealthVermont.gov

The LUMS/LUHS schools are Food Allergy Aware Schools

Some school programs have considered banning or have banned specific food(s) across the entire school setting in an attempt to eliminate exposing a child with a food allergy to that food.  But, such an option cannot guarantee a totally safe environment because there is no reasonable or fail-safe way to prevent an allergen from inadvertently entering into a building.  We strongly discourage tree nuts.  We emphasize preventing cross-contamination through proper food handling and hygiene, i.e., washing hands before school, during lunch, and not sharing food.

Our online school menus are interactive, and our dietary staff is approachable and able to provide dietary ingredients.

Our schools focus on properly planning for children with any life-threatening food allergy and education relating to food allergies and appropriate emergency response.

We have designated allergen-free zones (nut-free tables in our cafeteria areas).

1.        Identification of children with food allergies

Health Information Forms are available to all families on our school website and are mailed out at the beginning of each year.  These forms help us to identify children with food allergies

2.        Develop a plan to manage and reduce the risk of food allergy reactions in individual children

Food Allergy Action Plans are also available for families to work along with their child’s physician to provide the school with medical information necessary to develop individual plans for managing their student’s care and to provide emergency actions including administration of EpiPens (EpiPens and Neffis).  It is essential for children to have a short, easy-to-follow plan for emergency care.  The USDA requires a doctor’s statement that a child has a food allergy before food service staff in the Child Nutrition Program can make meal accommodations and provide a safe meal for a child with a food allergy

Individual Health Care Plan (IHP) is a written document that outlines how children will receive health care services at a school and is developed and used by the school nurse.  The use of an IHP is standard practice for schools with a school nurse and helps the school nurse manage the risk of food allergies, prevent allergic reactions, and coordinate care with other staff.

3.       Help students manage their own food allergies

Some students, especially adolescents, can take responsibility for managing their own food allergies, including carrying and using epinephrine when needed.  School nurses and other school staff should reinforce self-management skills for students with food allergies.  These skills include reading labels, asking questions about foods in the school meal and snack programs, avoiding unlabeled or unknown foods, using their auto-injectors when needed, and recognizing and reporting an allergic reaction to an adult. 

When medication is required by students who have chronic health conditions, especially when medication may be life-saving, it is best practice to encourage and assist students to become educated and competent in their own care.  Students who can manage their own food allergies should have quick access to an epinephrine auto-injector, both at school and during school-related events.  Our schools allow students whose physicians have indicated that they are competent to carry and administer their own epinephrine auto-injectors. 

4.       Education and Training

Education and training are provided annually.

Every year, some students get sick with the seasonal Flu during the fall and winter months.  Symptoms can include: fever, chills, sore throat, cough, headache, and body aches (sometimes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). Flu can spread from person to person. 

The CDC recommends that individuals with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Parents/guardians will be notified when head lice have been identified on their child.  The Vermont Department of Health and the Department of Education do not support exclusion (nit-free, no-nit) policies or practices.  Further information on head lice can be obtained on the Vermont Department of Health website or by calling our local Vermont Department of Health office in Morrisville at 888-7447.

It is the policy of the LNSU that no student shall knowingly possess, use, sell, give, or otherwise transmit, or be under the influence of any illegal drug, regulated substance, or alcohol on any school property, or at any school-sponsored activity away from or within the school.  It is further the policy of the district to make appropriate referrals in cases of substance abuse.  The full policy can be found here: StudentAlcoholandDrugs.pdf

Vape Detection Technology

To help promote a healthy, safe, and vape-free learning environment, Lamoille Union High School and Green Mountain Technology & Career Center have installed vape detection sensors in student restrooms. These sensors are designed to detect vape aerosols, notify school administrators in real time, and help staff respond quickly when vaping is suspected.

The system is not intended to be punitive, but rather to discourage vaping, reduce disruptions to learning, and support student health and wellness. Vaping poses serious health risks—particularly for developing adolescents—and can have a negative impact on the school environment. By combining technology with education, prevention, and intervention, Lamoille North is committed to helping students make healthy choices while maintaining safe and welcoming schools for everyone.

Search & Seizure

To help maintain a safe, orderly, and secure learning environment, school officials may conduct searches of students, student lockers, backpacks, personal belongings, and vehicles parked on school property when there are reasonable grounds to believe that a search will reveal evidence of a violation of school rules, district policy, or the law. This authority also applies during school-sponsored activities and events, including field trips.

If a search results in the discovery of illegal, unauthorized, or other prohibited items, those materials may be confiscated and appropriate school disciplinary action may follow. When appropriate, law enforcement may also be notified. Examples of prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

• Tobacco, nicotine, vaping, and electronic smoking devices
• Alcohol or illegal drugs
• Misused prescription medications
• Weapons or dangerous items
• Lighters, matches, fireworks, or other items that present a safety risk
• Any other contraband or items prohibited by school policy

For complete information, please refer to the Lamoille North Search and Seizure Policy and the LUHS Student & Family Handbook.

School Nurse/Associate School Nurse Roles:

• Be knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of substance use, the substances available, and the prevalence of use in the community
• Collaborate with the school's administration to create a policy regarding alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
• Collaborate with the school's administration to create a referral procedure for students who exhibit signs and symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
• Educate the faculty and staff about the school's referral procedure and signs and symptoms of substance use.
• Be a resource for students and parents/guardians regarding alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
• Collaborate with the school's administration, SRO, and school counselors to develop a substance use assessment form.
• Conduct substance use assessment for students who are referred to the health office to determine if it is safe for the student to remain in school.

Resources:

National Institute on Drug Abuse

American Lung Association:  The Impact of E-Cigarettes

E-cigarettes and Youth-What Parents Need to Know

E-cigarettes and Youth-What Educators and Coaches Need to Know

E-cigarettes/vaping visual dictionary

Stanford Medicine Tobacco Prevention Toolkit

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable medical device designed to analyze a person's heart rhythm and, when necessary, deliver a controlled electrical shock to help restore a normal heartbeat during sudden cardiac arrest. When combined with high-quality CPR and rapid activation of emergency medical services, early defibrillation can dramatically improve survival outcomes.

AEDs are strategically located throughout the Lamoille Union Campus to ensure they can be accessed quickly during an emergency.

Lamoille Union High School (LUHS)

• Outside the Health Office (First Floor)
• Upper B Wing, at the top of the stairwell next to the fire extinguisher

Lamoille Union Middle School (LUMS)

• Outside the Main Office (First Floor)

Green Mountain Technology & Career Center (GMTCC)

• Outside the Main Office, across from the CEC
• Outside the Culinary Arts classroom
• Outside the Construction classroom in the Heavy Tech Building

Naloxone (Narcan)

To further support campus emergency preparedness, each AED cabinet also contains two doses of Narcan® (naloxone), a medication used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

School nurses and trained staff are prepared to administer naloxone during a suspected opioid overdose while emergency medical services are responding. This additional layer of preparedness helps ensure our schools are equipped to respond to a wide range of medical emergencies.

Staff Training

Lamoille North is committed to maintaining a well-trained staff prepared to respond during emergencies.

Staff members have access to CPR, AED, and emergency response training through Vector Solutions (SafeSchools), as well as additional certification opportunities through nationally recognized organizations such as the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. The Health Office also maintains a training AED that staff may use for hands-on practice and skill development.

Questions?
If you have questions about the Lamoille Union Campus Cardiac Emergency Response Plan, AED locations, or other health and safety preparedness efforts, please contact the Health Office at (802) 851-1212 or (802) 851-1347.

Vermont State Law requires that school districts, supervisory unions, and independent schools have a comprehensive health education curriculum that includes sexual health education and makes condoms available to all secondary students.  Condoms are available to all students at LUHS, LUMS, and GMTCC through the health office free of charge.

Resources:

State of Vermont Memorandum: Comprehensive Sexual Health Education and Condom Availability Programs

State of Vermont: Condom Availability Programs: Recommendations for Supervisory Union/Districts and Schools

Vermont Agency of Education: Sexual Health

Vermont General Assembly: Education - Comprehensive Health Education