FILE: JGFG
ILLNESS AND ACCIDENTS
It is the intent of the Ouachita Parish School Board to maintain a safe and healthy educational environment in school buildings, on school campuses, and at school-sponsored functions and activities. School administrators, teachers, volunteers, and other school personnel, however, cannot guarantee that the school environment will be free of illness or accidents.
The Ouachita Parish School Board shall attempt to provide appropriate and reasonable care of students when they become ill or injured. Any treatment rendered should be in accordance with the severity of the illness or injury. When a child becomes seriously sick at school or is seriously injured in an accident, the principal or his/her designee shall be responsible for immediately contacting the parents. If the principal or designee is unable to contact the parents, he/she shall attempt to contact the family’s primary care provider as noted on the Health Information form submitted by the parents at the beginning of the school year. The principal or designee shall also attempt to contact the person listed as the emergency contact on the Health Information form.
If treatment is deemed urgent and the primary care provider is not immediately available for consultation, the principal shall call 911 or its equivalent. School personnel shall remain with the child until emergency medical personnel arrive to treat the ill or injured student. If emergency medical personnel deem it necessary to transport the student to a medical facility, school personnel may accompany the student.
Neither the School Board nor the school shall assume any liability for the treatment of a student.
Principals shall notify the Superintendent of all serious accidents to students whether they occur on the school grounds, on the school bus, on field trips or during any other student activity.
To facilitate the rendering of health services, the School Board shall require the parent/legal guardian to submit properly completed standardized school health forms as enumerated in Health and Safety, Bulletin 135.
No medication shall be administered to any student unless written permission from parents has been granted, and only in accordance with School Board policy JGCD, Administration of Medication.
FIRST AID
Generally, treatment of injuries should be limited to the rendering of first aid. First aid is that immediate help given by the best qualified person at hand in case of accidents or sudden illness. Each school employee who participates in any required in-service shall be required to receive first aid orientation and training. A master first aid kit shall be kept and properly maintained in each school. For more serious injuries, trained medical personnel should be summoned to assist with such injuries as needed.
Revised: June, 2008
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:440.1
Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education
Ouachita Parish School Board