Health Room 

Ka'elepulu School Health Room Services

If your child becomes ill or is injured in school, our School Health Assistant (SHA) will administer first aid for minor injuries. Since the school is not equipped to care for sick children, the SHA will notify parents or emergency contacts as indicated on the student's current Emergency Card. The student should be taken home or to the doctor. Parents or Guardians coming for the child must obtain a student pass before the child is released to him/her. In an emergency where the school cannot reach parents or emergency contacts, 911 will be called for ambulance service. The child will be taken to a hospital or emergency unit if necessary. If your child has a new or existing health condition that may require an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) please contact the School Health Assistant, Mrs. Celeste Hanawahine 

@ 808-807-0803. Health Room Hours are from 7:30am-2:30pm during school days.

Hygiene Habits 

Good health habits for preventing flu and other diseases include proper hand washing to help stop the spread of germs at school and home. Other everyday preventive actions include: 

• Avoid close contact with people who have infectious diseases;

• If your child gets sick with a fever and displays other cold symptoms, have your child stay home, except to get medical care, for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. A temperature of 100.0 and above is considered a fever and should be gone without the use of a medicine, like acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (for example, Motrin® or Advil®);

• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them;

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze;

• Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it;

• Wash your hands often with soap and water;

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;

• If your child gets sick with vomiting and/or diarrheal illness, they should stay home until those symptoms are resolved
  
  
  

Staying Safe from Respiratory Viruses

Respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year in Hawaii. They can cause symptoms like runny nose, cough, and sometimes fever, often thought as of “flu-like” or “common cold” symptoms. They can also cause severe disease in some people. We can all help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. Here are some ways to help keep our school community safe and healthy. Click here for more information about Staying Safe from Respiratory Viruses Guidance.

• Get immunized.

Stay up to date on your flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines.

• Stay home when sick.

Stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication AND other symptoms are mild and improving.

• Wear a mask.

• Wearing a mask when you are indoors with other people is a precaution you can take at any time. Wearing a mask helps protect you and those around you.

• Practice good hygiene.

Cover your coughs and sneezes, clean frequently touched surfaces, and wash your hands often.

• Take steps for cleaner air.

Open doors or windows to bring in fresh outside air, purify indoor air, or gather outdoors.

• Test and treat.

If you have cold or flu symptoms, and are at higher risk for severe disease, knowing what illness you have can help get you the right treatment. Antiviral medications for COVID-19 and flu work best when taken as soon as possible and are recommended for those at higher risk.

Health Conditions

Students may have medical conditions that can result in emergency situations that require immediate response during the school day.  An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) or Individualized Emergency Action Plan (IEAP) provides guidance to Department of Education(DOE) personnel involved with the student so emergencies can be recognized and responded to as quickly and appropriately as possible. 

To provide a safe environment for students who have various health conditions and to respond in emergencies,  please contact the School Health Assistant for documents that are required to be submitted for approval by our Hawaii Department Of Health, PHN (Public Health Nurse) The PHN will assess your child's health needs and work with the parent/guardian and your child's doctor to update or develop an EAP. Consider having an EAP if your child has a medical condition such as asthma, a history of life-threatening or severe allergic reactions, diabetes, seizure disorders, and technology-dependent or medically fragile conditions. 

Storing and Administering Daily and Emergency Medications

For the safety of our school community, please do not send any medications with your child to school. This includes but is not limited to all over-the-counter medication, prescription medication, and cough suppressants. Parents and guardians are welcome to come to the health room to administer any medication if needed to your child.  If your child needs daily or emergency medications in school, a Request to Store and Administer Medications (SH36) needs to be completed by both the Doctor and Parent. Upon approval, a parent must then bring it to the Health Room to be stored and then administered by the School Health Aide according to the Doctor's orders. 

Head Injuries

Many head injuries that happen at school are usually minor.  Should your child experience and report a bumped head or injury of any sort, they will be allowed to rest, be cared for, and be observed for any other symptoms. We take all head injuries very seriously. If your student reports a head injury, the appropriate steps will be taken depending on severity.  Written documentation will be provided (SH6) with an info sheet (SH53) to watch for delayed symptoms that may caused by head injuries.

Hydration

The first months of the school year are expected to be very warm. In dealing with the warm temperatures we recommend that students do the following: ​

• Wear light-weight, loose-fitting, cotton or other fast drying clothing;

• Carry a water bottle, which can be refilled by your child as needed;

• Use a cap with a brim that shades your child's face from the sun for outdoor activities; and

• Avoid getting overheated and to stay hydrated. They should let their teacher or school staff know.

If your child has physical and/or health needs that may require an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) updated or developed for heat related illness, please contact your School Health Aide. They will refer you to a Public Health Nurse (PHN) assigned to your school. 

Uku (Head Lice) Policy 

• The school health assistant will inspect the hair of students who are showing symptoms of ukus. If a student is noted to have live ukus and/or nits, parents will be notified by phone. The SHA or Administrator will advise that treatment be started as soon as possible. Upon return, the student will be rechecked and remove any nits, if any, that may have been missed and will return to class. If there are siblings in other grades, they may be screened as well. 

• Parents have the option of picking up the student right away to start treatment. If not available, the student will go back to class and remain in school until the end of the school day.

• Please click on this link here for more information regarding Headlice provided by the Hawaii Department Of Health

Helpful Tips

• Check your child’s hair at least once a week and if ukus or nits are found, treat promptly. You can call your primary care provider for possible treatment solutions, some of which may be covered by insurance.

• The best prevention measures are to educate yourself and your child on how ukus spread and to treat as soon as they are found.

• Consider keeping your child’s hair slicked back or tied up to help prevent live ukus from spreading. Remember, checking your child’s hair once a week at home will help keep ukus out of your home and our school community.

• For more prevention and treatment tips, please click here for more information.