Health&Safety Revised

1

Purpose: Student Health and Safety

Why we’re here...

NJ Administrative Code specifies minimum standards for local Boards of Education in establishing policies and procedures in operating schools

social

emotional

physical

Today we’re going to discuss the mandates pertaining to student health, safety, and welfare

2

Plans

Each school district shall develop and implement comprehensive plans, procedures, and mechanisms that provide for safety and security in the public schools

3

Plans should provide for…

• Protection of health, safety, security, and welfare of school population

• Prevention of, intervention in, response to, and recovery from emergency crisis situation

• Establishment and maintenance of climate of civility

• Supportive choices for staff, students, and their families

4

Each school district is required to…

• Provide annual training to staff

• Annually review training needs

• New employees must receive copy of plan within 60 days of start of employment.

• Must be notified in writing of any change

• Observe School Violence and Awareness Week

• Complete Vandalism & Violence Report

• CSA submit report to local Board of Education/Commission of Education annually

5

Programs to support student development include:

• Health Services

• Athletic Programs

• Intervention & Referral Services

• Substance Abuse Prevention (intervention and treatment program)

• School safety and security

• Student Discipline

• Missing, Abused, or Neglected Child Situations

• Home Instruction & Alternative Education Programs

6

ANNUAL TRAININGS AND PROGRAMS REQUIRED FOR TEACHERS AND/OR STUDENTS

• Suicide Prevention

• Bullying

• Blood and Bodily Substances

• Drug & Alcohol Prevention

• Right to Know

7

What is your responsibility as the student teacher?

• Be vigilant and observant.

• Inform appropriate school personnel.

• Maintain confidentiality, FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act: HIV/AIDS, Drug/Alcohol Abuse

8

Health Services Code: 6A: 16-2.1

All school boards are responsible for policy addressing health, safety, and medical emergencies. Children must be healthy to learn.

• Determination of # certified nurses• Care of pupil who becomes injured/ill while in school.• Immunization• Administration of medication• Treatment of asthma• Procedures for handling blood and bodily fluids• Anaphylaxis to food and other substances• Asthma Action Plan

9

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS

Elementary Schools Secondary Schools

Asthma Eating Disorder

Allergies Substance Abuse

Vision Injuries

Hearing Pregnancy

Chronic Sore Throat STDs

Ear Infections

Stomach Aches

Headaches

10

Most Serious and Preventable Health Issues

• Tobacco Use

• Poor Eating Habits

• Alcohol/Drug Abuse (65%-85% of youth between 11 -13 experiment with some sort of drug or alcohol)

• Behaviors resulting in unintentional injuries

• Physical inactivity

• STDs/Unintended Pregnancy

11

Care of Student Who Is Injured While in School

• Report immediately to school nurse or building principal• Access school nurse several ways

1. Allow student to go to nurse unassisted2. Peer escort3. Teacher escort4. Serious injury--request nurse to come to classroom, playground, etc.

• Routine first aid administered by teacher / school nurse• Parents notified• Serious emergency—an ambulance may be secured• If you suspect a student has a health or medical issue, you

should note symptoms and discuss with the school nurse.

12

Care of Student Who Becomes Ill While in School

• Part of the school’s obligation is to prevent communicable illness or disease.

• If you suspect a student has a health or medical issue, you should note symptoms and discuss with the school nurse.

• Signs and Symptoms of an illness. Runny nosePersistent coughHigh feverVomitingOpen lesions/sores/woundsRash

13

Routine First Aid...in the Classroom

Dunklee and Shoop define

First aid as immediate and temporary care given the victim of an accident or sudden illness in order to sustain the left of the injured person or to prevent further injury.

First aid procedures and policy provide liability protection

14

Routine First Aide in the Classroom, Playground

1. Bloody nose

2. Cuts/abrasions

3. Head injury

4. Fainting

5. Stomach virus / Body fluids other than blood

15

Classroom prevention of spreading germs or communicable illness

Practice good hygiene...encourage hand-washing.

Encourage use of tissues.

Do not share water bottles.

Stay home if you are not well.

16

Administration of Medication

• Medical documentation

• Administered to pupil by school nurse or parent/guardian. Medicine must be properly labeled

• Pupils not permitted to be in possession of medication.

• Medications maintained securely and safely in health office

• Self-medication exceptions:– inhalers

– Epi-pen

– Insulin

• Epi-pen delegates

17

Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug AbuseAll school districts must develop comprehensive programs for prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Abuse. These programs must included:

• Intervention

• Referral for Evaluation

• Referral for Treatment

• Continuity of Care

• Training – updated annually

• Educational Programs for Parents

• Prohibit Smoking on or Around School Grounds

• SRO

• SAC

18

Characteristics of Alcohol/Substance Abuse

• Decline in school performance

• Change in friends

• Tardiness

• Excessive absences

• Inconsistent behavior

• Lifestyle changes: music, clothes, language

• Becomes isolated

• Engaging in risk-taking behavior, i.e., stealing

• Depressed/sad

19

Your Responsibility: What you should do if you suspect a student is under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

• Be alert to signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol abuse.

• Refer to District Policy Manual

• Inform appropriate school staff. Co-op. Teacher, SAC, Principal, Nurse

• Maintain confidentiality

20

Depression and Suicide

School districts must develop policy that educates staff on depression, suicide/suicide prevention, Some facts:

• Suicide attempt is made every 2.5 minutes.

• Completed suicide occurs every 90 minutes.

• Suicide rate has risen 300% in the last 30 years.

• Females attempt suicide 4 to 8 times more frequently than males.

• Males are 4 times more successful than females.

21

Warning Signs of Suicide

• Actual attempts

• Previous attempts

• Expressing suicidal thoughts or threats

• Describes a plan

• Preoccupation with death and dying

• Prolonged depression

• Major personality change/behavior change

• Unexplained mood swings

• Self-destructive behavior

• Alcohol/drug abuse

• Declining school performance

22

Your Responsibility

• Be alert to signs of potential depression/suicide.

• Report all concerns, even if shared in confidence.

• Report signs reported to you by another student, colleague, or behaviors observed by you to appropriate school personnel, SRO, SAC, School Guidance Counselor, Administration, School Nurse.

• Take all comments seriously. Do not assume you can handle this on your own.

• Maintain confidentiality

• Refer to school District Policy Manual

23

School Safety and Security Plans 6A: 16-5.1Zero ToleranceCode allows immediate removal from school for the following:• Weapons

• Drugs

• Serious bodily injury

24

Early Signs of ViolenceSchool Administrators, teachers, support staff must be aware of signs of violence:

• Violent/aggressive behavior

• Social withdrawal

• Excessive feelings of isolation

• Discipline issues

• Intolerance for differences/prejudice attitudes

• Feelings of rejection/persecution

• Access to firearms

• Expression of violence in writing or drawing

• Serious threats of violence

25

Your responsibility if you suspect a student is at risk for engaging in violent behavior

• Refer to district Policy Manual

• Be alert, observant, and vigilant of all signs and indicators.

• Take all threats, comments, behaviors seriously

• Report any concerns, threats, comments or behaviors to appropriate school personnel. Co-op teacher, building Principal, SRO, Guidance Counselor

• Maintain confidentiality.

26

Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying (6A: 16-7.9)A safe civil environment is necessary in schools for students to learn and achieve high academic standards.

• Each Board of Education shall develop, adopt, and implement a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying on school grounds, including buses or at school-sponsored function. A safe and civil environment in schools is necessary for pupils to learn and achieve high academic standards.

• Investigation

• Remedial measures

• Consequences

27

Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying is defined as any gesture, written, verbal, or physical act or any electronic communication that is “reasonably” perceived as being motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical, or sensory handicap or any other distinguishing characteristics.

• The act will have the effect of harming a student, damaging property, placing another student in fear or harm.

• Has effect of insulting or demeaning in a way, causing a disruption to orderly school operations.

28

Harassment, bullying, intimidation can occur in many forms:

• Student to student

• Teacher to student/student to teacher

• Teacher to teacher

• Parent to teacher/Teacher to parent

• Administrator to subordinate/subordinate to administrator

• School must take action for reports of harassment, bullying, and intimidation both on and off school property...door to door.

29

Let’s talk about “Electronic Communication”.

• Cell phones

– imaging

– texting

• Computer Use

– My Space

– Face Book

– Questionable Websites

– Cyber Bullying

30

Child Abuse and Neglect (6A: 6-10) Any person having reasonable cause believing a child has been abused or neglected in an environment is required to notify authorities.

• DYFS

• Inform school Principal

• Protected from retribution

• School staff play major role in reporting this, as staff closely observes and interacts with students on a daily basis.

31

Recognize Signs and Symptoms of Abuse and Neglect (Dunklee & Shoop)

• Unusual or unexplained injuries/bruises• Seems sad/cries frequently• Fights/acts out in class• Seems tired/frequent nightmares• Appears afraid of specific adults• Doesn’t want to go home• Difficulty making friends• Tends to be pushy/hostile• Difficulty learning• Reported problems such as bedwetting/soiling• Uninvolved parents

32

What you should do if you suspect child abuse or neglect.

• Be alert, observant, vigilant.

• Notify proper authorities (DYFS).

• Strictly follow state, local, school district policy.

33

Child CustodySchools can be legally responsible for releasing a student to an adult.

What you should do:

Refer to district and school policy.

Never release a student to any adult, individual without written permission from parent or guardian.

Always inform office of any request to release a student to an adult/individual or notification of any change in typical dismissal procedures.

Insist all visitors pre-schedule a visit and report to the school office prior to visit to sign in/out.

Notify office immediately of any unidentified persons/strangers in building.

Know school procedures for lock-down.

Note status of all custodial situations of students.

34

School Support Systems

• Colleagues

• School Nurse

• Building administrator

• Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS)

• Child Study Team (CST)

• Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC)

• School Resource Officer (SRO)

• School Guidance Counselor

35

Most importantly...

• Be proactive.

– Review Board policy

– Review Teacher and Student Handbooks

– Speak to Building Administrator, School Nurse, Co-op Teacher

• Be vigilant/observant.

• Inform appropriate school personnel.

• Protect confidentiality: FERPA

• Never take issues into your own hands - always inform appropriate school staff.

36

Sources of Reference

Dunklee, Dennis R.. and Shoop, Robert J., The Principal’s Quick Reference Guide to School Law, 2nd Edition, Corwin Press, 2006.

NJ Department of Education Website