Edmonds School District No. 15
Lynnwood, WA 98036-5789
8300-R1 - PROCEDURES FOR STUDENT HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE
The following procedures outline staff responsibilities related to student health, safety, and welfare. All staff members are expected to be aware of these procedures and to cooperate in activities that ensure that they will be completed as required or become necessary.
A. Responsibility
All staff are responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy environment and providing appropriate supervision. The District is responsible for students while on the bus and on school property during school time. The District does not otherwise have legal responsibility for students on the way to school, on the way home, or after being dropped off the bus at the correct bus stop.
If the principal receives a report from a student regarding a potential safety situation that may impact the student at school, the principal shall take reasonable precautions for protecting the health, safety and welfare for students, which may include calling parents, contacting CPS, and/or contacting local law enforcement authorities when appropriate.
B. Emergency Care and First Aid
Each school shall have staff assigned who have current training in emergency care. The building administrator will assure that staff are trained to provide emergency care for students.
Only emergency first aid will be provided at school. When an injury or illness requires further diagnosis or treatment, the student's parents or guardians will be notified. This procedure does not preclude the calling of Emergency Medical Services, (911), when deemed appropriate or necessary by a building administrator, teacher, or school nurse.
C. Accident Reporting
An Accident Report form, Form A-3, shall be completed for each student who sustains a reportable injury while under the jurisdiction of the district. Reportable injuries are described on the Accident Report form.
The district assumes no financial responsibility for emergency treatment, medical expenses, or transportation for injured students.
D. Communicable Diseases
The district will follow the guidelines promulgated by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Infectious Disease Control Guide for School Staff regarding the control of infectious disease and exclusion from school of students with designated viral or bacterial communicable diseases.
Each teacher shall immediately report to the building administrator or designee a student who appears to be infected with a communicable disease. The building administrator may exclude a student from school in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The student may return to school when it has been determined by a physician or nurse that the student is not infectious.
The building administrator and/or school nurse shall immediately report to the Snohomish County Health Officer those reportable diseases listed in the Infectious Disease Control Guide for School Staff, published by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Should a student be identified by a competent medical authority as having Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS-Related Complex (ARC), or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the following guidelines will be followed:
1. The district shall request a release of information to be provided to the district by the parent, guardian, or adult student. If such a release is provided, the district will contact the student's physician. The physician will assist in providing guidance regarding student placement, activities, and/or any necessary precautions.
2. Recommendations regarding the placement of individual students who may pose a risk will be developed by a team comprised of individuals with knowledge of infected student, the school settings, and HIV/AIDS. If the HIV/AIDS infected student is also a special education student, the student's MDT or IEP team will be involved in the assessment and recommendation, as appropriate.
3. Those involved in the care and education of an HIV/AIDS infected student shall respect the student's right to privacy and the laws regarding confidentiality of student and medical records.
4. Release of information regarding the testing, test results, diagnosis, or treatment of a student for a sexually transmitted disease may only be made pursuant to an effective release and only to the degree permitted by the release. To be effective, a release must be signed, dated, specify to whom the release may be made, and specify the time period for which the release is effective.
Any disclosure made pursuant to a release must be accompanied by the following statement:
This information has been disclosed to you from records whose confidentiality is protected by state law. Sate law prohibits you from making any further disclosure of this information without the specific written consent of the person to whom it pertains or as otherwise permitted by state law. A general authorization for release of medical or other information is not sufficient for this purpose.
5. Students shall not be required to release their HIV/AIDS status. Voluntary disclosure of such information shall be limited only to those persons expressly authorized by the infected student or his parents or guardians, if the student is under 14 years of age.
6. Confidentiality of information regarding sexually transmitted diseases
Release of information regarding testing, test results, diagnosis, or treatment of a student for a sexually transmitted disease may only be made pursuant to an effective release and only to the degree permitted by the release. To be effective, a release must be signed, dated, specify to whom the release may be made, and specify the time period for which the release is effective.
Any disclosure made pursuant to a release must be a accompanied by the following statement:
This information has been disclosed to you from records whose confidentiality is protected by state law. State law prohibits you from making any further disclosure of this information without the specific written consent of the person to whom it pertains or as otherwise permitted by state law. A general authorization for release of medical or other information is not sufficient for this purpose.
E. Vision Care and Eye Safety
District buildings shall be adequately lighted according to prevailing standards monitored by the district's designated safety officer to minimize harmful effects on student's vision. Students with impaired vision shall be provided with preferential seating and other assistance as needed to assure maximum vision.
The district shall meet or exceed eye safety standards consistent with state laws and regulations. Program managers, principals, and the district's designed safety officer shall prepare regulations that define and identify operations, activities, or areas where the use of eye protection devices will be required. "Eye safety areas" will be clearly identified and marked.
Each staff member has the responsibility to instruct all students under his/her supervision in the use of proper eye protective devices to be worn at all times when participating in, observing, or performing functions in connection with any courses or activities taking place in eye protection areas under said staff member's jurisdiction.
The district shall provide eye safety protective devices on a loan basis, without cost, to students, staff, and visitors. Students who for any reason refuse to use eye safety devices shall be excluded from those activities where such protection is required.
F. Evacuation and Emergency Drills
The principal is responsible for conducting emergency drills, including fire, earthquake, and emergency exit drills, as may be necessary to assure the general health and safety of building occupants in case of emergency.
The following provisions shall be included in emergency drill procedures:
1. Detailed evacuation and emergency drill instructions shall be given to all students and building occupants near the beginning of each school year.
2. Emergency evacuation directions shall be posted in each room of the building.
3. Provision shall be made for the evacuation of physically handicapped and disabled persons.
4. Drills shall be conducted at random intervals while school is in session. At a minimum, the following number of drills shall be conducted each year:
a. Four fire drills
b. Two earthquake drills
c. One general evacuation drill
G. Hazardous Materials
Each building administrator and appropriate staff member shall be responsible for obtaining relevant information about the existence and use of hazardous materials in the building and/or classrooms and to assure that appropriate precautions are followed in their use.
H. Safety Patrol
A junior safety patrol or adult crossing guard shall be posted at designated school crossings as needed. The safety patrol or crossing guards shall be under the supervision of the principal and subject to the authority of a law enforcement officer from the appropriate jurisdiction.
I. Heating and Ventilation
A standard of temperature control and ventilation consistent with comfort and good health practices shall be maintained in all interior school spaces.
J. School Grounds
School grounds shall be kept free of debris, hazardous equipment, and other sources of danger to students. All playground and physical education equipment must be approved by the safety officer and maintained in safe condition.
Vehicles shall not be driven on school grounds except for the purpose of parking in certain designated areas and only by specific direction of the principal or designee.
Bicycles may be ridden only to and from school and shall be parked only in designated areas.