Health Guidelines for School Attendance
Keeping a sick child home protects other children, school staff, and visiting community members from catching an illness that can be spread from person to person.
A sick child who is unable to participate at school should be kept home to rest and recover until symptoms improve. Please be aware of the following guidelines for school attendance.
A student with any of the following symptoms should not attend school:
- Temperature of 100 degrees or higher
- Nausea, Vomiting, or Diarrhea
- Eye redness and/or drainage
- Undetermined rash and/or scaly patches over any part of the body or scalp
- Intense itching with signs and symptoms of secondary infection
- Open, draining lesions
A child with any of these symptoms must stay home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours and without the use of medication before returning to school.
If a parent suspects that his or her child has a contagious disease, the parent should contact the school nurse so that other students who might have been exposed to the disease can be alerted. Remember, hand washing can prevent the spread of diseases.
When you take your child to a healthcare provider for an evaluation of illness or injury, please be sure to request a written letter stating when your child may return to school and any accommodations required upon his/her return.
For COVID-19: please refer to the Austin ISD COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols for students who are experiencing symptoms, have tested positive, or have been in close contact with an individual who tested positive.
Austin ISD is required to report certain contagious (communicable) diseases and illnesses to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) or our local/regional health authority.For a complete list of Communicable Diseases, please see the Communicable Disease Chart for Schools from the Texas Department of State Health.
Please click on Common Illnesses for additional information.
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Common Illnesses |
When can my child return to school? |
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When on antibiotics and fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-suppressing medication and approval by a healthcare provider. |
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When all lesions have crusted over and it has been at least 24 hours since the last new lesion appeared. |
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When fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-suppressing medication. |
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A doctor's note is required unless symptoms have resolved. |
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When diarrhea-free for 24 hours without the use of diarrhea-suppressing medication. |
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Fever |
When fever-free (< 100.0 F) for 24 hours without the use of fever-suppressing medication. |
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When fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-suppressing medication. |
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When fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-suppressing medication. |
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When diarrhea-free and fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-suppressing or anti-diarrheal medication. |
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After completion of five days of antibiotic therapy. |
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Unless directed by a physician, students with MRSA infections should not be excluded from attending school. Exclusion from school/sports activities should be reserved for these with wound drainage that cannot be completely covered and contained by a clean, dry bandage and those who cannot maintain good personal hygiene. |
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When diarrhea-free and fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-suppressing or anti-diarrheal medication. |
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When on antibiotics and fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-suppressing medication. |
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Vomiting |
When able to tolerate food and liquids without any recurrence of vomiting, typically 24 hours after the last episode. |
For a full list visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/
For more information:
The extreme heat and cold in our region is a concern to the health and safety of our students and staff members. Outdoor time has many health benefits for children. According to AISD policy, all children in elementary schools must engage in at least 30 minutes of recess per day and a minimum of 135 minutes of physical education per week. The following temperature guidelines have been established in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for students participating in outdoor activities at Austin ISD. The listed temperatures, heat indexes, and wind-chill factors are designated figures for terminating and/or modifying outdoor activities including: Athletics, Fine Arts, PE, and Recess. Exposure duration and frequency of breaks should be modified as the temperatures approach the listed thresholds. Athletics and Fine Arts staff will use the designated weather tool, Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to monitor current weather conditions and determine if indoor practices or delaying games are required. For all other activities, campus principal or designee is responsible for monitoring their respective campus weather conditions and determining what activities will be permitted.
Definitions:
- Acclimatization – The process of gradually increasing the intensity of activity in a progressive manner that improves the body’s ability to adapt to and tolerate exercise in the heat.
- Extremities – Includes the arms, hands, legs, and feet.
- Heat Index – What the temperature feels like to the body.
- Rest Breaks – This period of time is a non-activity time that is in a ‘cool zone’ out of direct sunlight and during which students are encouraged to hydrate.
- Wet Bulb Globe Temperature – The WBGT is a measurement tool that uses ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind, and solar radiation from the sun to get a comprehensive measure that can be used to monitor environmental conditions during exercise. WBGT is different from heat index, as it is a more comprehensive measurement of environmental heat stress on the body.
- Wind Chill – What the air temperature feels like to the human skin.
- Weather Sentry/DTN – weather program utilized by Athletics & Fine Arts to monitor weather conditions and make decisions regarding the safe usage of outdoor facilities
Schools should honor reasonable parent requests that a student be allowed to stay indoors. Requests based on health reasons must be honored. The parent and school must work to determine when the child should be excluded from outdoor activities due to health concerns.
Cold -
- When properly clothed, elementary school-aged children can participate in safe, vigorous play in an outdoor environment in most weather conditions.
- When the temperature falls below 60 degrees, it is recommended to wear a jacket or coat, long sleeves, and long pants.
- Increased caution should be practiced when the wind chill factor reaches below 40. Wind chill is the temperature a body feels because of wind.
- When the wind chill falls below 30 degrees, it is recommended that students be kept indoors.
- Asthmatic children may need special accommodation of their need during cold weather.
- The parent and school must work to determine when the child should not participate in outdoor activities due to health.
Cold Weather Guidelines
If precipitation occurs in cold weather, reduce exposure time by 20 minutes**
| Weather | Athletics (Practices) | Fine Arts | PE/Recess |
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| Wind Chill 35° to 38° without precipitation | 90 minutes of total exposure. Extremities must be covered. | 90 minutes of total exposure. Extremities must be covered. | 45 minutes of exposure with a 15 min indoor break at the 25 min mark. Extremities must be covered. |
| Wind Chill 31° to 34° without precipitation | 70 minutes of total exposure. Extremities must be covered. | 70 minutes of total exposure. Extremities must be covered. | 30 minutes of exposure. Extremities must be covered and jackets/coats are required |
| Wind Chill 25° to 30° without precipitation | 60 minutes of total exposure. Extremities must be covered. | 60 minutes of total exposure. Extremities must be covered. | No Outside Activity |
| Wind Chill under 25° | No Outside Activity/Practices | ||
Heat -
- Reduce the intensity and duration of strenuous physical activity initially and gradually increase to accomplish proper acclimatization.
- Fully hydrate students prior to strenuous physical activity.
- Provide access to cool water and schedule frequent rest periods. Teachers should ensure that water is available to all students (water bottles, water fountain, etc.)
- Plan strenuous outdoor activities for early morning when possible.
- Be aware of chronic health issues and medications of students so that heightened surveillance of students with special needs occurs.
- Students with certain conditions are at a greater risk of heat stress. Included (but not limited to): cystic fibrosis, asthma, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, obesity, diabetes, chronic heart failure, caloric malnutrition, anorexia nervosa, sweating insufficiency syndrome.
- Check to see if a student's medication has specific precautions regarding heat, sunlight, etc.
- Students should be educated on signs of dehydration and heat related conditions. Use a "buddy system" to help students monitor each other.
- Implement extra precautions when practicing on concrete or asphalt.
- Watch out for signs of heat related illness.
Hot Weather Guidelines for Participation
| Weather | Athletics | Fine Arts | PE/Recess |
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| Temperature <95 °F and/or Heat Index <105 °F and/or WBGT <82.2 °F |
Normal Activity | Normal Activity | Normal Activity |
| Temperature 95 °F and/or Heat Index 105 °F and/or WBGT 82.2-86.9 °F |
Provide at least three separate rest breaks each hour to include 5 minutes for water each time. | Provide at least three separate rest breaks each hour to include 5 minutes for water each time. | Provide at least three separate rest breaks each hour to include 5 minutes for water each time. |
| Temperature 100 °F and/or Heat Index 110 °F and/or WBGT 87.1-90.0 °F |
Maximum 2 hour practice with a 5 min water break every 15 min Football: Players are restricted to helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts during practice. If the WBGT rises to this level during practice, players may continue to work out wearing football pants without changing to shorts. | Maximum 2 hour practice with a 5 min water break every 20 min | 45 minutes of exposure with a 5 min water break every 15 min |
| Temperature 105 °F and/or Heat Index 115 °F and/or WBGT 90.1-91.9 °F |
Maximum 1 hour practice with a 5 min water break every 15 min Football: No protective equipment may be worn during practice, and there may be no conditioning activities Cross Country: Runners must be in sight of the coach at all times. Middle School: 45 minutes of exposure with a 5 min water break every 15 minutes. Middle School: No equipment | Maximum 1 hour practice with a 5 min water break every 20 min | No Outside Activity |
| WBGT >92.1 | No Outside Activity. Delay participation until a cooler WBGT is reached. | ||
Heat-Related Illnesses
| WHAT TO LOOK FOR | WHAT TO DO |
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| HEAT STROKE | |
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| HEAT EXHAUSTION | |
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Get medical help right away if:
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| HEAT CRAMPS | |
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Get medical help right away if:
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| SUNBURN | |
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| HEAT RASH | |
| Red clustered of small blisters that look like pimples on the skin (usually on the neck, chest, groin or in the elbow creases) |
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Staff
Alana Bejarano, RN, MSN, NCSN
Executive Director
Jose Serrano, MPH
Assistant Director
Richard Soto, RN
Nurse Coordinator
Donna Piket, MPH
Public Health Coordinator
Ginger Voss
Contracts Manager
Ellie Gamble, LCSW-S
Health Logistics Coordinator
Contact
Student Medical Record Requests
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