HEALTH OFFICE
Keeping students safe and well
The Health Office
The Health Office provides first aid and symptomatic treatment for illnesses and injuries to the students, faculty and staff of the American School of Dubai. The Health Office is located on the ground floor of the Elementary School (Room ES 102), in the corridor nearest Gate 1 and the red stairwell. A satellite office is located in the Field House (Room FH 111) for athletics and extracurricular school activities.
Health Office Hours:
Main Health Office: 7:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Sunday - Thursday Extra Curricular Nurse: Available 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. on school days and during major ASD sports and community events
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The Health Office team manages illness and injury, communicates with parents regarding student health needs, works with counselors, teachers and administrators to advocate for student health, promotes wellness within the ASD community, assists with first aid needs for school sponsored trips, and ensures compliance with regulations of the Dubai Health Authority.
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Jennifer Maddox, MD School Physician jmaddox@asdubai.org 04 395-0005, ext. 1030
Keeping s The Health Office adheres to and promotes the ASD Core Values of Compassion, Excellence, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility. The Health Office serves students, faculty and staff to support the ASD learning environment. The staff manages medication dispensation, provides allergy and medication consent forms, maintains health information records, conducts required Dubai Health Authority medical exams, administers health services and emergency first aid to students, faculty and staff and are available to discuss with families medical conditions. The Health Office team includes a school physician, registered nurses (RN), and administrative staff to insure that the medical needs of ASD students are met. The school physician oversees the staff operations of the Health Office, including responsibilities for compliance with the Dubai Health Authority regulations. The Registered Nurses see students for
tudents safe and well injuries and illnesses that occur during the school day. They provide symptomatic treatment in order to maximize learning opportunities at school. A registered nurse is also available in the Field House during after school activities and on weekends for scheduled school activities and athletics tournaments. The Health Office administrative staff maintain health data records, update vaccination information, schedule medical exams, generate reports and liaise with parents, students and other departments. The Health Office encourages all families to have a family physician in Dubai to meet personal health care needs. A list of local physicians, clinics and hospitals is available in the Health Office. In order to maximize learning, the Health Office sees students with minor ailments during noninstructional time. Students may visit the Health Office when issued a pass, signed (or accompanied) by a teacher. For general inquiries regarding health services, email healthoffice@asdubai.org or call 04 395-0005, ext. 1030.
In order to maximize instructional time, the Health Office: • Provides first aid and symptomatic treatment for illnesses and injuries that occur during the school day. • Conducts Dubai Health Authority medical exams and visual screening. • Promotes wellness and injury prevention both on campus as well as on school sponsored trips. • Provides referrals helping families find physicians, clinics and hospitals in Dubai. • Covers first aid treatment at ASD scheduled sports events and after school activities.
In order to maximize instructional time, the Health Office does not: • Diagnose illnesses or injuries (examples: fractures, strep throat).
• Manage or diagnose injuries or illnesses occurring outside official school activities, school premises or timings. • Serve as a substitute for a personal family physician. • Write prescriptions for medications or referrals to specialists. • Perform any diagnostic testing.
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Keep emergency contacts updated with the Health Office, classroom teacher and the Registrar.
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The Annual Health Information Update Currently enrolled families are asked to keep student health records accurate. Each year families are requested to complete the annual Health Information Update. The ability of the Health Office to care appropriately for students is dependent upon the most accurate and up to date health information available. Information requested includes vaccinations, updated emergency contacts, new medical conditions, medications, procedures or hospitalizations that have occurred over the last year. Health information is held confidential. Students in Grades 5-12 are asked to compete the Health Information Form before any overnight travel with the school such as the Grade 5 Hatta field trip, MS Week
Without Walls, and the HS INSPIRE trips. Students in K2- Grade 4 will complete the form annually.
New Family Expectations
Enrolling families at ASD must complete the Health Information Form and submit vaccination records as a requirement of the admissions process.
Checklist for Enrolling Families
• Health Information Form and vaccination records are complete and submitted; • Health Office visit to discuss any medical conditions and complete necessary forms; • Provide up to date emergency contact information.
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Parents must notify classroom teachers/advisors and the Health Office if both parents are traveling with information as to the responsible adult caring for your child(ren) while away. Medications
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Students who have need for medication (including homeopathy) to be administered during the school day must have the medication registered with the Health Office. Parents complete a personal medication form to specify dosage and instructions. Medications brought to the Health Office are in their original container, clearly labeled with student name and dosage. A medical release form is signed by parents and student medications are then kept in the Health Office and dispensed by the nurses. The Health Office stocks a variety of non-prescription medications which are administered to students for symptomatic relief. To maximize learning time during the school day, students should have any necessary medications for symptomatic relief administered at home. Students are not permitted to carry or store any medications at school with the exception of EpiPens and asthma inhalers. All students carrying EpiPens or asthma inhalers must sign a contract agreeing to responsible use each year.
Allergens at ASD
The American School of Dubai is an allergen aware school. ASD seeks to create an environment in which children with severe allergies can progressively assume responsibility for monitoring and taking action aligned with their medical condition. ASD cannot guarantee that students will not be exposed to any conditions that may cause them to have an allergic reaction. ASD seeks to minimize exposure to certain allergens in the lower grades and provides labeling for major allergens in the upper grades.
Epipens - Allergies - Inhalers
The Health Office must be notified of any allergy treatment. Students requiring EpiPens complete an Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan with parents’ signature. Elementary students who require an Epipen must keep their medication with the Health Office. The Health Office ensures students travel with their emergency medications when away on school sponsored trips. Students who require an Epipen must have one available for travel off campus or field trips in order to attend. EpiPens must be within expiration dates. Middle and high school students who require asthma inhalers and/or EpiPens may only carry medication when a contract and/ or Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan is completed and signed by the parent, indicating the student has demonstrated safe and effective use of the medication. Contracts are available in the Health Office and online.
Immunizations
ASD requires a record of K-Grade 12 student immunizations at the time of enrollment. All immunizations must be up to date at the time of enrollment and records updated as additional immunizations are received. ASD uses the Dubai Health Authority vaccination schedule, available in the Health Office and on the ASD website. Parents are responsible for submitting a copy of student immunization records (must be translated to English) to Admissions at the time of enrollment and annually thereafter to the Health Office.
School Accidents and Injuries
The Health Office treats students who sustain injuries or who are involved in accidents at school. In an emergency, a student may be transported to the nearest hospital accompanied by an ASD staff member. Parents, or in their absence, emergency contacts, will be notified as soon as possible. For non-emergency conditions, the Health Office staff will contact the parent to discuss a plan for further evaluation either immediately or after the school day.
School Medical Exams
ASD works in conjunction with The Dubai Health Authority to ensure compliance with required student medical exams. Those requirements include: • Every new student enrolling at ASD receives a school medical exam. • Every student in grades 5, 9 and 12 receives a school medical exam. The Health Office organizes the exams, which are arranged to minimize disruption to learning. The medical examination is a general physical along with measurements of the student’s height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. The exam typically lasts 20 minutes and students do not change out of their clothes. Students also have a visual screening (with glasses, contacts or visual aids in place). Parents receive a report with the results of the exam. The school medical exams are not meant to replace routine or annual physical exams with the student’s own physician. Annual physical exams with personal physicians are important for maintaining good health.
Communicable Diseases
To keep the ASD learning environment a safe and healthy place for students to learn, the Health Office appreciates the cooperation of parents in dealing with possible contagious illnesses. Please report to the Health Office if your child has been diagnosed with a contagious illness (chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever, head lice, pinworms, etc.). If there is a contagious illness in your child’s grade, the Health Office notifies parents.
Head Lice
Head lice is a common occurrence in most schools. Parents are encouraged to routinely check their child’s hair for head lice or nits. Please inform the Health Office if your child has head lice. A student must be treated with lice shampoo and have all nits removed from the hair before returning to school. The Health Office examines cases of lice before returning to the classroom.
Elementary Hat Policy
Students K1 - grade 5 are required to bring two hats to school for use on the fields, playground and outdoor P.E. Parents provide one hat to be worn back and forth to school and one left at school to be available during the school day. Families may choose hat design (baseball, floppy, cricket, etc.), yet it is recommended hats be of a light color, cotton and of a size to fit in the elementary school cubbies.
When should my child stay home from and return to school? The Health Office asks parents to keep children home if they are ill, both for their own recovery and to avoid the spread of illnesses to others. Students with temperatures higher than 37.8 C (100.1 F ) must remain home until a 24 hour time frame has passed, without fever reducing medication, before returning to school.
Children may return to school when: • Fever free (less than 37.8 C, 100.1 F) for 24 hours without fever reducing medication • No vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours • Conjunctivitis and strep throat may return 24 hours after first dose of medication • Receiving antibiotics for over 24 hours in the case of bacterial infections • Potentially contagious rashes are diagnosed by the family physician and note submitted Persistent cough and cold symptoms, ear infections, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, conjunctivitis require the diagnosis and treatment from a primary care physician. Students should remain home while symptomatic to protect the health and wellness of others. When a student is evaluated with symptoms that warrant going home, parents will be contacted. For the student’s comfort and to minimize the spread of illness, children should be picked up as soon as possible, within 30 minutes, from the Health Office. Students who have an acute injury that requires temporary use of the school elevators, backpacks, or restricted P.E. classes should submit a note from their personal physician including the diagnosis received and detailing the accommodations and dates to be in effect. The Health Office team does not excuse students from P.E. or for accommodations.
My child is sick reporting absences Parents notify the school and offices when a child is sick and cannot attend school. Parents report a child’s absence by 8:00 a.m.
Elementary School
Parents telephone or email the Elementary School office. esoffice@asdubai.org 04 395 0005, ext. 2015
Middle School
Parents telephone or email the Middle School office. msoffice@asdubai.org 04 395 0005, ext. 3036
High School
Parents telephone or email the High School office, or leave a message on the Absence Voicemail. hsoffice@asdubai.org 04 395 0005, ext. 4010
P.O. Box 71188 Dubai, UAE | +971 4 395 0005 www.asdubai.org