Health Guidelines

  • Illness at School and When to Keep Your Child At Home

    School nurses play a critical role in maintaining the health and safety of schools. West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) collaborates with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Polk County Public Health Department (PCHD), and local health care professionals to provide guidelines that identify when it is safe for children to attend school.  

     

  • When to Stay or Go Home

  • COVID-19 Guidelines

  • General Illness Guidelines

  • Communicating About Illness

  • Medications

    If it is necessary for your child to take medication at school, please observe the medication process in effect for the West Des Moines Community Schools.

    • If your child needs to take a medication at school, please contact your school nurse to set up an appointment time to bring in the medication and fill out the medication administration form. Printable versions of the daily, as-needed (PRN), and asthma medication forms can be found on our Health Forms web page.
    • Nebulizers are not recommended to be used at school this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is consistent with the national guidelines to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets/aerosols. All asthma medications need to be administered via metered-dose inhaler or dry powder inhaler. A holding chamber/spacer is recommended. A current prescription for the inhaler is required, per the WDMCS medication policy.
    • The Health Office must have a written daily or as-needed authorization form from the parent/guardian. Please include the student’s name, name of medication, amount to be given, time of medication is to be given, reason for the medication, and parent/guardian signature.
    • The medication must be in the original current container (NO plastic bags or envelopes with loose pills).
    • The directions on the medication container must match the parent authorization.

    ALL medications (prescription and over-the-counter) must be kept in the Health Office at all times. The only exception to this policy is if a student has authorization to self-administer asthma or epinephrine auto-injection medication.

Health Fact Sheets

  • Student Insurance

    Parents and/or guardians are responsible for their children’s medical costs even if the child is injured while at school. The school does not carry individual accident insurance on students. The state of Iowa provides health insurance for uninsured children.

    Learn more about Hawki Insurance

Last Modified on September 13, 2022