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Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)

Currently, RISD has AEDs in all the elementary schools, Jr. Highs and High Schools, the PDC, the Administration building, Security Row offices and the Annex.

An AED is a small, portable device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and prompts the user to deliver a defibrillation shock if it determines one is needed. Once turned on, the AED guides the user through each step of the defibrillation process by providing voice and/or visual prompts.

AEDs are specially designed for easy use by a "first responder", who would be the first person to typically arrive on the scene of a medical emergency. A first responder can be an emergency medical services worker, a firefighter or police officer, or it can be a layperson with minimal AED training.

Time to defibrillation, the most critical factor in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survival, can be reduced if an AED is "on-site" and can be brought to the victim quickly. This is one of the reasons that survival rates improve in communities with active AED programs. The goal is to improve SCA survival rates, and on-site AEDs can make the difference.

SB 7, which was passed in the 80th legislative session, requires all district nurses, coaches, PE teachers, band directors, cheerleading sponsors, and athletic trainers (including student trainers) to be certified in the use of the AED. While most of these employees are already certified, the remaining employees are currently being certified.

source: http://www.aedhelp.com/aeds/

Diabetes Information on HB 984

Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that impairs the body’s ability to use food for energy. Over seventeen million Americans have diabetes and over 200,000 individuals die each year of related complications. Long term complications include heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations of limbs. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in school aged children affecting 1 in every 400-500 children under 20 years of age. Diabetes cannot be cured, but the disease can be carefully managed to maintain wellness and prevent or delay complications.

H.B. 984 was passed in the 79th legislative session to require schools in Texas to assist in the care of students with diabetes. H.B. 984 which amends the Health and Safety Code (Chapter 168) was passed to ensure that students with diabetes obtain appropriate care at school and while participating in any school activity to enhance their health and ensure their safety. It requires that in each school in which a student with diabetes is enrolled, the school principal shall seek school employees who are not health care professionals to serve as Unlicensed Diabetes Care Assistants and care for students with diabetes. A written consent from the parent is required to authorize the trained Unlicensed Diabetic Care Assistant to care for the student with diabetes. It requires a collaborative effort between the student, parent, physician, teacher and school nurse to develop a student’s Individual Health Plan which includes the routine treatment and care that will be available for the student and emergency interventions that will be provided to the student. A thorough training program is required for the unlicensed personnel to provide information and obtain the necessary skills to manage and provide urgent care as needed.

Smallpox Vaccinations in the School Setting

In February 2003, the Texas Department of Health announced that certain health care workers and public health officials will begin to receive smallpox vaccinations. In addition, many military personnel also will be administered the vaccine. The health and safety of students, employees, and visitors to our school communities is always of paramount importance. Since we anticipate that these external events will result in some members of our school communities receiving smallpox vaccinations, the Richardson Independent School District has developed guidelines to prevent infection due to inadvertent exposure.

Health officials do not recommend administering the vaccination to persons under 18 years of age; thus, our students are unlikely to receive the vaccinations. The guidelines are based upon recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services (DCHHS).

The CDC and DCHHS have advised RISD that there should be little or no risk of inadvertent transmission of smallpox vaccine (which is the vaccinia virus and not the smallpox virus) from a vaccinated person if appropriate infection control measures are observed (e.g., proper handwashing using a 60% alcohol hand-rub solution, covering of the vaccination site with appropriate bandages, wearing long sleeves, avoiding direct close personal contact with the site).

Volunteers and contractors also will be required to observe the guidelines. If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact RISD’s Health Services Department at 469-593-7445.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Because the incidence of Pertussis (also known as Whooping Cough) has increased in Texas this past year, RISD Student Health Services would like to share information about the importance of immunizations for their infants as well as becoming familiar with the symptoms of pertussis. Click here for a bilingual fact sheet about pertussis. (PDF)

A New Medication Policy for RISD went into effect August 1, 2001. You can find it on the Medication Policy/Forms page.

Bacterial Meningitis Information

The Texas Legislature recently passed SB 31, which requires that a school district provide information relating to bacterial meningitis to all students and their parents each school year.

Following is a document that pertains to bacterial meningitis, is for your information only, and does not indicate an outbreak in our area:

English Version (PDF)
Spanish Version (PDF)

The documents above are saved as a PDF. You need the free software, Acrobat Reader 4.0 or higher, to view them. If you do not have this free software, download now.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

New national health information privacy standards have been issued by the U.S. Department of Human Services regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). This act (HIPPA) which governs the privacy of protected health information became effective April 14, 2003.

As a result, information regarding a student’s immunizations, health information, diagnosis, and medical treatments will not be released by your health care provider to your school nurse, who will require this information to meet district and state regulations. The responsibility will fall on our parents to obtain this information directly from their health care provider and bring it to their school nurse.

Your cooperation in expediently providing any health information that is requested by the school nurse will be greatly appreciated.