Children with
Life Threatening Conditions Law

Dear Parents/Guardians:

This letter serves a dual purpose:

1. To inform you of a law enacted in Washington State that helps Public Schools provide for the safety and health of children during the school day; and


2. To notify you of the need to complete the Emergency Information, and Authorization For Administration of Oral Medication at School forms prior to enrolling your child at Sacred Heart School next fall.

The law, Substitute House Bill 2834, Children with Life-Threatening Conditions, took effect June 13, 2002. “Life-threatening condition” is defined as “a health condition that will put the child in danger of death during the school day if a medication or treatment order and a nursing plan are not in place”. Children with life-threatening conditions such as severe bee sting or food allergies, severe asthma, unstable diabetes, severe seizures, etc., are now required to have a medication and/or treatment order and a nursing plan in place before they may be enrolled in a public school. The treatment order, medications if applicable, and a nursing plan must be from the child’s licensed health care provider.

Your Sacred Heart School and Parish Safety Committee, along with School Staff are genuinely concerned about the health and safety of your children here at Sacred Heart, therefore we are adopting as policy the requirements set out for public schools under the State Law.

Under the law, if a medication or treatment order is not provided, the school administrator is required to exclude the child until such order has been provided.  This requirement applies to students with a life-threatening condition who are new to the school, and students who are already attending the school.

It is vital to your child’s safety during the school day that if your child has a life-threatening health condition that may require medical services to be performed at school, you immediately notify the school.  The enclosed Emergency Information form is the method by which this information should be communicated. This information is compiled in the health room, and with the child’s assigned homeroom teacher. The disaster container on the lower lot also holds appropriate back-up information by class.

The enclosed Emergency Information,  Authorization For Administration of Oral Medication At School, and if applicable, the Medication and/or Treatment Order and Nursing Plan will be required prior to admittance of your child for the 2008-09 school year. Please complete the attached forms and submit them by June 2008. The School Nurse will review the materials and will contact families in August 2008 to meet, finalize and have parent sign off on the medical care plans. All medications should be brought to school the week of August 14 or by making other arrangements with the School Nurse to bring them the following week. We appreciate your cooperation. Sacred Heart School places a high value the health and safety of your children.