Medical Matters

Phoenix Park Academy Medical information.

Upon admission to PPA parents/carers will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire; this highlights any health concerns and will state whether your child suffers from any medical condition such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy etc. If your child requires medication for any condition or ailment, which needs to be administered during school time; parents/carers must provide school with all medication (in the packaging, with the child and doctor’s name and address).

Parents/carers will also have to complete a separate form granting permission for school staff to administer the medication.

Please read a letter explaining our processes for the administration of medicine on site.

Administering Medication

Supporting Students at School with Medical Conditions Policy Sep 2023

Your Child’s Health and Wellbeing

Head Lice

 Facts About Head lice:

  • Head lice are small insects (about the size of a sesame seed when fully grown) that live very close to the scalp.
  • Nits are not the same as lice.  Nits are the empty egg cases which stick to the hair.
  • You only have head lice if you find a living moving louse (not a nit).
  • Anybody can get head lice – adults and children.
  • Head lice don’t care if the hair is dirty or clean, short or long.
  • A lot of infections are caught from close family and friends in the home and community, not at school.
  • Head lice can walk from one head to another, if the heads are pressed together for some time.  They do not fly, jump or swim.
  • Regular hair care may help to spot lice early.
  • The best way to stop infection is for families to check their heads regularly using detection combing.

How to detect head lice:

You will need: A PLASTIC DETECTOR COMB

(These are available from your pharmacist -ask for help if there are none on display)

  1.  Wash the hair well and rinse, apply lots of conditioner but do not rinse.
  2. Ensure that there is good lighting – daylight is best.
  3.  First, comb the hair with an ordinary comb.  Then, using the detector comb, begin at the top of head and making sure that the comb is touching the scalp, slowly draw the comb towards the ends of the hair.
  4. Check the teeth of the comb carefully.
  5.  Repeat steps (3) and (4), working your way around the head from the top of the scalp to the ends of the hair.

If there are head lice, you will find one or more on the teeth of the comb. If you find lice, or something which you are unsure about, stick it to a piece of paper with clear sticky tape and take it to your GP or local pharmacist. The best way to stop infection is to do detection combing regularly. NEVER use insecticidal liquids, lotions or shampoos to PREVENT infection, or just in case.

DO NOT TREAT UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU HAVE FOUND A LIVING, MOVING LOUSE.

Ask your GP or pharmacist which head louse lotion or liquid to use. Do NOT use head louse shampoo.

In a well ventilated room apply the lotion or liquid to dry hair. Part the hair near the top, put a few drops of the lotion or liquid on to the scalp and rub in some more of the lotion or liquid.  Do this again and again until the whole scalp is wet.  You don’t need to take the lotion or liquid any further than where you would put a ponytail band.  Take care not to get the lotion or liquid in the eyes or on the face. You should use at least one small bottle of lotion or liquid per head, more if the hair is thick

Let the lotion or liquid dry on the hair naturally.  Keep well away from naked flames, cigarettes or other sources of heat.  Do NOT use a hair dryer. Leave on the hair for 12 hours or overnight.  Then, wash and rinse as normal. Repeat the entire treatment seven days later, using second bottle of the same lotion or liquid. Check the head two days after the second treatment.  If you still find living, moving lice ask your School Nurse for advice.

If we notice a child has head lice, we will contact parents/carers and inform them of the situation them to avoid the spread of head lice.