If your child needs to take prescription medication during the school day, please do the following:

1. Download a copy of the Medication Consent Form or contact your child’s school nurse for a copy.
2. Have your child’s doctor complete the Medication Administration Form. This form must be signed by the doctor and the parent/guardian. Note: a doctor’s signature is not required for short-term medication (less than 10 days).
3. Deliver the medication to the school nurse. Parents/guardians must bring the medication to the school nurse. Do not send in medication with your child.
   1. Medication must be supplied in the original container and labeled with the pharmacy label.
   2. We cannot accept “loose” medication in baggies.
   3. If the medication is also taken at home, ask the pharmacy to dispense with medication in two separate containers, one for home and one for school. 
   4. Only 30 days worth of medication can be accepted at a time.

Students may not self-administer medication in school unless they have been approved to do so by the School Nurse. Contact your child’s School Nurse for further information.

Parent/Guardian permission is required for all over-the-counter medications given during the school day. Nurses may give the following over-the-counter medications during the day if parents/guardians have approved these on the Parent Health Portal or signing the new student health form:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Emergency Anaphylaxis Treatment (Epinephrine)
• Bacitracin Ointment
• Benadryl
• Calamine Lotion
• Cough Drops - Sugar Free
• Hand Sanitizer 60-70% Ethanol Alcohol
• 1% Hydrocortisone Ointment
• Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
• Peroxyl Mouth Rinse (Antiseptic Oral Cleanser)
• Pramoxine HCL 1% (Sting Relief Pads)
• Tums

If your child needs to take any other over-the-counter medication during the school day, please do the following:

1. Download a copy of the Medication Consent Form or contact your child’s school nurse for a copy.
2. Complete and sign the Medication Administration Form. (Note: A physician does not need to sign)
3. Parents/guardians must bring medication to the school nurse. Do not send in medication with your child.
4. Medication must be supplied in the original container.
5. Some children are eligible to self-administer medication. See the medication self-administration section for details.

Students may be approved by the school nurse to self-administer medication (without visiting the school nurse) during the school day. A number of requirements must be met in order to allow students to self-administer, including, but not limited to:

• Written agreement between the nurse and parent/guardian
• Student demonstrates to the nurse that they are capable of self-administering medication according to school and medication administration policies
• Self-administration is safe and appropriate for the student’s health condition.

Newburyport Public Schools

Potassium Iodide (KI)

Information for Parents

This fact sheet is about a policy for people, especially those who live within ten miles of a nuclear power plant, who may be exposed to radiation from a nuclear plant emergency.  In December 2001, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said if there was a radiological emergency, people should take a drug that would help protect them from thyroid cancer.  This drug is called potassium iodide (KI).  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) agrees.  The questions and answers below will give you more information.  The Department of Public Health, the Center for Disease Control, the Newburyport Health Department, and your Newburyport School Nurses feel that the benefits of taking KI are much greater than the risks.  

What is potassium iodide (KI) and what is it used for?

If there is a radiological emergency from a nuclear plant, large amounts of something called radioiodine could be put into the air and this could hurt your thyroid gland, or even cause thyroid cancer later on.  You could breathe in the radioiodine or eat food that has some radioiodine in it.  When you take the KI pill, it protects the thyroid gland from being harmed.

What age group has the highest risk from exposure to radioiodine?

Young children have the highest risk.  We have learned this from looking at children in Russia and Japan and other areas that were exposed to the radioiodine from the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plant accidents.

Only an "opt in" on the Parent Health Portal or “yes” on the Confidential Health Form or Potassium Iodide Protocol permission form provides your child with KI during an emergency. When should KI be taken?

KI should be taken before or just after you are exposed to radioiodine and your child will receive KI from their teacher or school nurse only if you have “opted in” on the Parent Health Portal or checked off “yes” on the Student Confidential Health/Potassium Iodide Form. We are planning ahead in the unlikely event of an emergency. Nurses would give KI to your child only when instructed to do so by the local health department.

What are the risks of taking Potassium Iodide (KI)?

Taking KI is safe for most people.  KI should not be taken if someone:

• Is allergic to iodine, and consult physician for following:

• Has Graves Disease

• Has any other thyroid illness

• Takes thyroid medication

Be sure to list any of these conditions on the nurses’ confidential health form.

Can people have reactions to KI?

In general, most people who have taken KI have not had any reactions (side effects).  If people did have a reaction, it did not last very long.  In a few cases, babies had a reaction in their thyroids.  Adults who had reactions had stomach problems or a rash.  The federal government and DPH think the benefits of taking KI are much greater than the risks.

How much KI will be administered?

KI is provided to the district as a 130 mg tablet.  In an emergency, it is safe for school aged children to take the whole pill. Pills will be crushed for children who cannot swallow pills.

Click here for NPS Potassium Iodide Protocol Permission

MASS.GOV: FAQ Radiological Emergencies