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

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.

1. For any medication (daily or as needed) to be given during the school day, the parent must complete the NPS Parent-Guardian Authorization for Medication Administration form, and obtain a medication order from the licensed prescriber. Prescriber may utilize their own School Order form or complete the NPS Licensed Prescriber Order Form.
   1. Note: a doctor’s signature is not required for short-term medication (less than 10 days).
2. 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.

Nurses may give the following over-the-counter medications during the day if parents/guardians have approved these by completing/signing/returning the 25-26 New & Returning Student Health & Consent Form:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Cetirizine HCl (Zyrtec) Antihistamine 
• Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) 
• Calcium Carbonate (Tums) 
• Meclizine HCL (Non-Drowsy Anti-Motion Sickness) 
• Cough Drops- Sugar Free 
• Topical OTCs: Caladryl/Calamine Lotion, 1% Hydrocortisone Ointment, Sting relief pads 
• Note that our health offices utilize lotion, vaseline, and Aloe at times to soothe, moisturize and protect skin

Click here to review the 25-26 Medical Directives/Standing Orders and Protocols the Newburyport School Nurses use under the direction of the school physician.  

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:

• Parent/guardian and licensed prescriber consent.
• 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.

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.

MASS.GOV: FAQ Radiological Emergencies