3. Health Services
Table of contents
3.1 School nurses
3.2 Nurses' contact details
3.3 Medical insurance
3.4 Vaccination and immunisation
3.5 Emergency contact details
3.6 Nut allergies
3.7 Medication administration
3.8 Emergency medication
3.9 Student illness during the school day
3.10 When to keep your child home from school
3.11 Medical certification (MC)
3.12 Using mobility aids in school
3.13 Medical emergency
3.1 School nurses
CIS has full-time nurses on campus who provide first aid, and maintain up-to-date health records for each student. Parents must advise the school of any medical concerns about their child. Parents are always welcome to come by and meet the school nurse in person to express any concerns that they may have about their child’s health.
3.2 Nurses' contact details
Our nurses’ contact details are on the health and wellbeing page in My.CIS.
3.3 Medical insurance
CIS has in place medical insurance for all students. This document outlines full details regarding medical insurance coverage and the claim process.
3.4 Vaccination and immunisation policy
CIS follows the Singapore government's advice, recommendations and guidelines around vaccinations, pandemics and endemics.
3.4.1 Mandatory immunisations
In Singapore, immunisation against both measles and diphtheria is mandatory under the Infectious Diseases Act. Immunisation against these two diseases is also a CIS condition of enrolment. This Singapore National Childhood Immunisation Schedule outlines what vaccines are needed and when. With effect from 1 February 2019, it is mandatory that all children aged 12 and below, who were not born in Singapore, must provide evidence of diphtheria and measles vaccinations when applying for long-term residency passes. This page outlines the process that you will need to follow, while this page outlines some frequently asked questions.
3.5 Emergency contact details
Please ensure your contact information is kept up to date, as we need to be able to contact you in an emergency.
In an emergency situation where no parent or caregiver can be reached by telephone, the school may send the student to the nearest hospital or doctor for immediate observation and treatment. Update your contact details in My.CIS here.
3.6 Nut allergies
There are several students at CIS with life-threatening nut allergies. In order to assure their safety, please do not provide class snacks containing nuts. If you are unsure of the nut content, please alert the teacher.
Parents of students with nut allergies are asked to provide approved snacks for their child in the event of impromptu class celebrations. All primary children are to keep their personal Epipen with their divisional school nurse. Older children are encouraged to carry their personal Epipens for accidental exposure to their allergen.
3.7 Medication administration
Whenever possible, medication should be given at home rather than during school hours. Vitamins and supplements should always be taken at home.
Paracetamol (for minor symptoms) can only be administered if there is signed authorisation in the student’s Medical Examination Form/Health Record.
The school nurse is the only school employee authorised to dispense prescription medications to students during the school day. Prescription medications will not be dispensed unless the student’s parent/caregiver has provided the school nurse with a signed oral medication authorisation form.
This form can be obtained from the school nurses or on the health and wellbeing page of My.CIS. All medication/s must be kept with the respective school nurse except emergency medications (Epipen) - where students have pre-authorisation.
3.8 Emergency medication
Parents of children who require emergency medication (e.g. Epipen, Zyrtec, Ventolin) will be asked to sign a standing order for use of Epipen form and/or medication administration authorisation form. It is the responsibility of the parent to provide the medication to the school nurse along with the appropriate paperwork.
Teachers may dispense medications to students on field trips and overseas excursions where prior parental permission has been obtained. Exceptions to this policy can only be made with the principal’s approval. Parents are asked to advise the school if their child is taking medication, and if there are any special requirements regarding dosage or diet.
3.9 Student illness during the school day
If the school nurse determines that a child is too ill to attend class, or has/is suspected to have a communicable disease that could jeopardise the health of other students, she will contact the parent or caregiver. The parent or caregiver will be required to promptly pick up their child from school. Students will only be sent home if the parent or caregiver has been contacted and the student is:
- accompanied home by a designated adult
- unaccompanied if requested by the parent and an official acknowledgement between parent and nurses has been confirmed via email (for primary students only)
All students sent home unaccompanied must be transported home via taxi. No students are allowed to take public transport (bus and/or MRT) on their own when they are unwell. When a child is unwell near the end of the school day, school nurses will determine if the ill child is fit to take the school bus. Parents will need to pick up their ill child if the child is unfit to take the school bus.
3.10 When to keep your child home from school
To prevent the spread of illness, we ask that you do not send an ill child to school. If your child becomes ill at home with a contagious illness eg COVID-19, measles, chickenpox or Hand Foot and Mouth disease, please inform the school nurse immediately. A doctor’s clearance is required to return to school.
If your child is too ill to go swimming, please do not send them to school as swimming lessons can only be excused with a doctor's note. As we cannot accommodate non participating students, they will need to go to the nurse and be sent home.
Please check with your respective divisional nurses for more information. This document outlines the guidelines and school clearance requirements for a range of illnesses.
3.11 Medical certification (MC)
Parents are to submit the medical certificate to their respective school division office as soon as it is made available. Students must complete their MC before returning back to school and are required to get a “Fit to return” note from the doctor if they have fully recovered and would like to return to campus before their MC expires.
3.12 Using mobility aids in school
If your child requires a mobility aid (e.g. crutches, wheelchair, etc) upon returning to school, please immediately inform your child’s teacher/s and school nurse.
In most cases, the school will be able to accept students who are using mobility aid into school if the following points are adhered to. Parents/guardians should do the following before a student comes to school:
- Obtain a “fit for school” note from the doctor.
- Consider the size of the school site and be confident that their child can use their mobility aid safely within the school environment. Speak to the homeroom teacher to discuss and make appropriate arrangements. Students must be able to navigate the stairs without being carried (when using crutches)
- Toileting: Parents are required to make their own toileting arrangements if students are unable to perform on their own while using a mobility aid in school.
- Elevator pass: Students on mobility devices are to collect an elevator pass from their respective nurse office.
Students who do not adhere to these rules will be sent home until arrangements have been made.
3.13 Medical emergency
A “medical emergency” is an injury or a condition of acute or sudden onset that poses an immediate threat to a person's life. These include active bleeding, severe or increasing pain or a change in the vital signs of life, such as the level of consciousness or signs of difficulty in breathing. A medical emergency does not include conditions that do not require immediate treatment and for which there is no imminent threat to the patient’s life or limb, pre-existing illnesses or injuries that are stable, and preexisting conditions that give rise to problems of ambulation and mobility. In case of a medical emergency, an ambulance will be called, and the parents/guardian’s will be notified immediately.