Singapore American School requires that a completed medical examination form be submitted before a student can attend classes and activities at SAS. The medical exam must be dated within six months prior to the start of the school term. Please note that the doctor must complete the SAS medical examination form and a parent/guardian must sign the consent section on the second page. This medical examination form must be completed again when students move up a division, from elementary school to middle school, or from middle school to high school.

If there is any change in the student's health condition, we ask parents to inform the nurse’s office. The school nurse manages the health of your child based on the information given on the medical examination form, so it is important that the form is filled out completely with emergency contact information, emergency treatment authorization, immunization records, and the authorization to administer medication.

If your child has a chronic illness or health condition that could result in a life-threatening medical situation (diabetes, anaphylaxis, heart condition, seizure disorder, etc.), please inform the nurse’s office immediately. An individualized emergency care plan will be drafted for your child. The emergency care plan will identify and explain the medical condition and outline what to do in an emergency situation. This emergency care plan will be distributed to all faculty and staff involved with the student, including the cafeteria and the bus office.

Under the Singapore Infectious Disease Regulations of the Infectious Disease Act, the parent/guardian of every child residing in Singapore has to ensure that the child is fully vaccinated against diphtheria and measles. Parents should submit a copy of their child’s immunization record from the clinic or hospital.

For public health reasons, the exemption from compulsory measles and diphtheria immunizations will not be granted except for medical reasons. A registered medical practitioner in Singapore shall issue a certificate of unfitness for vaccination if the medical practitioner is of the opinion that a child is not fit to be vaccinated.

Therefore, children who are exempted from these immunizations in their home country on medical grounds will stillneed to see a medical practitioner (preferably a paediatrician) in Singapore, with supporting documents from their home country, for a certificate of unfitness for vaccination against diphtheria and measles.

All medications must be administered in the nurse’s office. If a student needs to take prescription medication during the school day, that medication needs to be brought into the nurse’s office in the original container, with a copy of the prescription from the physician. The parents must provide the nurse’s office with a signed authorization for administering medications form.

Students that have been tested for and/or diagnosed with severe allergies, asthma, seizures, diabetes, or any other medical condition requiring medications during school hours must provide a supply of all their appropriate medication needs to the nurse’s office:

• Asthma – Students with a diagnosis of asthma must also at all times carry their own rescue inhaler both on campus and on all school excursions.
• Severe allergy – antihistamine tablets or creams, Epi-pens
• Diabetes – glucose monitor, insulin, glucagon injection, snacks, spare lancets, needles, and any other required equipment the individual may need
• Seizures – regular medications as well as emergency medications

All medications should have the following written on the medication packaging:

• Student’s name
• Medication name and strength (mg, mcg,…)
• Dosage
• Route of administration (orally, subcutaneous, intra-muscular etc.)
• How often student requires medication / how often medication can be given if needed
• Valid expiry date

In order to keep the school a safe and healthy place for students, the nurse’s office appreciates parent cooperation in dealing with any possible communicable illness at school. If your child is absent due to illness, please complete the online absence form which can be found in the MySAS portal. When your child returns to school, please send or email a note or medical certificate explaining the nature of your child’s illness to the nurse’s office. Also, be sure to inform the school nurse by email if your child has contracted a communicable illness.

Fever
Students with a fever (37.8 °C) need to be fever-free, and not take fever-reducing medication such as Panadol (Paracetamol) or Ibuprofen for 24 hours before returning to school. Any students with fever whilst in school will be sent home.

Chicken Pox
Many children with chickenpox are too sick to attend school and are more comfortable at home. Children can spread the infection to others as long as there are any spots, which are not crusted and dried. Children with chickenpox should not attend school until all scabs are dry; this is usually five to seven days after the appearance of the rash. 

Hand Foot Mouth Disease (HFMD)
Students with HFMD should stay at home until the blisters have dried. During this period, contact with other children should be avoided until the child recovers. Symptoms can last between 7 to 10 days.

Impetigo
Impetigo is a skin infection that is very contagious but not usually serious. It often gets better in 7 to 10 days if you get treatment. Children can return to school 48 hours after starting treatment. If no treatment is sought, children may not return to school until all the patches have crusted over.

Infective Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Conjunctivitis is an eye condition caused by a bacterial infection or allergies. It usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment. Your doctor will determine what treatment, if any, is needed and will advise on when to return to school.

Head Lice
If a student is found to have nits or live lice, parents will be called and notified that the student will require appropriate treatment when they arrive home from school that day. The student and parents will be given information on treatment options. 

If a student is involved in a minor accident or injury that may require outside medical assistance during school hours, the school nurse will contact the parent/guardian or emergency contact to seek assistance in obtaining medical help. The school nurse will attend to the injured student until the parent/guardian arrives. In the case of a life-threatening situation or other serious condition, the student will be transported by ambulance to an appropriate hospital. In that case, parents/guardians will be notified to meet the child at the hospital instead of at school.

If the incident involves any injury to the head, parents/guardians will be contacted and/or a note will be sent home with the student outlining the signs and symptoms of a concussion.

Any student who has a sport-related injury or surgery must be cleared by their physician before they will be allowed to participate again. Notes of clearance should be brought in to the nurse’s office.

If a student is unable to participate in physical education (PE) classes, either a note from the parent or physician must be submitted to the PE teacher. The school nurse will not excuse a student from participating in PE.