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School Handbook

Helpful tips for parents... managing your child’s bleeding disorder.

Rights and Responsibilities

HIPAA Law protects your child’s right to privacy regarding his or her health information. School authorities have the responsibility to keep all information provided on your child confidential. Reinforce that teasing by other children and being treated differently can be damaging to your child’s self-image and should not be tolerated. Your child has the right to expect a friendly and supportive environment in which to learn.

Plan Ahead

In the event your child may be absent from school for an extended period of time due to hospitalization, keep the school staff informed. Consult with the school regarding their process in evaluating and determining eligibility for continuing education during an absence as it relates to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Bring quality written materials to your sessions as leave behind reference tools for the school team. Provide the school administrators and nurses a contact page with emergency information.

Team up for safety

As the parent of a child with a bleeding disorder, you have extra challenges to ensure your child’s school success

Developing a team approach and establishing good communication links between you, your child and school staff will reinforce positive academic and social outcomes for your child.

Before the school year starts is a good time for you and your homecare provider to work together to provide vital information to school personnel to assist them in understanding bleeding disorders. You are your child’s best advocate. Working with the school team will help you smooth away almost all health barriers for your child's success.

Working together promotes success

Key members of your school team are: The principal, school nurse, counselor, bus driver, homeroom teacher, physical education coach, teacher’s aides and any other school staff who may come into frequent contact with your child. It is important not to overload your child’s team with too much information at one time. Most likely you will need two or three sessions to cover all aspects of your child’s condition and treatment needs.

Spell It Out

Helpful guidelines to building a superior environment for your child at school, tips and information you can share with school administrators and nurses

• Provide brief overview of your child’s bleeding disorder
• Signs and symptoms of an internal bleed that can’t be seen such as favoring a joint, limb, heat or swelling
• How to question a young child regarding their symptoms/pain level
• How to respond to minor cuts and scrapes using RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation)
• What constitutes a true emergency and requires Emergency Room care
• Type of clotting factor or other drugs your child receives
• If you want the school nurse to administer clotting factor to your child in emergency situations you will need to have signed consent forms on file and provide a dose of clotting factor. Ensure its proper storage in the nurse’s office, and go over the administration instructions with the nurse
• Physician contact information
• Emergency contact numbers for family members
• Allergies, if any
• If your child has a port, discuss how you care for the port with the school nurse and instruct the nurse to be alert to any symptoms of an infection
• Discuss what over the counter drugs your child can receive from the school nurse. Provide a list of products that contain aspirin and are to be avoided. It is best to provide the nurse with a written list of drugs that are safe to administer and those that should not be given
• Discuss your child’s limits on physical activities as recommended by their Physician
• If your child is prone to mouth bleeds, provide first aid measures that are safe to administer
• Let the team know that girls who are menstruating may experience heavy blood flow during their cycle and may need to contact their parents

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