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School Health

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Information on a variety of school health topics which will provide schools with resources to maximize school health for youth.

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Immunizations

North Dakota state law requires students who are attending school to be up to date on immunizations.  North Dakota Century Code 23-07-17 mandates all students in kindergarten through 12th grade meet a minimum number of required immunizations prior to school entrance. 

All children must be up-to-date according to the school immunization requirements or have claimed an exemption by October 1st of each school year or they must be excluded from school. Children enrolling in school after October 1st have 30 days to be up-to-date or claim an exemption or they must be excluded from school. 

Please contact the North Dakota Department of Health Immunization Program at (701) 328-3386 or (800) 472-2180 with any questions or concerns regarding school immunizations.

Health & PE Education

Health Education

Physical Education

Mandated Reporting

Mandated reporters are people whose profession requires them to report suspected child abuse or neglect.  In North Dakota, anyone may report suspected child abuse or neglect to Child Protection Services.  However, certain professionals must, by law, report child abuse or neglect - in other words, they are mandated reporters.  Schools are the primary places where children are seen every day by trained professionals who can observe their appearance and behavior.  For this reason, educators are mandated reporters.  The Department of Human Services has a statewide toll-free phone line for reporting cases of suspected child abuse and neglect. The number is 833-958-3500. It is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday - Friday. Callers should call 9-1-1 if a child is in immediate danger. 

Medication Administration
Moments of Impact ND Video and Curriculum

On October 29, 2011, five Mandan youth and longtime friends spent a night partying and drinking.  On their way home, the driver, who was drunk with a blood alcohol level three times in excess of the legal limit, crashed the car into a tree traveling over 85 mph, killing three of his buddies and seriously injuring himself and another passenger.  The accident resulted in a penitentiary sentence of eight years for the driver who caused the accident and subsequent deaths.  As these young men were well known and respected within the Bismarck-Mandan community, friends and agency partners collaborated funds and talents to tell the story in video format, in hopes of saving others.

This very somber and cutting edge 30 minute video, “Moments of Impact”, can be shared with students, staff and parents as you so choose.  In cooperation with the North Dakota Safety Council, a curriculum guide has been developed to use with the video as a classroom supplement.  Any instructors with available internet access will be able to share the video with their students.  This video has been highly regarded as a parent and community presentation; the video has been regionally recognized for its excellence.  As this has some slight graphic references, please review before showing to middle school or younger audiences.

An Instructor Guide, PowerPoint, Student Guide, Pre and Post Tests and Parent Handout are available upon request.  Contact the Office of Educational Improvement & Support or call (701) 328-2753.

School Health Profiles

The School Health Profiles is a biennial survey conducted by state education and health agencies among middle and high school principals and lead health education teachers assessing school health policies and practices.  Profiles monitors the current status of:

  • School health education requirements and content
  • Physical education and physical activity
  • Practices related to bullying and sexual harassment
  • School-based health services
  • School health coordination
  • Family engagement and community involvement
  • School health policies related to tobacco-use prevention and nutrition

General Information about School Health Profiles

Profiles Results

Universal Precautions for Schools

Universal Precautions in the School Setting

Reduce risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens by using universal precautions to prevent contact with blood and body fluids.

Begin by attending to the injured person: 

  • Whenever blood and body fluids are present, a barrier (latex rubber gloves, thick layer of paper towels, or cloth) should be used to minimize exposure of the attending person while the injury is cleansed and/or dressed.
  • Soiled clothes of the injured person must be bagged to be sent home,
  • Place waste in a plastic bag for disposal.
  • Remove gloves and dispose in plastic bag.
  • Thoroughly wash hands with soap.

Clean and disinfect environmental surfaces: 

  • Whenever cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces in which blood and body fluids are present, a barrier (rubber utility gloves durable enough to withstand environmental cleaning and disinfecting, thick layer of paper towels, or cloth) should be placed between the blood and the attending person.
  • Use disposable paper towels or other disposable materials to remove blood and body fluids.
  • Disinfect the affected area(s) and cleaning tools with a commercial disinfectant (mixed according to manufacturer’s specifications) or bleach solution (approximately 1/4 cup common household bleach per gallon of tap water, mixed fresh daily). The affected surface being disinfected should remain wet for several minutes.
  • Secure all waste in a plastic bag for disposal.

Clean up for attending person: 

  • Remove gloves, dispose and secure in a plastic bag.
  • Immediately apply soap. Thoroughly wash hands with soap by rubbing hands together (avoid scrubbing hands). Pay particular attention to fingertips, nails and jewelry. Rinse with fingers pointing downward.
  • If running water and soap are not immediately available, a waterless antiseptic cleaner or moist towelette may be used until hands can be thoroughly washed (use of antiseptic cleaner or towelette is NOT a substitute for handwashing). WASH HANDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

How to Make Universal Precautions Kits for Schools 

Universal precautions protect students and staff from the unnecessary exposure to disease. 

Supplies Needed For Kit 

  • Container for kit:  plastic container, tote tray, or fanny pack 
  • Large, re-sealable plastic bag
  • 4  single use, disposable, non-sterile gloves
  • 4 - 4x4 gauze squares
  • 6 assorted bandages
  • Absorbent paper towels
  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (alcohol base of at least 60%)

Recommendations 

  • Keep one Universal Precautions kit in each classroom.
  • Each kit should be restocked after each use and reviewed annually for outdated materials.
  • One kit containing personal protective equipment (PPE) should be available at each school.  PPE may include:  gloves, gown, face shields or masks, eye protection and resuscitation bags or pocket masks for ventilation (CPR). 
  • A fanny pack of supplies should also be kept with playground attendants and bus drivers.
Resources and Training

Topical Resources

Trainings