Welcome
Welcome to the Health Office! A trained professional is on duty daily from 8 AM until 4 PM to serve all students and staff. Parents, feel free to contact us by email if you have questions. We are happy to serve you!
Meet The Nurse
Ayka Gardalits
Aytan Gardalits is a qualified nurse from Baku, Azerbaijan. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Midwifery from Medical College Number 1 in Baku. She has been working at WYIS since 2022. Aytans husband Peter is the Early Childhood 4 Teacher in the Elementary Department of our school.
Please contact Nurse Gardalits at ayka.gardalits@wyischina.com
Absence Due to Illness
As required by local authorities, every student and staff member must complete the Absence Due to Illness form to inform us of their symptoms on the day of their absence from school. For privacy purposes, the form will be directly received by the school nurse.
Access the form HERE.
Air Quality Information and WYIS Policy
One of the health concerns of living in China is the air quality. Air quality can become unhealthy due to pollutants such as ground-level ozone and particle pollution. Ozone is especially damaging to the lungs of children and those who work and play outside and is mainly a problem during hot summers. Particle pollution – especially fine particles such as those found in smoke, haze or dust – contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Particle pollution is the main concern in China.
References:
www.epa.gov
www.airnow.gov
www.cnemc.cn (website only in Chinese)
www.myhealthbeijing.com
The WYIS Air Quality Policy is developed to decide the implications of the actual air quality on outdoor activities for students. The school nurses check the Air Quality Index (AQI) online every morning at 8 am. Using the WYIS Air Quality Implication Chart the school nurse decides which color code the actual AQI has and what the implications are. From AQI 150 (color code red) and higher the divisional secretaries will be informed about the implications. The school nurse will check again at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm.
If students are known with asthma problems, a school nurse will communicate with the parents to decide if they can follow the WYIS policy or need to have stricter implications. A list of those students who might need special attention will be distributed to the teachers.
There are several websites and apps for checking the air quality, but make sure to check how reliable they are. It is important to look at data for Wuhan and if possible for the area you live in.
School Nurse Services
Student Care
• Assessment of students who feel sick or need first aid
• Record keeping of student’s health, physical exams, immunizations
• Oversee communicable diseases
• On duty for all secondary games and tournaments
First Aid Kits
• For classrooms, field trips, school trips, and sports
Staff Services
• Resource for health related subjects
• Assessment and regular check of blood pressure, etc.
• First Aid and CPR training
Medication at School
If your child needs medication during school days, either every day or temporary, please fill out the Medication Administration Permission Form and give it with the medicine to your child, so your child’s teacher can give it to the nurse and he/she will administer the medicine at the time requested.
Health Policies in the Student Handbook
Medical attention is the responsibility of the parent. WYIS defines a "sick" child as the following: students should not be sent to school if they have cough or running nose that they cannot independently control inside a classroom, fever (at or above 100°F/37.7°C), rash related with illness (chicken pox, measles, roseola, etc.), or have vomited or had diarrhea in the past 24 hours. Illness spreads quickly in the school setting. Keeping a sick child at home shows care for other school families and helps keep the school environment a much healthier and safer place for your child.
If a child is recovering from an illness or injury and is required to stay indoors during recess or physical education, a parent's or physician's notice must be provided to the student’s teacher or divisional secretary.
Your child will be sent home from school for any of the following reasons: Purulent (containing pus) or discolored nasal discharge; temperature at or above 100°F/37.7°C; if the student is too ill or uncomfortable to adequately function in a classroom setting. Students who have a fever or emesis (vomiting) will automatically be sent home. Students may also be excluded from school, regardless of symptoms, including falling asleep in class, if teachers deem them too uncomfortable to participate in class activities.
Students who are ill will be sent home after parents or emergency contacts have been notified. Secondary students may take a taxi home with parent permission and if the school nurse judges their condition to be reasonably manageable via independent travel. Parents will be asked to pick up their sick child as soon as they can, preferably within an hour after notification.
If a student has been sent home, he/she may not return to school that day. Students must stay at home until they are symptom free for at least 24 hours: for example, a student who vomits at school on Tuesday may not return to school earlier than Thursday and until they have not vomited for at least 24 hours.
Your child may return to school when they have been temperature-free for 24 hours, nasal drainage is clear, and they therefore cease to be a threat to the well-being of others. The symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can be caused by many different viruses, bacteria, or even parasites. If your child has been nauseated or vomited in the past 24 hours, please keep your child at home. This will help protect other students.
Medical Report for New Students and Students Entering Grades 1, 6 and 9
As part of our effort to ensure a safe and healthy learning community, a Student Medical Report (SMR) is required for all new students and returning students entering grades 1, 6, and 9. The information you provide will alert staff to any special requirements or restrictions needed for school activities. This packet should be completed and returned to the School Nurse’s Office by the end of the first week of school.
This report includes:
• The Immunization Record provides a list of immunizations required by our school as recommended by the World Health Organization
- Attach a copy of original vaccination records.
- If records are not in English, complete this form as well.
- When your child receives new immunizations, send a copy of the new records to the school nurse’s office.
• The Student Medical Exam must be completed by a medical practitioner. The school accepts medical exams which were completed within 1 year prior to admission. No laboratory tests are required unless the medical practitioner deems it necessary.
More Health Resources
- A good resource for health issues while living in China is www.myhealthbeijing.com
- For general information about children’s health, visit www.kidshealth.org
- For general information about diseases and other issues, visit www.mayoclinic.com