DePS School Nurses / Doctor

The role of the school nurse plays a crucial part of school life at DePS and we have highly qualified school nurses on site at all times who work closely with the students and teachers. The School nurse provides a variety of services such as health education within schools, carrying out developmental screening, undertaking health interviews and advising on immunisation programmes.

The school nurse will also;

• Administer first aid and emergency care
• Collaborate with parents, staff and health care professionals regarding specific health concerns
• Coordinate and assist with school medical examination
• Maintain school health records
• Co-ordinate and advise with Dubai Health Authority school immunisation programs

Our nurses have a multitude of experience in health promotion including child protection, health education and screening. They also have a great deal of insight and knowledge in the health needs of children and teenagers.

Clinic Facilities

The Clinic at both DePS schools is equipped to deal with all minor and major injuries. The layout is such that we can accommodate those children who visit for minor ailments and those who may require rest and monitoring. We also have available to us health screening equipment which includes visual screening aids for vision testing. This allows us to monitor the childhood milestones and record such information is each child’s school health record. In the event of any medical emergency, we have protocols in place to ensure that this will be dealt with safely and professionally, to allow the best possible care for each child. We also have several members of staff who have undergone First Aid training. Emergency equipment is available in areas throughout the school and if required, external medical emergency support is readily available for the school.

Responsibility of the School Leadership and Administration:

• Ensure adherence to standard, contact and airborne precautions for infection control as per local authority guidelines.
• Arrange for the school clinic and classrooms to be cleaned and disinfected regularly, including all floors and other surfaces to be washed daily.
• Approved list of antiseptic and disinfectants shall be used in the facility as per local authority guidelines
• Use and safe storage of antiseptics and disinfectant solutions must be according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Train staff in these procedures and have appropriate material and equipment available (routine training)
• Provide dedicated waiting areas for symptomatic patients and prevent overcrowding in health facilities.
• Ensure adequate supplies of PPE (surgical masks, N95 masks, gloves, eye shields, thermo scan device) and infection prevention and control supplies (hand hygiene supplies) for school.
• Provision of appropriate separate Isolation Room (adequately ventilated with separate bathroom).
• Ensure safe waste management, proper linen cleaning, environmental cleaning and proper disinfection of frequently touched surfaces with approved disinfectants.

Responsibility of the School Clinic:

• Liaise with administration regarding disinfection and training.
• Be up-to-date on the latest guidelines and measures from DHA. Be alert on patients who meet the criteria for suspected cases or confirmed cases.
• Adhere to standard, contact and airborne/droplet precautions while handling a case.
• Monitor Isolation room
• Monitor the implementation of health and safety procedures and conduct all necessary training for students and staff related to COVID 19.
• Hygiene education materials/awareness posters describing hand washing steps and cough etiquette to be shared with the pastoral care team and teachers.
• Conduct health and hygiene talks with students especially at the beginning of the academic year.
• Ensure rapid triage and isolation of students with symptoms of suspected infection in the designated isolation room. Limit the number of staff present in the room.
• Inform the school principal, parent/guardian and administration manager.
• In cases of emergencies, such as an unstable case amongst staff, students or visitors, immediately call 999/997.
• Implement all preventive measures during the duration of the affected patient's presence in the health facility.
• Health Care professionals should wear a fit-tested N95 mask, eye protection, gloves and impermeable apron/gown. The patient should wear a surgical mask.
• Apply WHO-5 moments of hand hygiene approach before touching the patient.
• Inform parents and call the ambulance service to refer the patient to the hospital for necessary action.
• Use a predetermined transport route in the school to minimize exposure for staff.
• Ensure that the child/suspected case is accompanied by an adult wearing the full PPE when transported to home or to the hospital.
• Clean and disinfect the area and surfaces which are contacted by the patient and document all the details of the case.
• Maintain a record of all persons who came in contact with the case. Health care team should be properly trained in putting on, using and disposal of personal protective equipment.
• Immediate Notification to DHA- Health care team should report any suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 to Preventive Medicine Section of DHA through -direct phone call on hotline numbers 800342 and by Infectious Diseases Electronic Notification System IDNS or by filling DHA Notification Form hard copy, scan and email to DHA.
• Follow up done with the parents for the investigation report and student's medical condition.
• The patient should not return to school until the PCR result is obtained.
• Advice to follow DHA guidelines on isolation and quarantine.
• If the result is negative and there is a clinical assessment of a probable COVID-19 case the patient should complete a 14-day quarantine. If there is no clinical assessment for a probable case, the patient can resume back as long as they are symptom free.
• If the result is positive, the traced contacts (anyone who spent more than 15 mins in a proximity of 2 meters with the positive case, from the day of symptoms onset or the day of positive PCR test)-close contacts, they should all commence the 14-day quarantine. Communication sent to all concerned families to abide with the protocol of quarantine.
• A positive case cannot return to school unless they are granted a clearance certificate by DHA In case a child or any family member of a student or any school staff is reported to have COVID-19 infection diagnosed outside the school-keep the details of the case in medical log book/infectious disease form and advice to strictly follow the isolation/quarantine period as mentioned by their treating doctor. Follow up on the case and request for a medical clearance certificate upon returning back to school.

Role of the School Teaching Staff

• Remain vigilant and detect early signs of infections and refer to school clinic promptly
• Liaise between parents and school clinic (school clinic to inform parents).
• Promote and practice of standard preventive measures and personal hygiene among students.
• Online learning provision and support will be given by teachers during the isolation period.

Responsibility of Parents

• Ensuring that they keep their child home if they are unwell.
• Reporting to the school if the infection is diagnosed outside the school.
• Submit a medical certificate to the school clinic including diagnosis, recommended exclusion time from school and DHA clearance certificate upon returning back to school.
• Informing the school clinic of any health complications/treatment/special recommendations Infection- Routes of Transmission

Infected individuals can pass the virus to others:

• Through large droplets when coughing, sneezing or even talking within a close distance.
• Through direct contact with an infected person: for example, if you shake or hold their hand, and then touch your own mouth, eyes or nose without first washing your hands.
• By touching objects (e.g. door handles, light switches) that have previously been touched by an infected person, then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose without first washing your hands.