Nurses

Fort Smith Public Schools will support families by administering necessary medication during the school day when needed. Whenever possible, parents are encouraged to give medication at home before school, after school, or at bedtime.

To ensure student safety:

• All medication must be brought to school by a parent or guardian.

• Medication may not be sent with students or transported on the school bus.

• Medication must be in the original labeled container and must be accompanied by a completed medication permission form from the parent or guardian.

State-required immunizations include:

Kindergarten and Grade 1

• Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP/DT/Td/DTap/Tdap) - 4 doses (with one dose on or after 4th birthday)
• Polio - 3 doses (with one dose on or after 4th birthday)
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) - 2 doses (with all doses on or after 1st birthday)
• Hepatitis B - 3 doses
• Varicella - 2 doses (with all doses on or after 1st birthday)
• Hepatitis A - 1 dose on or after 1st birthday

Grade 2 - Grade 12

In addition:

• TDAP - 1 dose 

• Meningococcal (MCV4) - 1 dose

• Meningococcal (MCV4) - 1 dose

An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is a life-saving device used to help someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if needed, delivers an electric shock to help restore a normal heartbeat.

In compliance with Arkansas Act 737 and Arkansas Code § 6-10-122, every school campus in Fort Smith Public Schools is equipped with an AED. These laws require AEDs to be available on school grounds and at school-sponsored sporting events for grades 7 through 12. They also mandate that appropriate school personnel receive ongoing training to ensure they can respond quickly and effectively in an emergency.

Yes, students may carry and self-administer prescription asthma inhalers or auto-injectable epinephrine (like an EpiPen) during the school day or at school-sponsored events if all district and state requirements are met. These include:

• Written permission from a parent or guardian for the current school year.

• A doctor’s order or prescription label for the medication.

• A doctor’s statement specifically authorizing the student to carry the medication.

• The student must demonstrate proper use and responsibility to both the prescribing physician and the school nurse (if available).

• The medication and a healthcare plan must be documented and kept on file at school.

• Students must not share their medication with others.

Students are not required to carry these medications. If preferred, parents may provide the medication to be kept in a locked cabinet at school.

Non-prescription inhalers are not allowed without a written doctor’s order. Stock epinephrine is only available if prescribed for district use.

It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to notify the nursing staff or school personnel in writing of any serious medical condition his or her child may have. Notification should be made in a timely manner.

If your child shows signs of illness, the nurse will assess them and determine if they should stay at school or be sent home. You will be contacted if pick-up is needed.

Yes. If your child has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, they should stay home from school. They may return only after being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Please keep in mind that fevers often run lower in the morning and higher later in the day, so it’s best to monitor your child carefully before sending them back.