Establishing a clear health policy for your homeschool group ensures the safety and well-being of participants and builds trust within the community. A comprehensive policy should cover guidelines on things from illness to food allergies to medications. Here are some ideas to start drafting a health and wellness policy that meets your members’ needs!
Emergency preparedness and first aid
For larger groups, especially those that have gym classes or athletic activities, we recommend keeping a fully stocked first aid kit accessible to leaders and volunteers, as well as emergency contact information for every participant.
You may also want to consider having your group leaders complete basic first aid and CPR training so they are prepared to respond quickly to any health emergencies. Even if you decide not to schedule a training, keeping a reference list of adults in your group who are already CPR certified can be very helpful in emergency situations.
Illness: When to keep sick kids home
Although it is impossible to entirely mitigate the spread of illnesses in your group, it is important to remind parents to keep their children home if they exhibit any symptoms of contagious sickness.
While you are free to decide your group’s policy, common symptoms that are used as guidelines for keeping children home include fevers above 100.4°F, vomiting, diarrhea, persistent coughing, sore throats, and/or unexplained rashes. Generally, it is recommended that children remain symptom-free for at least 24 hours without medication before returning.
Make sure that you also encourage parents and teachers to practice good hygiene with their children—the best way to prevent germs from being spread! Sanitizing classrooms, encouraging frequent handwashing, making tissues available, and spending time outside can all be helpful. These measures go a long way in preventing illness from spreading among members, especially during cold and flu season.
Food allergies
Food allergies can be life-threatening, so it’s essential to identify and manage them within the group. Parents should disclose any food allergies upon registration, and this information should be shared with all group leaders. If a child is very young, you may want to require a medical alert bracelet or other identifying element for visual awareness. In cases of severe allergies, consider restricting high-risk foods, like nuts, to create a safer environment.
If you are having any potlucks or events that involve sharing food, you may wish to encourage group members to provide an ingredient list to help any parents or kids with allergies. If you decide not to prevent certain allergens, consider designating specific eating areas and cleaning them thoroughly after use to reduce the risk of cross-contact.
You may also want to consider having leaders and volunteers trained to respond to allergy-related emergencies, such as severe allergic reactions that merit use of an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen).
Medication and controlled substances
Medication policies are important to ensure that only designated individuals are responsible for administering medications, while unauthorized individuals are not able to obtain them. We recommend that parents manage their child’s medication whenever possible. If a child needs medication during group hours, parents need to complete a permission form detailing the dosage, timing, and any special instructions.
Controlled substances, such as ADHD medications, should remain with the parent or group leader—students should not carry these medications themselves. For emergency medications like inhalers or EpiPens, leaders should have a clear plan for administering them if the parent is unavailable. Basic first aid training for leaders can help ensure everyone’s safety in case of unexpected situations.