Health & Safety

4/2/07 - UPDATE:  Pathways to Peace FREE Symposium:  Registration Materials and Peace Pole Essay Competition Information - April 26, 2007 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany, NY.

3/6/07 - Pathways to Peace FREE Symposium: Registration Materials and Peace Pole Essay Competition Information, April 26, 2007 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany, NY - The mission of the Symposium is to provide assistance and support for the development of a framework for youth which leads to a life free of violence and filled with promise and prosperity.

2/1/07 - Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools:  The New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission is continuing its comprehensive planning for a potential pandemic.  Staff from the State Health and Education Departments and a workgroup made up of county health officials collaborated in the development of a Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools in New York State.  The Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools in New York State is also available at http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/pandemic/. 

12/20/06 - Child Abduction Prevention Education Program, 2006-07:  A competitive grant opportunity is now available to school districts and BOCES to build capacity to meet the current statutory requirement to provide instruction in the prevention of abduction for all students in grades K-8.  For more information, please go to http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/funding/currentapps.htm.

8/15/06 - Green Cleaning Guidelines for Schools:  Effective September 1, 2006, State Education Law and State Finance Law require school districts to reduce exposure of children and school staff to potentially harmful chemicals and substances used in the cleaning and maintenance of schools by using guidelines to purchase environmentally friendly cleaning products.  The State Office of General Services, in consultation with other State agencies, has developed final guidelines as well as a list of approved green cleaning products.  More information is available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/facplan/greenclean.htm.

8/15/06 - Pandemic Preparedness:  As a result of recent events in the global health community, the State Education and Health Departments have issued a memo and information pamphlet to underscore the potential magnitude of a pandemic on the education community and emphasize the need for preparedness.  The memo and pamphlet are available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/fmis/pandemic.htm.

6/16/06 - Emergency Shelters in Schools:  The American Red Cross has informed the Department that more school buildings are needed for use as shelters in an emergency. Commissioner Mills has issued a field memorandum encouraging school districts to provide assistance. The field memorandum is available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/fmis/shelters.htm.

4/7/06 - Update on Elementary and Secondary Hurricane Relief Program:  The U.S. Department of Education has announced that any districts serving students displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita during the 2005-06 school year that did not apply for emergency impact aid for the first quarter can now apply for aid for the second, third and fourth quarters.  The application deadline is April 14, 2006.  For more information, go to http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/deputy/Documents/hurricanereliefprog.htm.

4/3/06 - Requests for Religious Exemption from Student Immunization Requirements:  In order to encourage consistent handling of requests for religious exemption from student immunization requirements in school districts, the Department has collaborated with the State Department of Health and statewide educational, health, and labor organizations to develop guidance as well as an exemption request form.  For more information, go to http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/HealthServices/fieldmemoreligiouseximmunprocedures.htm.

3/9/06 - 2006 Weather Hazards Awareness Week: This year’s Weather Hazards Awareness Week is April 2-8, 2006. To enhance the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff, the Department encourages the involvement of all schools in two emergency communication drills during the week to test communication networks. Information is available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/facplan/HealthSafety/weatherhazards.htm.

2/21/06 - Methamphetamine Awareness:  Recent changes in State law now require school personnel who are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or maltreatment incidents, and who as part of their usual responsibility visit children’s homes, to report any signs of an unlawful methamphetamine laboratory. The law further requires that schools or organizations that employ mandated reporters must provide these employees with information that will help them identify these unlawful laboratories.  More information is available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/SDFSCA/methawareness.htm.

8/15/02 - Field Memo on Ritalin

7/2002 - Field Memo on Cardiac Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Public School Facilities

6/2002 - Field Memo:  Use of Epinephrine Auto-Injector Devices in the School Setting

5/13/02 - Letter to School Superintendents: Operation ABC: America Buckles up Children

5/10/02 - Field Memo:  Statewide Medicaid Audit

1/30/02 - Medicaid Reimbursement for School and Preschool Supportive Health Services

3/2001 - Public Access Defibrillation In Schools