Idaho schools now require a parent’s permission for Band-Aids

Local school districts are making sure they are complying with a new Idaho law requiring parent permission for a broader array of health care services, including Band-Aids.

The language in Senate Bill 1329, which went into effect in July, states that it favors “a broad protection of parents’ fundamental right to make decisions concerning the furnishing of health care services to minor children.”

Moscow School District and other school districts believe this law applies to all health treatments, including ones for non-life-threatening injuries like scrapes or bumps.

“Really the way the law reads is any medical treatment requires parental consent and that can be interpreted as a Band-Aid, or just an ice pack on a bump,” said Moscow School District Superintendent Shawn Tiegs.

After consulting with the Idaho School Board Association, the Moscow School District is sending parents a “universal consent to treat” form, Tiegs said.

If a parent does not sign it, the school district will have to call them if their child has a bloody nose or scraped knee.

“We don’t want to be put into a situation where we’re tracking down a parent, and if we can’t get a hold of a parent, we can’t apply a Band-Aid,” he said.

SB 1329 does make exceptions for life-threatening injuries or dangerous health issues, which do not require parental consent to treat. Tiegs added that the district already requires permission for medications like Tylenol.

Tiegs said it can be difficult keeping up with the new laws that pass every year, especially if they have vague language.

“We can try to get into all the different politics of it, but at the end of the day when a law passes, when the governor signs it, we are charged with following that law,” he said.

Lewiston School District Superintendent Lance Hansen said the district makes sure it is in compliance with the law and provides families with permission slips at the beginning of the year, not just for medical reasons but also for field trips. That helps the district provide care for children that is in line with what their families want.

“Where our strength lies is in our communication with our families,” Hansen said. “I would hope we have a good enough relationship with our parents and families that we would be able to administer the care they desire for their children.”

The district already has protocols in place for minor care that requires Band-Aids and ice packs, mostly for elementary children. The district doesn’t give out medication but if a student needs to take medication during the day there is a system in place that allows the child to receive their medication, with permission, from a locked cabinet. The school office has information on the time of day and the dosage.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com. Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com and at (208) 848-2297.