Reviewed: 2004, 2008, 2013, 2016.

Due for Further Review: 2019.

Management of Students

ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION POLICY

RATIONALE

As a result of the increased number of children in schools being prescribed medications on a long and short-term basis, educational, medical and legal authorities have updated recommendations on practices and procedures for administration of medication in schools. In line with the Catholic Education Office policy, all decisions regarding the storage and administration of medication will be the responsibility of the Principal. The following guidelines have been taken into account to help the Principal to formulate a policy.

Schools are being requested by parents and guardians to administer a variety of medications to students during school hours. Our Catholic school community has a duty to assist parents in providing the best care for children with a special need. However, the legal ramifications and high expectation of delivery, of all medications, requires a formal policy to assist parents and staff in knowing when and how a school will administer medication to enrolled students.

PRINCIPLES

1. Children with an ongoing medical condition need to be clearly identified and

requirements met as far as is practicable eg asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, severe

allergic reactions.

2. Children requiring short term medical treatment with prescription medication will

also have special arrangements.

3 . The supply of non-prescription medication eg anti-histamines will be allowed on a

case-by-case basis.

4 . The supply of pain relievers, cough medicines and throat soothers will not be

undertaken.

5. Parents will be encouraged to administer medications to their own child wherever

practicable or possible.

Santa Clara Primary School

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6. The administration of medication by school personnel to children is undertaken

only when there is no practical alternative or in an emergency situation eg epi-

pen for bee stings.

PROCEDURES

At enrolment, principals or their nominees will request parents to provide a record of their child’s immunisation history. At acceptance, parents will be required to complete a student health care summary form.

A Student Health Care Summary form must be completed by parents in the event of changes to the students’ health care needs.

Relevant information from Medical specialists or general practitioners in regard to student medical conditions, allergies or other health care concerns should be provided to the school administration in order to allow the school to adequately provide for student health care needs.

A relevant health care plan also needs to be in place for students requiring long term medication during school hours.

Written authorisation must be provided for staff to administer any form of medication at school.

Short Term: Student Medication Record/Request Form to be completed and returned to the school.

Long term: Student Medication Record/Request Form and a relevant medical/health care action plan.

Non-prescriptive pain suppressants (aspirin, paracetamol, etc.) will not be administered to students by staff without the written permission of the student’s parent/guardian. (The parent/guardian is responsible for the supply of any medication).

It should be noted also that aspirin can only be administered to students with a medical practitioner’s written instruction because of the development of Reye’s Syndrome (a potentially fatal disease in childhood).

Medical action plans, signed by a doctor, are to be provided for students with allergies, anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, seizures or other conditions which may require health support or medication. These plans must be reviewed, updated and signed by a medical practitioner on an annual basis or in the event of long term changes to student health care needs (see below).

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PRESCRIBED MEDICATION – SELF-ADMINISTERED

1. Children with an on-going medical condition.

Parents must inform the school of the specific medical needs of their child.

A Student Health Care Summary form must be completed by parents at the commencement of enrolment or in the event of changes to the students’ health care needs.

The Student Medication Record/Request Form must be completed by the parent/guardian. (attached)

A letter from the doctor detailing what medication should be administered and under what conditions must be completed as part of the student’s Medical Action Plan. Both these forms and the medication are located at reception. The children requiring medication will come to Reception where the Administration Officer will distribute the required medication and record this in the student medication record book. The administrative officer will follow-up the administration of regular medication wherever possible if the student fails to attend Reception.

Children who need access to their medication during the day eg asthma, diabetes etc will have this noted on their Administration of Medication form so the school is aware of medication that may be in school bags or in classrooms.

2. Children with the need for short-term prescription medicines

Parents must complete a Student Medication Record/Request Form before administration of the medicine can commence. An end date is calculated and recorded on the form and noted on the Maze program.

Medications will be stored at reception in the staff refrigerator or securely at reception and administered by the Administration Officer.

EMERGENCIES

An emergency action plan must be developed for students with medical problems, after consultation with the Principal and parents/guardians.

Parents are required to notify the school of children with special medical problems. The emergency action plan will contain: (See below)

Written approval from parents/guardians to implement the plan.

The specific medical problem.

Symptoms that may be observed.

Level of treatment to be administered by the school.

Name of medical practitioner and proximity to whom the child is to be taken.

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Transportation arrangements to nearest medical service.

Emergency action plans are to be included in all excursions and camps.

Emergency action plans will be revised and updated annually.

ANAPHYLAXIS

The Principal or principal nominee will:

request parents to provide an Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Action Plan for Anaphylaxis that has been completed, signed and dated by the student’s medical practitioner;

arrange for the staff responsible for first aid and any additional staff who are willing to be trained, to participate in the certified Anaphylaxis Training Program.

verify that all students diagnosed with anaphylaxis have their prescribed adrenaline auto-injector available at all times;

arrange for an adrenaline auto-injector for emergency use to be kept securely at reception;

establish the processes for an appropriate emergency response in an anaphylaxis emergency;

inform staff and all other persons having contact with students about the students at risk.

Guidelines Anaphylaxis is a severe, allergic reaction which can be life threatening. It is to be treated as a medical emergency requiring an immediate response.

RECORDS

All documentation pertaining to the administration of medication to students is to be retained by the school until the student’s 25th birthday, at which time they are to be returned to the student and if the student cannot be located, all records are to be destroyed.

STORAGE OF PRESCRIBED MEDICATION

Prescribed medication on the school premises is to be stored in a safe place and removed from school premises during periods of vacation. Medication will be stored in either the staff refrigerator or the top cupboard in the front office. A list of students requiring medications, amounts and times will be kept in the front office. It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that medication stored at school is within the current expiry range. Medication one month beyond expiry date will be returned to parents for safe disposal.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – Refer to :

1. Student Medication Request Record Form.

2. Student Health Care Information Form.

3. Santa Clara Emergency Action Plan.

4. Asthma Action Plan.

5. Action Plan for Anaphylaxis.

6. Action Plan for Allergic Reactions.

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