Administration of Medicines Policy

Raheen National School

School Address: Raheen, Headford, Killarney, Co.Kerry

School Website: raheens.com

School Email: raheenns1@gmail.com

Roll number: 09304S

Principal: Joan Mullane

Deputy Principal: Ann Kelliher

Chairperson: Fr George Hayes

Administration of Medicines Policy

Introduction

An Administration of Medication Policy was drafted and reviewed through a collaborative school process and was ratified by the Board of Management of Raheen National School.

Rationale

The policy as outlined was put in place to;

Clarify areas of responsibility
To give clear guidance about situations where it is not appropriate to administer medicines
To indicate the limitations to any requirements which may be notified to teachers and school staff
To outline procedures to deal with a pupil with a nut allergy in our school
Safeguard school staff that are willing to administer medication
Protect against possible litigation.

Relationship to School Ethos

The school promotes positive home-school contacts, not only in relation to the welfare of children, but in relation to all aspects of school life. This policy is in keeping with the school ethos through the provision of a safe, secure and caring school environment and the furthering of positive home-school links.

Aims of this Policy

The aims and objectives of the policy can be summarised as follows;

Minimise health risks to children and staff on the school premises
Fulfil the duty of the BoM in relation to Health and Safety requirements
Provide a framework within which medicines may be administered in cases of emergency or in instances where regularised administration has been agreed with parents/guardians

In–School Procedures

Parents are required to inform the school of any health/medical needs of their child/ren on enrolment to the school. No staff member is obliged to administer medicine or drugs to a pupil and any staff member willing to do so works under the controlled guidelines outlined below.

Prescribed medicines will only be administered after parents of the pupil concerned have written to the BoM requesting the Board to authorise a member of staff to do so. Under no circumstance will non-prescribed medicines be either stored or administered in the school. The Board will seek indemnity from parents in respect of any liability arising from the administration of medicines
The school generally advocates the self administration (e.g. inhalers) of medicine under the supervision of a responsible adult, exercising the standard of care of a prudent parent. A small quantity of prescription drugs will be stored in the staffroom if a child requires self-administering on a daily basis and parents have requested storage facilities. Parents are responsible for the provision of medication and notification of change of dosage.

Teachers have a professional duty to safeguard the health and safety of pupils, both when they are authorised to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere

The Board of Management requests parents to ensure that teachers be made aware of any medical condition suffered by any child in their class

This does not imply a duty upon teachers personally to undertake the administration of medicines or drugs.

Long Term Health Problems

Where there are children with long-term health problems in school, proper and clearly understood arrangements for the administration of medicines must be made with the Board of Management. This is the responsibility of the parents/guardians. It would include measures such as self administration, administration under parental supervision or administration by school staff.

Life Threatening Condition

Where children are suffering from life threatening conditions, parents/guardians must clearly outline, in writing, what should be done in a particular emergency situation, with particular reference to what may be a risk to the child (Appendix 3). If emergency medication is necessary, arrangements must be made with the Board of Management. A letter of indemnity must be signed by the parents in respect of any liability that may arise regarding the administration of medication.

Guidelines for the Administration of Medicines

1. The parents of the pupil with special medical needs must inform the Board of Management in writing of the condition, giving all the necessary details of the condition. The request must also contain written instruction of the procedure to be followed in administering the medication. (Appendix 1, 2 or 3);

2. Parents must write requesting the Board of Management to authorise the administration of the medication in school;

3. Where specific authorisation has been given by the Board of Management for the administration of medicine, the medicines must be brought to school by the parent/guardian/designated adult;

4. A written record of the date and time of administration must be kept by the person administering it;

5. Parents/Guardians are responsible for ensuring that emergency medication is supplied to the school and replenished when necessary;

6. Emergency medication must have exact details of how it is to be administered;

7. The BoM must inform the school’s insurers accordingly

8. Parents are further required to indemnify the Board of Management and members of the staff in respect of any liability that may arise regarding the administration of prescribed medicines in school;

9. All correspondence related to the above are kept in the school.

Medicines

Teachers/SNAs in the school will only administer prescribed medication when arrangements have been put in place as outlined above;
Arrangements for the storage of certain emergency medicines, which must be readily accessible at all times, must be made with the Principal;
A teacher/SNA must not administer any medication without the specific authorisation of the Board of Management;
The prescribed medicine must be self-administered if possible, under the supervision of an authorised Teacher/SNA if not the parent;
No teacher/SNA can be required to administer medicine or drugs to a pupil;
In an emergency situation, qualified medical assistance will be secured at the earliest opportunity and the parents contacted;
Where possible, the parents should arrange for the administration of prescribed medicines outside of school hours.

The following guidelines are in place with regard to pupils with a Nut Allergy

Children are advised not to bring nuts to school.
Advise children not to offer or exchange foods, sweets, lunches etc.
If going off-site, medication must be carried.

In the event the pupil comes in contact with peanuts or other allergens

Administer 5ml Zirtec/Sudafed or other antihistamine immediately. It is important that the pupil be kept calm to allow him to breathe calmly as he will experience discomfort and sensation of his/her throat swelling. If possible (s) he needs to drink as much water as possible. These steps should allow him/her to recover fully.
Only in the event of anaphylactic shock should the pen be administered. Anaphylaxis occurs when two or more systems are affected eg. Swollen/red/runny eyes and swollen mouth/ swelling of mouth and rash on skin.
Pen is stored in staffroom.
It’s essential to note that different pens have different dosages; the required dosage must be clearly marked on the Pen. If a child needs two Epipens, both should be stored together with an elastic band. Before or immediately after Pen has been administered, an ambulance must be called.

Indicators of shock include:

Symptoms of shock can include, wheezing, severe difficulty breathing and gastro-intestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Emergencies

In the event of an emergency, teachers should do no more than is necessary and appropriate to relieve extreme distress or prevent further and otherwise irreparable harm. Qualified medical treatment should be secured in emergencies at the earliest opportunity. Where no qualified medical treatment is available, and circumstances warrant immediate medical attention, designated staff members may take a child into Accident and Emergency without delay. Parents will be contacted simultaneously. In addition, parents must ensure that teachers are made aware in writing of any medical condition which their child is suffering from. For example, children who have epilepsy, diabetes etc., may have a seizure at any time and teachers must be made aware of symptoms in order to ensure that they receive appropriate treatment.

Written details are required from the parents/guardians outlining the child’s personal details, name of medication, prescribed dosage, whether the child is capable of self-administration and the circumstances under which the medication is to be given. Parents should also outline clearly proper procedures for children who require medication for life threatening conditions. The school maintains an up to date register of contact details of all parents/guardians including emergency numbers. This is updated in September of each new school year.

First Aid Boxes

A full medical kit is taken when children are engaged in out of school activities such as tours, football/hurling games and athletic activities. A first aid box is kept in the staff room, containing anti-septic wipes, anti-septic bandages, sprays, steri-strips, cotton wool, scissors etc.

General Recommendations

We recommend that any child who shows signs of illness should be kept at home; requests from parents to keep their children in at lunch break are not encouraged. A child too sick to play with peers should not be in school.

Roles and Responsibilities

The BoM has overall responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of the school policy on Administration of Medication. The Principal is the day to day manager of routines contained in the policy with the assistance of all staff members.

Success Criteria

The effectiveness of the school policy in its present form is measured by the following criteria;

Compliance with Health and Safety legislation
Maintaining a safe and caring environment for children
Positive feedback from parents/teachers
Ensuring the primary responsibility for administering remains with parents/guardians

Ratification and Review

This policy was ratified by the BoM

Chairperson: __________________________

Date: ___________________________

Appendix 1 Medical Condition and Administration of Medicines

Child’s Name: _____________________________

Address: __________________________________

Date of Birth: ______________________________

Emergency Contacts:

Name 1: ____________________________

Phone: ___________________

Name 2: _________________

Phone: ___________________

Child’s Doctor: ____________________________

Phone: ________________

Medical Condition:________________________________________________

Prescription Details:________________________________________________

Storage details:____________________________________________________

Dosage required:

_________________________________________________________________

Is the child to be responsible for taking the prescription him/herself?

______________________________________________________________________

What Action is required

______________________________________________________________________

I/We request that the Board of Management authorise the taking of Prescription Medicine during the school day as it is absolutely necessary for the continued well being of my/our child. I/We understand that the school has no facilities for the safe storage of prescription medicines and that the prescribed amounts be brought in daily. I/We understand that we must inform the school/Teacher of any changes of medicine/dose in writing and that we must inform the Teacher each year of the prescription/medical condition. I/We understand that no school personnel have any medical training and we indemnify the Board from any liability that may arise from the administration of the medication.

Signed ___________________________

Parent/Guardian ____________________

Date: ________________

Appendix 2 Allergy Details

Type of Allergy: __________________________________________________

Reaction Level: __________________________________________________

Medication: __________________________________________________

Storage details: _________________________________________________

Dosage required: _______________________________________________

Administration Procedure (When, Why, How)

_________________________________________________________________

Signed: ____________________________________

Date: __________________

Appendix 3 Emergency Procedures

In the event of _____________________ displaying any symptoms of his medical difficulty, the following procedures should be followed. Symptoms: __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________

Procedure:

1. ____________________________________

2. ____________________________________

3. ____________________________________

4. ____________________________________

5. ____________________________________

6. ____________________________________

7. To include: Dial 112 or 999 and call emergency services.

8. Contact Parents

Administration of Medicines Policy

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