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Administration of Medicines Policy

 

Introduction:

This Administration of Medication policy for Loughquittane N. S.,drafted and ratified by  the Board of Management (BoM) in 2016 was reviewed and updated in 2019.

 

Rationale:

The policy as outlined was put in place to;

 

 

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.

Although it is recommended that children who are unwell and requiring to be medicated should not be in attendance, the staff and management of Loughquittane N.S. recognises that from time to time children enrolled in Loughquittane N.S. with long term medical conditions may need medication.

 

Aims of this Policy:

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

 

 

In –School Procedures:

Parents are required to notify school of long-term medical conditions and / or allergies when enrolling their child/ren in the school.  No teacher is obliged to administer medicine or drugs to a pupil and any teacher 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 the teaching staff to do so.  Under no circumstance will non-prescribed medicines be either stored or administered in the school.  Only medicine prescribed to the child with the original label showing dosage and child’s name will be used.

 

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.  No medicines are stored on the school premises.  A small quantity of prescription drugs will be stored in the lock-up 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

 

 

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 under 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 (Appendix 4)
  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. All correspondence related to the above are kept in the school.

 

Medicines

 

 

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

  1. Staff dealing with the pupil do not eat nuts.
  2. Advise children not to offer or exchange foods, sweets, lunches etc.
  3. If going off-site, medication must be carried.

 

 

In the event the pupil comes in contact with peanuts

 

  1. Administer epi-pen 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.
  2. Only in the event of anaphylactic shock should the pen be administered. Pen is stored in the child’s classroom. 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 gastrointestinal 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 in accordance with Loughquittane N.S. Accident and Emergency Policy.

 

Where no qualified medical treatment is available, and circumstances warrant immediate medical and / or parental 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 are epileptics, diabetics etc. may have a seizure at any time and teachers must be made aware of symptoms in order to ensure that treatment may be given by appropriate persons.

 

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.  Emergency contacts are kept inside the front cover of children’s HW journals. 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 containing anti-septic wipes, anti-septic bandages, sprays, steri-strips, cotton wool, scissors etc. is kept outside the kitchen. Ice-packs are stored in the freezer.

 

 

 

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;

 

 

 

 

 

Ratification and Review:

This policy will be ratified by the BoM in November 2016.  It will be reviewed in the event of incidents or on the enrolment of child/children with significant medical conditions, but no later than 2019.

 

Implementation:

The policy will be implemented immediately upon ratification.

 

 

 

 

 

This Administration of Medicine Policy was updated and ratified by the Board of Management of Loughquittane N.S. on 09/04/19

 

Chairperson: Lily Cronin                       Principal: Alison Coffey
Appendix 1

Medical Condition and Administration of Medicines

 

 

Child’s Name: ________________________________________________

 

Address:       ________________________________________________

 

Date of Birth:  ____________

 

Emergency Contacts

 

1) Name: ____________________________         Phone: ___________________

 

2) Name: ____________________________         Phone: ___________________

 

3) Name: ____________________________         Phone: ___________________

 

4) Name: ____________________________         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

________________________ 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. ____________________________________

 

To include:    Dial 999 and call emergency services.

Contact Parents

 

 


Appendix 4

Record of administration of Medicines

 

 

Pupil’s Name:                    _____________________

 

Date of Birth:                    _____________________

 

Medical Condition: __________________________________________________

 

Medication:    __________________________________________________

 

Administration Details (When, Why, How)

 

Date Time Dosage Administrated by

 

 

 

 

Signed:         ________________­__

 

Date:            __________________