Who will go into school to train on Epi-pen use?

[Lilpickle08]

Hello

My daughter has recently been diagnosed with a peanut and shellfish allergy and we have 4 Epi-pens for her - 2 for school, 2 for at home. She's back at pre-school tomorrow and I've just spoken to her headteacher who has informed me that no other children in the school have allergies and therefore they're not trained in administering Epi-pens. She wants some training and has asked if I could arrange it.

Do I contact the local GP or the Anaphylaxis campaign or where do I start?

Thank you :-)

[kat2504]

I don't think it ought to be your responsibility to arrange it! However, I'm sure you want to get things sorted ASAP so as a first start try the school nurse, who may be able to train the teachers, or know who to ask to come in.

I'm a teacher and have had to go to training on this approx every 2 years, however that is working in bigger schools where there are always a few kids with allergies. Also the Asthma nurse comes in now and then to make sure teachers are up to date. The school should be able to put you in touch with the local school nurse. If you have no joy with that route, your GP should be able to help.

[sallysparrow157]

Who has prescribed the epi pens? Where I work there is a fantastic setup in the paeds allergy clinic where, whenever a child is newly diagnosed with a severe allergy the clinic nurses arrange to teach the relavent people in the school/nursery the basics of epipen use. So it may have already been arranged. If not, the school nurse is your starting point as they may be able to do it themselves or if not will know the local arrangements (your little one may be the first in this nursery with severe allergies but cetainly won't be first in your region so there will be some arrangement in place)

[freefrommum]

It is the school's responsiblility to arrange the training. The school nurse should normally deliver the training but sometimes the allergy nurse will do it (she trained the nursery staff for my DS). The headteacher should have the contact details of the school nurse so I would ask her to arrange it. Have you seen an allergy nurse at all? If so, it might be worth giving them a ring and seeing what they suggest.

[Lilpickle08]

Thanks for your responses. The GP initially prescribed the epi-pens, have just rung them and they've sent me back to the school, saying it's their responsibility. So will speak to the headmistress again!

[roundtoit]

i worked in a school as a lunch time supervisor and the local authority school nurse would come in once and year and go through the training with us. Its down to the head to get this organised not you.

[mycatoscar]

I've had training as a teacher twice to use epi pens, both times it was the school nurse who came out to do it. I am in Kent, dont know if this differs between LA's

[lukewarmmama]

I rang the health visitor, who sorted it out really quickly (a nurse went over to the pre-school).

My childminder went to her local docs, who gave her some training there.

I think you'll find it easier than you think to organise (and its not worth worrying about who 'should' do it - both the school and you are new to this, so why not give them a helping hand?).

[mummytime]

I had training when I worked in a secondary school. A nurse came in for a day and trained everyone who was willing in continual batches. The office staff who were most likely to be called on had more thorough training.
The headmistress should call the LA, they should have someone who does it.
I find it very surprising they are not already trained. Most schools have several children with them (and possibly a few staff).