yr 3 carrying epipen with them all day at school??

[brimfull]

school states that epipen users should have two pens at school ,one in medical room and the child to carry the other.
This is new school for ds.
I just handed the epipen/medical bag into reception on the first day . They explained that they encourage the child to take responsibility for remembering the epipen when they leave the school grounds for trip etc. That is they are resposible for asking the teacher for it.
I am in total agreement with this as ds needs to get better at remembering it himself but as of yet he has never kept a pen in a bumbag before.

Any experience , the school aren't forcing the issue as it's early days at the schooll and he's still getting used to it.

I agree with you about him needeing to have responsibility but I'd question whether him carrying in a bumbag is the best solution.

I know they are very hard to accidently set off but as mature as he may be another curious yr 3 child may decide to investigate. Also quite hard for him to play footie etc in the playground. Would the memeber of staff on duty carry it for him so he has it but doesn't have the whole responsibilty for it iyswim?? Same with school trpis they need to double check he has it - no point just relying on him.

As I said I understand the importance of his epipens but maybe think school need to encourage independence but also remember he's only 7/8 - quite a young boy.

Mindyou I'm the worse person to ask - DS antihistamine kept in the school office and he asked for it once they refused to give it him as no clear sign of allergy and he had hives all over his face by the time he got home He knows when his histamine levels are rising so I do think children could have more responsibilty as they have the knowledge.

Hope you get it sorted - your DS school sound fab.

thanks for the replies
great advice
I have been somewhat complacent with teaching him about the epipen -I haven't taught him to do it himself yet .

He is very responsible at being careful about what he eats .

Will talk to his teacher about him talking to the class re. the allergy

I found that pointing out the damage that could be done were a pen to be discharged into a finger (serious risk of loss of finger I understand)soon led to teachers and playground supervisor's carrying DS' medical kit. My son's the same age and he's responsible for taking it from responsible adult to responsible adult. He has told me he feels unable to inject himself but is going to think about it ...

Thank you Nottirednow - interesting as I was told by my GP that it was incredibly dangerous - ho-hum, clearly she thinks me massively irresponsible! ;D
DS's school uses the red-card system as well - seems good.

ds's nursery teacher accidentally injected her thumb when being trained

have updated other thread but ds doesn't need to caryy pen on him just be responsible for giving to adult when going off site

collegue of mine injected her thumb too with her DS expired epipen - she was meant to be practising on an orange

she had to go to a & e to get treated - it can be dangerous - think if I call correctly it alters the blood presure.

my little boy has just started nursery but the teachers keep the pens in the medicle room and take them out at play times and they look after it, i wouldnt of thought they'd make them carry the pens themselves as it will restrict then doing normal activites etc.