To challenge the school policy on epi pens?

[GrandDesespoir]

I'd like to know what the advice is regarding whether children should carry their own epi pen, or whether it should be left in the medical office, possibly at some distance from the child.

I'm interested in either links to reputable websites, advice from medical professionals on best practice, or information on school policies (not simply laypeople's opinions).

Thank you.

It depends how old the children are. In my class, I have someone with an epipen. It is kept at the office as they are 7. There are spares in the dining room. I take the pack if I go to the field for games etc... not that there is likely to be nuts there but our policy is it needs to be within reasonable distance at all times.

At secondary they carry one and keep a spare in first aid.

Our (secondary) school says one with child everywhere they go, one in medical as a spare.

At secondary, held with main first aid person.

It depends on the age of the child.

I work in an infant school and they are kept centrally on the whole. Furthest distance is about 2-3 minute run though may be downstairs from some classrooms.

However, if we have someone who is likely to need one with utmost urgency it would be kept in their classroom, but would have to be in a cupboard out of reach of the children.

Unless specifically specified on a mediplan that it was necessary they wouldn't be taken to assembly, to another classroom or outside for PE or playtime though, but would be taken on any visits outside of school.

I work in a secondary and the policy is that students carry their own and a spare is kept in reception. Most staff have been trained in how to use epipens. Staff are aware of which students require an epipen and the procedure if it needs to be used. On trips a designated staff member will carry the spare epipen.

Thanks, jazzmin. Would two floors away and down a corridor be considered "within reasonable distance" by your school, do you think?

I did my repeat anaphylaxis training yesterday. We were told that at secondary level children should be carrying their own auto injectors. At primary, it depends on the age and maturity of the child. The important thing is that all adults in school know who has an auto injector and where at least one of them is stored.

In primary I would expect it to be sorted somewhere safe in the class room and somewhere easy to access at playtime’s.

At secondary I would expect the young person to be trusted to look after it in most cases with all staff aware.

Would two floors away and down a corridor be considered "within reasonable distance" by your school, do you think?

How long to get there by a member of staff?

Thanks everyone. Sorry - should have said that this is primary age.

I am a layperson but at my dc's school in primary - children with severe allergies carried them in bum bag type things.

In my last class (y4) we had one in class, in a secure box away in a high cupboard only accessible by an adult. There are spares in the medical room in the main building.

In our school (not uk) one epipen is kept in a little medical bag that's kept in the classroom with child. The teacher on yard duty carries this at all times , it also contains a "get help" card that another child can run to staffroom with to call an ambulance. We have all been trained to use it and the doctor at the training assured us this practice would allow us to have carried out our duties.

Two floors away is too far, surely. Time is of the essence for anaphylaxis.

How long to get there by member of staff?

Not sure, really - depends how fit they are! I'm concerned that time taken to realise anaphylaxis has been triggered, plus time to contact nurse, plus time to collect pen, plus time to get up stairs is starting to add up a bit.

We are a 3 storey school and the office is the middle. There are 4 children with epipens in the school, we are trained regularly about them. My one is a nut allergy, it is a nut free school ( I would guess most are these days) .. we don't allow cakes etc for birthdays. So I think a flight of stairs is reasonable in this case. We are human... if a parent is particularly worried I would happily keep a spare one in my drawer.

I work in a secondary school.
The child carries one epipen on them. A second epipen is kept in the medical room.
All staff are trained in how to administer it.

Every secondary school I've ever worked in expected the child to carry one and a back up was kept somewhere safe.

I once had a child round for tea ( my own children's friend, not a pupil!) with a severe allergy as in we couldn't have a bowl of nuts in the room near them... there are different severities and common sense is required. However, I'll be blunt, parents are known to over react too. My advice, without knowing your circumstances, would be to make an appointment and politely state your case and why 2 floors is too far for your child, i.e. State examples they have reacted quickly and why the risk is there in the classroom. Be prepared to listen to their reassurances too. Hope you find a happy solution. If it helps, I, and most of my colleagues are paranoid about our pupils safety and tend to err on the side of caution generally.

They should be alowed to carry their medication. There are guidelines on this (I know as I have a diabetic dd. She carries her kit at all times, she is 7, in year 3).

Let me find those guidelines for you.

Two should be in the room where the child is. The instructions I was given on my first aid course are call an ambulance, give the epipen and if it's not working within a specified amount of time then give the 2nd epipen.

lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F638267%2Fsupporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf&h=ATNGe4XJFK_xWlsu1k4fZGeNuKCMzVl-MpFEW9pZxAUx7pr2myyLVrnDSz1BVni38PDgPjVKG3nXjT0JTXAUgv1tT6qC-IM-sH13KuYWWO_t9blgiVOKnxQktnp_RS-21_DEpQMR&enc=AZM09sWD3LuaN4yjpzf6PlHDz7vn9AGLZs_m07loagstV3UsDPau2tK9UDaf8QRwaBA35zg8KabMWjwViyLdSuDZShhxOR2W58RXMv56PDO7NY57GX4Uy5j2aXmaAoVrMxP-GWHEsUBod1IQhwdONr_aANCuRayRWdh5izy0JxGDhA&s=1

The document you need is here.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/638267/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf

Bottom of page 20 makes it very clear in my opinion.