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.

[BeALert]

Anywhere I've worked the rules for primary have always been that the epi pen is locked away in the first aid cupboard with the other controlled drugs

My blood runs cold reading this. Dear god. The idea of someone trying to find the key for the cupboard while my child is having an allergic reaction. I've had to use an Epipen on her and the time from making the decision to actually sticking the Epipen in her leg was approx 10 seconds.

OP - I'm in the US FWIW. Here each child has a pair of Epipens in their bag, which is with them during class. There are also spare Epipens in the nurses office - NOT locked away ever.

At high school when they are moving around much more from classroom to classroom it's even more important to ensure they know to always have a pair of Epipens in their bag with them.

[Oblomov17]

It's clear from this thread that there are different policies at almost every school.
And THAT is NOT good.

[OddBoots]

I would want one accessible in less than a minute from where the child is so would want one in the classroom that goes out with the child at PE and one in the dining hall that goes out with a staff member at break and lunch. I would want both fetched if one was needed, the further one would be the second dose if needed.

[OddBoots]

(of course I would ideally like 2 in each location but I know the challenges of getting enough of them prescribed)

[JonSnowsWife]

Does anyone know of any reason why a school would need or prescription label or pharmacy label to administer over the counter medication such as pirition? Is a parental consent form sufficient?

I've always wondered that too. DDs school wouldn't administer painkillers without them being prescribed when she had broken her foot. One of the very rare times I've had to ring the GPs and ask them to prescribe me paracetamol. Thankfully they were well aware of the silly rule (I'd never come across it before -just took Calpol in and signed consent forms at the previous school!) and prescribed a big bottle to last her the six weeks. Which was well needed at school as anyone who's broken a metatarsal would know.

[Sirzy]

Does anyone know of any reason why a school would need or prescription label or pharmacy label to administer over the counter medication such as pirition? Is a parental consent form sufficient?

The official guidance for schools actually says they don’t need it to be prescribed. As long as they have clear written instructions from the parent/guardian (and these are inline with the guidance on the box) then they can give them.

[TammySwansonTwo]

I don't understand this really - they are items prescribed to a specific child and in primary school aren't kids mostly still within one classroom the majority of the time (maybe with the exception of PE, music, art etc)? Or the teacher teaching them at any time should carry it? I have anaphylaxis but didn't occur til secondary - they locked my adrenaline (inhaler at that time - soon doscontinhed!) in the school office. Had a reaction backstage during a school play, person with the keys refused to leave the hall and the caretaker had to break the office door down!

[FruitCider]

This is spot on. It's also important to realise that children with allergies need to carry TWO epipens not one!

It's not legal to lock up epipens and inhalers.
*
The document I linked makes that clear.

In 20+ years I've never ever heard of a child stealing or misusing an Epipen. Most secondary schools have several kids with them in their bags.

However if a child who needs it doesn't get their epipen immediately they could die.

They should not be locked away.

Epipens are not a controlled drug either.
*
The only controlled drug that should be expected to be in school is Ritalin (or various versions of it.). This should be locked away. As it is needed at fixed times that isn't an issue.

[Mia1415]

I think it should be kept in the classroom. My son is asthmatic and his inhaler is kept in his classroom with him at all times. When he goes to PE outside or on a trip all the medication goes with them.

[shallichangemyname]

The LEA will have its own policy.
Here the policy is that 2 are kept in the school medical room, and if they go out then the teacher in charge takes them.
My DS is 13 and I would really worry about him being responsible for the epipen, and I'd prefer it to be kept centrally. What if he loses his bag? What if he is incapable of administering it himself, will there be a nearby adult who is trained, knows he needs it? TBH the waiting time involved in that would be no more than the time it took for someone to run to the medical room and get the nurse. But my DS has a food allergy, and not to a food commonly found at school (brazil nuts, but he finds it easier to just avoid all nuts) and so the opportunity for him to have an attack are very limited (I don't even bother carrying the epipen when we are out and about although I do take it on holiday).

[Notso]

I've challenged my sons primary but the won't move it. It's kept on a high shelf in the office, when the expiry dates were being checked staff had to stand on a chair to reach it. It's also not kept near DS's inhaler which is part of his allergy kit. The school nurse agrees it is best left in the office as everyone knows where it is, so won't support me either she just told staff in an emergency anyone's adrenaline pens can be used.

[theEagleIsLost]

No experience of epi pens.
I've experience of two primaries both kept the inhalers in the class room but both were awful at allowing children access to them not just my children.

Current school insists my Y6 can't have it himself - but last year before an overnight trip admitted they frequently forgot to take inhalers on school trips ( DS himself with last school trip last one put one a spare one in bottom of bag).

His current teacher is much more aware - which is something. I'm hoping secondary is better and he can keep hold of it.

[RockNRollNerd]

Like others at primary one in the office and one with the teacher which travelled round the school with DS/teacher. In year 6 we asked for DS to start carrying his own and were initially refused until I said it was just as much part of transition to secondary prep as moving classrooms, homework, etc.

Assuming there is a care plan which I guess most kids with epipens have them that should be sufficient for the bottle of piriton issue. I also had this with primary who were insisting on prescribed bottles until I asked why the hospital treatment plan letter signed by the consultant which was in the bag wasn’t enough.

The lack of consistency and the ones locked in cupboards minutes away is alarming. Hopefully the Anaphylaxis Campaign will pick up on this.

[JonSnowsWife]

Notso if your DS has an asthma nurse at the hospital. Drop him or her an email or a phone call telling them you aren't very comfortable with the plan they have in place. We had to do this with DD. Asthma nurse came in for a chat with school. Policy was changed quicksmart.

[FruitCider]

The reason why 2 epipens are needed is because one dose is not sufficient before an ambulance arrived, so having only one in school is no good!

[teal125]

Sirzy, if you have a link to the guidance that would be so helpful. I have searched but can't find it

[lalalalyra]

Inhalers should be on the child and no adult should be preventing access.

This was an issue when I was at school ffs. It should be well sorted by now.

[Notso]

JonSnowsWife thanks, unfortunately it was his asthma/allergy nurse (same person) who referred me to the school nurse about my concerns.
The schools concern is the pens have been kept there for so long if they are moved people will not know where they are/default to the old place.
My concern is DS eats in a separate building to where they are kept. They say it takes 30 seconds to get to it, they are probably right if the school is empty and all doors are open and unlocked which wouldn't happen if their are children present. They won't let him keep them on him in a bumbag type thing incase he fiddles with it, he is always having his allergy bracelet taken off him for fiddling. They won't keep one in the classroom or dining hall/kitchen either.
Apparently no other parent has raised this issue.

[mintyneb]

My year 6 DD has one epipen in a small rucksack kept in the classroom with another in the school office. The rucksack goes to lunch everyday with her and then out into the playground with one of the supervisors.

babybarrister interesting to hear about the new guidelines, will have to look them up

[Kr1s]

I posted this link way up thread but you might have missed it, so I'll give it again


www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/