AIBU or is this head teacher

[fairyofallthings]

I spoke to the head teacher at my DC's school the other day, the school don't keep a spare inhaler in case of emergencies as the children are expected to give a spare to the office. So far, so good - I accept that is a good idea.

However, I spoke to her about the school keeping a spare inhaler in the office just in case an inhaler doesn't work for some reason and she said she didn't think that it was an important issue and that there were more important things to worry about. I don't think she's taking asthma seriously and she really needs to. I am considering a letter to the governors but AIBU to do that?

If school let a child die because of quibbling over inhaler ownership, they might find that a court took a pretty dim view of their interpretation of duty of care

The rule of inhaler/epipen to owner in Victoria was strict. Until last year. Or was it the year before? Fucked if I know; I'm only the teacher. Oh, hang on, the one who'll get sued from arsehole to Christmas if the child dies. That would be the one on the cover lesson. If the computer system is working.

While this vagueness is in Au, don't think it won't apply in the UK.

Christ alive, what a rule echt. Though I'd imagine the chances of a parent suing because a teacher has used a different child's EpiPen in the case of anaphylaxis Iis much lower than the risk if one hadn't been used. In such a case though I wouldn't sue the teacher, it'd be the state of Victoria for instituting a rule likely to result in kids dying. Hopefully them realising that is why the rule has changed.

When I was a school governor, I asked the head teacher to acquire a school inhaler to be kept as an emergency spare. It’s not an unreasonable request and can be done easily.

@kali110 - two in my handbag and one in my child's bag.

Schools in NI can now acquire and keep a spare epi pen.

3 all together? Thats a lot.
3 in the school is too much.
Im asthmatic.
Its too much.
Check the spare is working every 6 few months if it hAsnt been used.
2 is enough.

I’m constantly shocked by the number of children who don’t know how. to use their inhaler correctly. Most schools I go to have one in the classroom or in the child’s possession, and one in the office. Why would you need a third? Parents’ responsibility to check medication is functioning, child’s able to self-administer inhalers and that the stuff is in date. Again, many don’t.

Again, many don’t.

This is why it's a good idea for the school to have one.

@Kali110 1 in the child's bag - as they need to learn to be responsible for carrying an inhaler. 2 in mine for the occasions when they forget (all children do from time to time) to bring one.

Christ alive, what a rule echt. Though I'd imagine the chances of a parent suing because a teacher has used a different child's EpiPen in the case of anaphylaxis Iis much lower than the risk if one hadn't been used. In such a case though I wouldn't sue the teacher, it'd be the state of Victoria for instituting a rule likely to result in kids dying. Hopefully them realising that is why the rule has changed

Yes, it's horrible. about Five years ago we were told we could never use another child's epipen on a child in anaphylactic shock. We looked at each other going WTF? How would you stand by? Then a couple of years later told we could. FFS. The level of responsibility handed down to individual teachers is shocking.

We (primary school) have all recently had our first aid training updated, and the message we were given was that schools are strongly encouraged to have a spare inhaler on-site. The reason given was more for adults in the setting whose childhood asthma returns unexpectedly than in case of failed inhalers. Apparently adult asthma attacks after many years without is a bigger problem than many people would think.

The school doesn't need 3 though.
As long as the spare remains full and working the school doesn't need 3, there is no point.
Understand about why you carry 3

I am surprised she said that. Could the spare be kept in the classroom or DC's bag? HT are usually up on health/safety etc. Maybe she means she couldn't store a spare for every child with an inhaler in the office - could be lack of space? It would be peace of mind for you to know there is a spare. If you are not satisfied, you could contact the local education department. The governors would not really be able to help you.

We have a spare in our school in the office. It is used for when there is a fire drill, the office bring the spare inhaler and epipen with them in case they are needed. Each child has 1 of their own and a school spare in the office. A spare for a spare is a little ott I think.

The school rule that each child should have a spare inhaler in the office is a good one.insisting there is a third is too much especially when logic tells as the office holds all the spare inhalers, so if it came to it, many back ups.

I’m with the head, that insisting there is even more back ups to all the back ups already in the office is just not required.

Could the spare be kept in the classroom or DC's bag?
I was wondering this, just didn't know if they were allowed.

THERE IS ALREADY A SPARE IN THE OFFICE!!
The OP is suggesting a second spare.

THERE IS ALREADY A SPARE IN THE OFFICE!!
The OP is suggesting a second spare
Yes, think most people have got this.

THERE IS ALREADY A SPARE IN THE OFFICE!!

Spare or not, it really shouldn't be in the office though. It needs to be immediately accessible. If the classroom the asthmatic kid is in, is the other side of the school and they use up the inhaler she or he has on him. The spare is not immediately accessible.

I'm asthmatic. There is a certain inhaler that does fuck all for me. I know because the consultant tried giving it me in hospital once when I had a bad chest infection. So it's not always wise to use a different inhaler.

I do understand the reasons behind using a epipen though. As others said. How can you stand by?

Either the parent supplies the school with a spare inhaler for their child - or you neglect your parental duty/responsibility.

I don't think it's the school's responsibility to add the expense of spare inhalers to it's already depleting budget -
There are at least 3 different types of inhalers and they would have to buy one of each and replace them by the Use By date even if they've not been used
Once used/opened, they would have to be replaced within X time even if they never got used again.

Personally, i would not want my child using someone else's/'spare' inhaler unless it was a real emergency.
It's bad enough inhaling/being in close contact with other people's germs as it is.

I agree with the HT, there are more important things for her to focus on than snowflake parents who want to take up their time complaining about something that isn't nor has been a problem for them.

Ds has two different inhalers he uses in school. He has a bag which goes with him everywhere with both in and a spare of each in the office. When the class one is empty it is rotated from office and I send a new one into the office. Works well.

I have to say in nearly 8 years of ds being a severe asthmatic we have never had an inhaler not work (as in the mechanism not work)

ehct - I don't understand. Surely if you are not empowered to give emergency medication to a child in your class (especially on trips, etc) then you would have to stand back and watch them die? Isn't it better that there is a trained person in the room with the child (you've said that you are made to do the training).

It's taken me two years of battling to get my child's school trained on their emergency medication (not inhaler or epipen). Two years of having to stay within 5 miles of school in case they needed it. Now that is fucked and something worth complaining about.

OP, whilst I think you are probably ok with your child carrying their inhaler and having a spare in the office (which presumably goes on trips with them), I don't see why the school wouldn't want to take advantage of the rules that allow them to have a spare communal inhaler unless the cost is prohibitive. An alternative would be to provide two spares yourself if your GP will agree to prescribing this.

HeebieJeebie the key point surely is unless it was a real emergency. Surely the whole point with asthma is that it might be! If there's no emergency, clearly the school can use the named inhaler. But if there is, wouldn't you prefer the teacher to be able to grab an inhaler designated specifically for the situation in which there is no time to lose? Sure, it's unlikely, but equally I'm sure most public defibrillators aren't pressed into service very often either. It's a question of what there is to lose vs the tiny cost of providing a couple of inhalers every year or so, and in the case of asthma, it's potentially a very, very great deal.

frogsoup, not sure about that. If the school have spare, where do they keep them? To be able to grab it when no time to lose, they have to have it in every classroom/hall/library, etc?
My ds keeps one in his classroom and one in the office. Same as epipen. That is good enough for me to be feel safe.

YABU, not the head.

If you feel the need another inhaler make your child carry it! School is meeting it’s requirements by having one in the office as a spare for emergencies. We have the same rules for epi-pens too which is much more likely to require hospitalisation than asthma.