8 year old carrying an Epipen at school? Is there an alternative?

[AndOutComeTheBoobs]

Ds has just been prescribed the adult epipen (was children's) because he's anaphylactic to 5 different foods.

We used to have 6 (and lucky to, I hear this is rare) 2 at home, 2 at school and 2 with the childminder.
Now there's a shortage and quite understandably we are only allowed two.

I'm perfectly happy (and would prefer) for DS to carry the epipens on him at all times.

However the school will only pass medicine between adults and won't allow this.

This gives huge scope for error.

It means going to the school office every morning and afternoon. This means I have to go in to drop DS rather than drop him outside.
It means the childminder has to go out of her way to collect the epipens despite having to collect several children from different parts of the school. It means her or I might for get on a Friday and he does the whole weekend without them.

Can I argue with the school that he should carry them on him? It's not like antibiotics or calpol, this is life saving and our situation has changed. Do I have any legs to stand on here?

It’s bad enough my dd’s inhaler has to be kept in the office but luckily hers isn’t so severe that if she doesn’t get it immediately, she’s in trouble. But surely an epipen is one that must be administered immediately

That also shouldn't be happening. That's very, very old practise that should have been ended years ago.

I've never seen a parent who argued against that policy lose in any school I've ever worked it. Just in case you wanted too.

At my DDs school two children (am sure there’s more) who need epipens have them in small bags which they carry with them whenever they leave their classroom. Another child with quite a few food allergies has a small plastic box with various medicines including antihistamines and an epipens with easy to follow instructions in an emergency.

FOR SCHOOLS:

www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/information-training/allergywise-training/for-schools/

I’m in a different legal jurisdiction, but a doctor’s letter goes a long way here.

The shortage is international. I had the hardest time just getting two. I would be wary of online sales.

We had something similar a few years ago with DS and an asthma inhaler.

Email spelling out the potential risks, opportunity for error and their duty of care, CCd into the councils head of education had it fixed

OxSome that's really helpful thank you. I didn't know that was an option!

Once on an inset day we had a first aid trainer who was horrified by the HT's insistence that inhalers and one epipen were kept in the office that they set up a role play type thing where she pretended to be a pupil and the office manager was on a phone call when she arrived at the office. She then rather bluntly pointed out the the HT that a child is unlikely to interrupt a phone, or school staff talking to another adult, and then you have to start adding 5/6 minute delays onto the risk assessment.

Then there's also the times where office staff are elsewhere in school delivering messages or using the photocopier etc and therefore access to the medications is locked.

Another useful video the school should watch eminent doctor speaks on the dangers dont think they could dispute this

www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/hcp/what-is-anaphylaxis/signs-and-symptoms/

The school should have risk assessed the different scenarios before deciding that the office is the safest. You could ask to see the risk assessments and query them if you don't think they are correct (e.g. if they rely on someone being present in the school office at all times and you think this is unlikely).

I can see why the school is concerned about silliness (and perhaps breakages) if he has them on him at all times- after all, it's not just him but other pupils who could conceivably bully/coerce him into handing the pens over.

Having the pens in the classroom and handed to an appropriate person at break or lunch times might be a possible solution?

www.emerade.com/hcp/prescribe-or-order.php

lyrarara fuck.
When you put it like that...

My request for 4 was refused (school and after school expired at the same time) and I got given 2. Put another request in 2 weeks later and got another 2 no problem!

During the height of the shortage we were told an old one could be used until it was more than 6 months out of date. So if they've only recently expired there is some leeway. Keep those ones until you can get a replacement.

When you put it like that...

It opened a lot of eyes and changed the policy in that school that day.

If the pen can't be kept by your child because children aren't responsible enough to be around the pen then children simply cannot be the ones who have to go and fetch the pen when your child needs it.

Plus the pen should never, ever, be kept somewhere that could be potentially locked when it's needed.

I’ve not RTWT but I would preserve.

I was in the exact same position, and kept on going back and back to the GPS until the pharmacy was able to source 6.

Once on an inset day we had a first aid trainer who was horrified by the HT's insistence that inhalers and one epipen were kept in the office that they set up a role play type thing where she pretended to be a pupil and the office manager was on a phone call when she arrived at the office. She then rather bluntly pointed out the the HT that a child is unlikely to interrupt a phone, or school staff talking to another adult, and then you have to start adding 5/6 minute delays onto the risk assessment.

Yes, exactly. I pointed out to our school this exact issue when (as a childminder) I joined staff for epipen training. Didn’t change their policy but my client whose child had an epipen kicked up enough of a stink to ensure the epipens stayed in the classroom.

The anaphylaxis.org.uk refers to it, with regards to legislation change in 2017, so I’d refer the school to that information & state it’s their duty of care to all pupils. Has your son an up to date Health Care Plan at school? Having the procedure signed off in that may help?

Just to stress there is a international shortage. It’s not got anything to do with the NHS.

Look at Anaphylaxis campaign for information

We where given generic pens in September when the pharmacy couldn't source EpiPens - they where able to give us 4 as normal

A few children at my school who required epipens carried them with them in special bum bags. I don't know if policy has changed since then , but it seems silly not to let them carry them with them. Surely the use of them in an emergency is extremely time sensitive?

How old is your DC?
At my school nursery ch to year 2(7yo) have a pen in office and in medical bag in class that follows ch to whatever room they are in. Once they are in year 3 they wear it in a really slim bum bag like the one you described.

www.allergyuk.org/about/latest-news/435-press-release-new-legislation-allows-spare-emergency-adrenaline-autoinjectors-in-schools

Maybe this will auto-inject some sense into them lol

www.allergyuk.org/information-and-advice/for-schools/spare-pens-in-schools

www.sparepensinschools.uk/

they have lots of material to show their staff

I wouldn't be happy with epi-pens being kept in the school office. That is valuable time should your child need it..

Im a teacher and i keep.epipens in the meds cupboard in my classroom along with inhalers etc so i can get to them.straightaway!

Please correct me if I’m wrong but the OP hasn’t said it’s essential it’s on DC’s person at all times, rather that it’s inconvenient for her or childminder to have to go back and forth to the office each morning and night. As a teacher, SENCo and parent, I know that in my setting ALL medication must be signed in and out of the office by an adult and furthermore, an adult with PR for the child. I have had significant battles with the school nurse service about the necessity for an extra epipen. The shortage crisis has been going on for a little while now.