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Secondary education

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Original poster

Carrying medicines around at senior school

66 replies

Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 12:39

Hello

Am I right in thinking that my dd will have to carry her own medicines around at senior school with her? She will be starting in September and I think she needs something separate from her school bag as she won’t always have that with her.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice based on what your children do and also any recommendations for the sort of bag she should use.

I’m thinking a discreet cross body bag in black but am clueless about such things so any suggestions on this would also be appreciated.

It would need to hold a small bottle of Piriton,
Two Jext pens, asthma inhaler and spacer.

Plus I guess space for a phone and pack of tissues for weekend use.

We have a yellowcross medical bumbag that we currently use when we are out and about but she isn’t keen to carry that herself as it’s bulky and not very discrete at all.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 12:40

Argh! Sorry for spelling errors and typos Blush

OP posts:
ffs74 · 19/05/2019 12:42

Ds has carried all of the things you've listed since secondary school, we managed to wean him off the spacer as he felt it was time to ditch it at 11!
School has 2 epipens in first aid, so we now have a prescription for 4.
Do you see it as a problem, your dd carrying it all around?

ffs74 · 19/05/2019 12:44

He upgraded to a little adidas bag for it all to go in (far cooler apparently!) and he keeps that in his school rucksack

JudgeRindersMinder · 19/05/2019 12:45

I’m guessing that the spacer takes up a lot of room. My ds was able to manage his inhaler without a spacer by about age 10, is this an option or does she absolutely need the spacer?

BubblesBuddy · 19/05/2019 12:46

You need to talk to the school about their medicines policy. Is it in the parent handbook. Some meds must be handed in for example as they are classed drugs. I think Ritalin is one. I know of a case where a DC handed their Ritalin out to friends. Just check the policy before you buy anything.

ASauvignonADay · 19/05/2019 12:47

She can carry them and the school can also keep spares.

Most will want them discreetly in school bag (but inside a separate bag if that makes sense). Some carry a separate (usually cross body) bag, but easier for them to lose it.

Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 12:48

Thank you ffs74

I don’t see it as a problem but I know she won’t carry her stuff if it’s in the current bag that we have as it’s a bit ugly.

She is also aware of being different so something less obvious would be good.

We also have 4 in total. What does your dd use to carry his? I am hoping to wean her off the spacer too but at the moment hayfever is aggravating her wheezing so she’s more reliant on it... it somehow helps her breathe it in more calmly.

Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 12:48

4 Jext pens I mean. Sorry

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Walnutwhipster · 19/05/2019 12:49

DS has all you describe. School keep a set of his EpiPens. He's not allowed to carry them himself. When he enters a class his photo is on the teacher's desk and they know he goes into anaphylaxis. He also has a care plan in place.

PlugUgly1980 · 19/05/2019 12:50

Surely just a make-up/wash bag in her normal school bag? At senior school we took our bags round with us between lessons - no cloakrooms as suck like primary school.

stucknoue · 19/05/2019 12:51

Each school has its own policy, the other thing is to ensure her friends are aware of her situation because with multiple teachers and possibility of supply teachers it's harder for senco/school nurse/welfare team to ensure each teacher knows each child's exact medical needs (my DD's photo was pinned up on a board with all the other "extra care" kids. A cross body bag is best, but work on not needing the spacer as others have said, would really help.

Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 12:55

Gosh... thank you for all the replies. I was replying to ffs74 and when I hit post all the others appeared.

Thank you JudgeRindersMinder, BubblesBuddy and ASauvignonADay.

We are working on removing the spacer.

So a cross body bag sounds like a good plan. Any recommendations on what sort?

The current bumbag has a lining to help keep medicines at a good temp. A regular bag wouldn’t have this so would that be ok?

Think if I can get her a nice bag it’ll help her feel comfortable carrying it.

I’ve not had a chance to speak to the school but have been told by her current school that she will have to carry it and that she could try getting used to it in the last half term at junior school.

Thank you again

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IronManisnotDead · 19/05/2019 12:55

Is she not able to take the inhaler without the spacer? I think it may be a good idea to speak to your Asthma Nurse at your GP surgery and ask if they can either prescribe an extra set of medication which can be left at school, or teach your DD to manage her inhalers without the spacer.

MrMeSeeks · 19/05/2019 12:56

Op what spacer does she have?
You can get mini spacers now, so have the size of normal ones.

Cottonwoolmouth · 19/05/2019 12:59

I wouldn’t trust the school epipens. They often go out of date and are unchecked. And I’d not budge on carrying your own.

Contact the school and see what they suggest would be suitable for carrying it around

Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 13:01

Thank you walnutwhipster. I’m expecting to have a care plan discussion so good to know that is a thing at senior school.

Plug, I thought so too but my nephew who is at a different school has a locker to keep school bag in so doesn’t always have to carry this around so was thinking I might need something that can stay with her. Also for weekends and if she goes out.

Stuck, thank you... you have raised some good things I should note. I’m hoping she’ll make some good friends who she is comfortable with who we can talk to about this.
And agree re spacer.

Thank you all xx

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Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 13:05

I can’t keep up. Thank you all so
Much.

Yes we are working on removing spacer but it’s not a big one. And at the moment she is still reliant on it.

And junior school have suggested she needs to carry her own around so that there isn’t a delay in getting medicines if she needs them. We can ask about spares for school to hold too but it’s already hard getting 4 pens from GP but would
Look at buying if we had to.

Thank you again

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Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 13:07

I haven’t been able to speak to the school yet. Have to wait for them to contact me about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 13:08

MrMeSeeks, thank you. I’ll have a look at mini spacers to see if they’re smaller than what we have at the moment.

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Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 13:11

Re the spacer, we will work on practicing without it and I will speak with the GP about it too.

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emotionalaffair · 19/05/2019 13:16

Even adults should use a spacer with an inhaler.

My two have able spacers that collapse so take up less room in their medicine bag.

DS is going to secondary after the summer and we're just getting him a plain black cross body bag.

Blobbyweeble · 19/05/2019 13:17

Be careful about ditching the spacer, the vast majority of people do not get the full dose of medication when not using one especially in the throes of a moderate to severe attack. Much better to have a mini spacer available to use in those circumstances.

Blobbyweeble · 19/05/2019 13:18

Be careful about ditching the spacer, the vast majority of people do not get the full dose of medication when not using one especially in the throes of a moderate to severe attack. Much better to have a mini spacer available to use in those circumstances.

sashh · 19/05/2019 13:22

What about an insulated lunch bag? You can get some very pretty ones and would keep the meds at a suitable temp.

Original poster
Ninanarnar · 19/05/2019 13:28

Collapsible spacer sounds good. Something about it calms dd when she’s taking it which means she takes the medicine in properly.

Will look for a plain cross body bag.

The lunch bag idea is good as the current medical bag is similarly insulated. Thanks again everyone.

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