Carrying medicines around at senior school

[Ninanarnar]

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.

A spacer is best practice for everyone, not just children. So don't put any pressure on her to ditch it. Saying that people grew out of it by age 10 is unhelpful and inaccurate.

Was going to comment about not ditching the spacer.

Ds (12) asthma nurse still encourages him to use it as he then gets all of the dose, rather than taking it incorrectly (hitting back of throat rather than down into lungs) which he tends to do

This is the collapsible spacer that my two carry (without the mask).

I am medical welfare at a large Secondary. Students are not supposed to carry medicines with them so the Piriton would stay in welfare office (always unlocked and accessible). I would not want them taking it except under my supervision, becasue in the worse case scenario that an ambulance has to called, then I need to know hwat they have taken so I can tell the paramedics. The inhaler and epi pens have to carried on their person, not kept in their bags as they can get separated from them in Dance or Drama for example. School blazers have pretty big pockets.

I have another prescribed epi-pen for each anaphylactic student, int the office and also emergency kits of asthma and inhalers/disposble spacers in 4 different places around the school site and another set for trips.

Please don't ditch the spacer. You can get small foldable ones on amazon. I have disposable cardboard spacers for students and the difference even they make is huge. Kids get distracted and I have noticed that even the students with severe asthma sometimes have a really bad technique.

I can't speak for other school medical officers, but I am shit hot on this! Its a huge responsibility. I do spot checks on students to make sure they have inhalers in their pockets. When I'm walking down corridor they take out their inhalers and epi pens and wave them at me as they know I'm always nagging them! I monitor expiry dates very closely and contact parents about 6 weeks before the ones we hold in the office run out. I often have to ask parents many many times though.

Speak to your new school re their policies.

Thank you. That makes me feel better. I’ve never wanted to insist on dd not using the spacer because I can see it makes a difference to how she takes the medicines in. Feel better reading that it’s ok for her to still be using it.

That’s so interesting to hear from a medical welfare officer, Loafeater. Makes me feel better that I am on the right track with my thinking on the carrying Jext pens and inhalers and that you do spot checksZ. Sounds like a good idea in making sure the kids are safe as possible but also instilling good habits as they get older.

Also great to hear you’re so on top of it. Very reassuring.

I will check the policy when I speak with them but I’m glad to have asked on here because I didn’t know about the Piriton... we always carry some in the bumbag so assumed she would in school too.

If it’s all on her and anything happened at least there’s no chance of a delay in medicines being available.

The Blazer is another good option so will bear that in mind for events and things but I know kids don’t always want to wear them esp during hot weather so a bag seems a good easy ‘all the time’ thing she can just carry

I also didn’t know about collapsible or cardboard spacers. And interestingly was in the chemist the other day when a 30 something lady was asking for advice on how to use her newly prescribed one.

SweetMarmalade.. my dd dose that and then coughs and I can smell the medicine in the air so always worry how much has gone in. Also something about the way they’re supposed to inhale it as at odds with the fact she can’t when she’s wheezing. It’s a technique she doesn’t seem to be able to master.

Aero Chamber spacers are a lot smaller than the Volumatic ones.
www.rightbreathe.com/spacers/aerochamber-plus-glaxosmithkline-uk-ltd-1-device/?s=&device_type=spacer

We bought one in our local Boots, think it was around £8 it takes the standard shape inhaler and the round ones.

Thank you Losing and Emotional and everyone else. Sorry if I’ve missed anyone. Everyone has been helpful so thank you.

Blank Times.. that’s the one we have. And it’s much smaller than ten previous yellow one. Good to know I can buy them in boots if we ever lost one. Thank you

Ds has the same meds and carries them in a small bag in his back pack.

A lot of it fits in blazer pocket. Not sure about the epipens, but we fit the asthma kit in the inside pocket

Do they not have their medicines policy on their website or a parent handbook? Many schools do.

My dd carries her epipens in her blazer and a small bottle of piritize which is decanted from a normal bottle.

Will check the school website. Thank you

And our bumbag kit contains a small bottle of Piriton decanted from a normal one too.

Jext pens would be too big in a blazer pocket.

Thanks again for everyone’s help.

So depending on how the school do things I’ll get a cross body bag for everyday or weekend only use.

I feel like I have a better idea of what to do so thank you for sharing your experiences.

LoafEater
Many doctors will only prescribe two adrenaline auto-injectors per patient. In these cases, do you advise the pupil to carry both with them? Or do they carry one with them and you keep the second in the office?

You should carry two with you not split them up.

LoafofSellotape
That's what I thought, to avoid any delay in accessing the second auto-injector. Especially if it's a large site.

I'd say have the piriton on her and some in the office. This would mean if she needs it quickly then it doesn't have to be found/unlocked etc. With the best will in the world, secondaries are usually big places which take time to walk around.

Could you give her a single dose so it would be obvious if she'd taken it in case of needing to contact emergency services?

We have diabetic students who carry a pouch within their bag (we don't have lockers) and that works well for them.

That’s what we were told too, to always have two together. Important in large sites but also just in case one fails or help doesn’t arrive quickly as they buy you time in that situation. Our care plan is to give the first one and if no improvement in 5-10 minutes give the second. It’s too scary to think about only one failing or not being enough so am going to insist she carries both on her always.

Yah I you Dermymc.. a single dose in the bottle is a great idea.

The junior school are proposing having a stick of her medicines with them and for her to carry her supply with her so a small decanted bottle of Piriton. The single dose is a fab idea... although our little bottle has leaked before so but sure if we should get a new better one.

Just to add my son is the same, but no spacer - he's now 14 and has a new ventolin style inhaler that doesn't need one.
He has a big pencil case that he takes everywhere but you can get nice small make up bags from Primark / HEMA which your daughter can use.

We have four epipens - 2 at school and 2 on Rhys, we have to manage the use by dates so it's a phone calendar reminder - and the GP is supportive.

He carries tablets rather than a liquid antihistamine and his allergy protocol in a plastic bag,

It's hard to get your head around it all, so please me if thats any use.

You will also need to think about sanitary towels etc as well so she will need a decent sized bag and to get used to carrying her own medication when she is out and about with her friends. Maybe look at cute mini rucksacks for that? Again new look etc are good places to hunt.

School bags, obviously a rucksack is best but they all have black shopper style ones.

The hardest bit I think is teaching your child to teach their friends / boy/ girl friends - another mine field /) good luck

Oh and to add - I would imagine a number of girls are carrying extra little bags if they've started their periods so she won't be the only one at all.

Gah! Typos. I meant thank you Dermymc

Hi knackeredmumoftwo
Love your name
Dd started her period this weekend and the bag would definitely be useful for that.

It is a minefield so it’s lovely to have so many understanding replies.
I overthink things so it’s good also to know I wasn't for a change and that I’m on the right track.
I was also worried about school bags, if they carry them around all day, that in an emergency would they find dd’s black bag in the pile of all the black bags.
Good to know she won’t be the only one carrying an extra bag.
And thank for your the offer of messaging you. I may take you up on that once I’ve spoken to the school and have an idea of what’s what.