Medication

Fairmont Area Schools

Medication Guidelines

 The administration of medication to students shall be done only in the exceptional circumstances where the student’s health may be jeopardized without it.  Whenever possible, administration of medicine should be done at home. (Medicine prescribed three times per day can be given before school, after school and bedtime.) Any medications left after the last day of school will be discarded within 24 hours.

1.   Administration of prescription medication by school personnel must only be done according to the written order of a physician and written authorization of parent/guardian.  Non-prescription medication will be administered to students only with parent/guardian written authorization.

               a.   Only oral medications will be administered in school. (exception: insulin or inhalers)

               b.   Medication will be taken by the student at the designated time supervised by a school nurse or his/her designee,                           secretary, teacher or principal.

               c.   Mixed dosages in a single container will not be accepted for administration at school.

 2.   A new medication form is required when the dosage or time of administration of the medication is changed.  New consent forms with appropriate signatures must be received each school year. 

 3.   When a long-term daily medication is stopped, a physician’s order is required.

 4.   All medication (prescription and non-prescription) must be brought to school by a parent/guardian in its original container.

       The following information must be on the prescribed container label:

               a.   Student’s full name

               b.   Name and dosage of medication

               c.   Time and directions for administration must match authorization form (e.g. three times per day is not acceptable)

               d.  Physician’s name

               e.  Date (must be current)

 5.   All oral medications are not to be carried by the student in the elementary grades and will be kept in a locked cabinet or in the school health office. A student may never carry controlled substances.  Students enrolled at Fairmont Junior/Senior High School may carry over the counter medications with them with parental permission.

6.   Students with severe allergies, who may need their Epi-Pen during the school day, will be allowed to carry and be responsible for their administration of their own Epi-Pen.  Proper medical education will need to be documented either by the school nurse or medical provider. 

 7.   Students with asthma who need to use their inhaler during the school day will be allowed to carry and be responsible for administration of their own inhaler.   Proper medical education will need to be documented either by the school nurse or medical provider.

 8.   Special arrangements must be made with the school nurse concerning administration of medication to children with disabilities through gastrostomy tubes, rectal, injectable or oral routes. 

 9.   On field trips, parents need to be sure arrangements are made regarding the administration of the student’s medication.  Student medications for severe allergies should be taken on all field trips.

Medication Consent and Guidelines