Medication at School Policy

Medication at School Policy

St Patrick’s Catholic School, Te Awamutu

RATIONALE:

There are times when medication will need to be administered at school. This must be done in a way to protect the safety of all students and staff.

PURPOSES:

To ensure there are safe practices in place for the administration of medicines at school

GUIDELINES:

1. Any medication brought to school must come with written permission and instructions from the parent or caregiver.

2. All medication (except Asthma Inhalers) must be kept and administered by either the classroom teacher or the office administrator. Medication must not be kept in children’s bags.

3. Long-term medication will be kept in the sickbay, in a cupboard that is not accessed by children, or in the fridge. The cupboard must not be locked, but must be accessible in case of emergency.

4. Asthma inhalers should be kept and managed by the child concerned, under the supervision of the classroom teacher or other adult.

5. Epi-pens will be kept in the staffroom on top of the fridge, with the student’s emergency management plan and photo on the wall above the fridge. There may be instances when students are allowed to carry their own Epi-pens rather than store them in the sickbay, at the principal's discretion

6. Awareness of expiry dates and replacement of all medication is the responsibility of the parent/caregiver.

7. Paracetamol may be administered with verbal permission. Dosage should be clarified with the parent/caregiver, along with timing of the last dose given.

8. Any medication given to a child will be logged on eTap by the adult who administers the medication.

Ratified: 22 April 2020

Reviewed: 28 June 2023