Epi-Pen Question

[LisaR]

I didn't want to hijack one of the current posts but reading it made me curious. For those of you that have kids that go to school and need to carry an epi pen, are your kids forbidden to carry them on their person? From reading the other thread, it sounds like the teacher or school nurse has possession of them. This confuses me. If your child needs it NOW and they were out on the playground or in the lunchroom, how would the teacher or nurse get it in time? Does the teacher carry it with her the entire time?

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

That is a really good question!!! I am going to ask my sister in the morning what the school does for my nephew, since he has one with him at all times. He is deathly allergic to peanut items.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

In NH, I'm pretty sure the kids are allowed by law to carry them by themselves. There was a case a few years ago here where a boy at summer camp died because he didn't have his inhaler, and no one got it to him in time. After that, it became law that kids could have emergency medications on them (I'm not sure if it's just epi-pens and inhalers, or if other stuff is covered too)

 

[Missy1961]

One of my nephews has food allergies--eggs & wheat. He goes to school in Northern VA--he is allowed to carry his Epi Pen himself. It is always in a red fanny pack--the school told my sister it had to be a red one--and he has always been allowed to have it with him, even while he was in kindergarten.

 

[frndofpooh]

Around here, it is kept with the teacher in the classroom and goes with the child to gym, music, art, etc. but remains with the teacher of that class. When the child gets to middle or high school, they carry it themselves.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I am currently student teaching and I do have a DD with a peanut allergy who is not in school yet (but will be in Sept, which I am happy about, but nervous about at the same time due to allergy).

From what I understand the nurse holds the epi-pens at the school I am doing my student teaching at. However, I do know that another school in a different district that has a consent form in which the student and guardian sign stating that he/she is responsible for carrying around epi-pen and administering if needed. If this is not signed, nurse holds on to it.

My friend also works in a preschool and the staff needs to be first aid certified and they know how to administer an epi-pen and the signs of a reaction. At the preschool, the teachers hold on to the epi's.

I guess it just varies by district.

 

[BuffettFan]

Here in GA my son is allowed to carry one on his person, and he also keeps one in the school clinic. That way if for some reason no one can locate the one he carries there is a back up available. Hes also allowed to carry his inhaler. Both require paperwork to be submitted by his doctor at the beginning of each school year.

 

[minniebeth]

I know my DD's school tries hard, but it's not always consistent.
My DD's epipen is with the nurse...she just finished 6th grade. Her allergy is severe and life threatening but more by touching/ingesting peanuts and all tree nuts. Another girl in the school younger, carries it on her person since it is the most severe you can get. DD is allowed to keep her inhaler with her but in her backpack which they don't allow her to carry with her between switching classes. So now that I think about it, I need to inquire about it!

So, to answer the question clearly, in my kids' school, I think the epipen canbe carried by a student depending on the need...

 

[Cool-Beans]

When DS was little, both the teacher and the nurse's office had an epi-pen. Came in very handy when DS went into anaphylaxis in his Kindergarten classroom. That's the only time it's ever been used.

As he got older, he had to be in charge of it.

Though I am a huge fan of making young kids responsible, I do not believe in trusting them, lol. So as a little kid, the adults had it. Wasn't risking a 6yo's life on his trustworthiness/responsibility. I also don't think a kid that little would remember how to use it if he were having problems...and certainly couldn't if he was in shock/anaphylaxis.

You can take them on airplanes, too, in case you ever wonder about that. Just have it in the box with the prescription label on it.

 

[LisaR]

When DS was little, both the teacher and the nurse's office had an epi-pen. Came in very handy when DS went into anaphylaxis in his Kindergarten classroom. That's the only time it's ever been used.

As he got older, he had to be in charge of it.

Though I am a huge fan of making young kids responsible, I do not believe in trusting them, lol. So as a little kid, the adults had it. Wasn't risking a 6yo's life on his trustworthiness/responsibility. I also don't think a kid that little would remember how to use it if he were having problems...and certainly couldn't if he was in shock/anaphylaxis.

You can take them on airplanes, too, in case you ever wonder about that. Just have it in the box with the prescription label on it.

The point isn't that the little kid would remember how to use it. The point is that the little kid needs to have it on his person at all times so if he needs it, nobody needs to hunt down the school nurse or the key to unlock a drawer.

My son has his hooked to the belt loop of his pants whenever he isn't home. His shirt covers it up so it was never a distraction to other kids. He has carried it on his own since he was four. I never expected him to use it on his own at four, but at that age there was always an adult present and there wouldn't be a need to track down his epi-pen in an emergency.

 

[jrmasm]

The kids that are not allowed to carry them....what about the bus?

 

[CajunDixie]

At our elementary the school nurse has them IF the teacher didn't want the responsibility of keeping it with them. IMHO that's stupid. Elementary kids switch around between homeroom, art, music, phys ed, recess, cafeteria.... But the school won't let students carry the Epi on them unless the Dr orders it and the school feels the student is responsible enough to keep it. On field trips either a parent or a teacher signs a paper with the nurse stating they will take the responsibilty of carrying it and giving it to the student if needed. They feel a total stranger is more responsible than the student with the allergy.

 

[luvmy3]

Sometimes school policy will be that a student cannot carry his epi-pen or asthma inhaler on their person. If that is the case, check with the laws of your State because the schools do not always inform the parents that their child has the legal right (despite school policy) to carry those things.

Here is a link showing which states allow children to carry their allergy and/or asthma medication on their person.
http://www.aanma.org/advocacy/meds-at-school/

My ds uses an inhaler. He also has developed a tree nut allergy and we go in fior testing in a few weeks and his allergist will determine whether or not he should have an epi-pen. Unfortunately my State only has an asthma inhaler law now. Never once has it been disclosed to me that my ds was allowed to carry his inhaler on his person with certain criteria met(note from doc etc), they tell you the school policy and expect you to follow that. My only advice for parents is to inform yourself and do what you feel is right for your child.

 

[Cool-Beans]

The point isn't that the little kid would remember how to use it. The point is that the little kid needs to have it on his person at all times so if he needs it, nobody needs to hunt down the school nurse or the key to unlock a drawer.

My son has his hooked to the belt loop of his pants whenever he isn't home. His shirt covers it up so it was never a distraction to other kids. He has carried it on his own since he was four. I never expected him to use it on his own at four, but at that age there was always an adult present and there wouldn't be a need to track down his epi-pen in an emergency.

That would be your point, not mine.

I made my decisions and raised my child the best way I knew how. I wouldn't have trusted my kid to keep the thing on his person. But my kids were doofuses and I knew it. Like I said, I'm a big fan of teaching responsibility, but when mine were little, there was no way in hell I'd bet their life on the fact that the epi-pen would be on them. So, until he got a little older, I had the adults in charge of it.

He's grown now and doing okay so it worked out well for us.

You are free to raise your child however you please and you won't hear me telling you how to do it.

 

[minkydog]

Check your state laws. Here in Georgia we have a law called the Kellen Bolden act, so named for the 10yo who lost his life boarding his school bus to go home. He had severe asthma and was not allowed to carry his inhaler. As he stood there breathing bus fumes, he developed a serious asthma attack. The staff tried to revive him but his lungs shut down and Kellen died right their in the busport in front of God and everyone.

Since then, Kellen's mother has tirelessly lobbied state legislatures to create laws guaranteeing children the right to carry life-saving medications on their persons at all school activities. So far there are about 40 or so states that have a similar law to Georgia's Kellen Bolden Act.

If you're state does not have a law guaranteeing the right for students to carry their epipen, inhalers and insulin I would STRONGLY suggest you band together with other parents and march on your state capital. Children's lives are at stake.

I am a middle school nurse and I see asthma attacks regularly. I wish I could get my students and parents to take it seriously. Some parents don't even want the school to know that their child has a chronic health issue. I guess they think they'll take their chances.

 

[KristaTX]

I am an RN, and worked for ten years as a school nurse with students of all ages. I now work in an allergy/asthma clinic and teach patients how to use these medications every day.

The best and most logical option is for a responsible student to carry his/her emergency medication, AND for the school to also have one, too, whether in the nurse's office or classroom or main office. Having a note from the doctor isn't hard to do, and it only makes sense that any medication should have an order and directions to be dispensed. We fill out and send these forms to schools all the time.

I don't care how responsible your child is. An adult on campus needs to have an inhaler/Epipen that remains on campus in a known place. There were many times that I had students forget their inhalers at home, leave it in their car, have an empty one, etc.