Is this allowed?

[RadioNate]

Boy you guys are rough!

Of course I would want to have a child be near their inhaler if they needed it!
Of course I have taught MY kid about not touching medication that belongs to her or others.

I know it is not my business which is why I am talking about it here and not running to the school.
I do know that the kids are NOT allowed to carry the meds on them.
I won't say anything, but I will feel badly for the little girl if she gets caught with it and gets in trouble.

Actually I'm willing to bet it IS allowed.

A 2 second google search turns up Pa. Law: Act 187 which allows students to carry inhalers on their person at school

http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?A=174&Q=244912

 

[Mkrop]

Boy you guys are rough!

Of course I would want to have a child be near their inhaler if they needed it!
Of course I have taught MY kid about not touching medication that belongs to her or others.

I know it is not my business which is why I am talking about it here and not running to the school.
I do know that the kids are NOT allowed to carry the meds on them.
I won't say anything, but I will feel badly for the little girl if she gets caught with it and gets in trouble.

I rather have my child get in trouble and have us deal with it as parents, then for my child not to have thier medication handy.

Also how do you know what this child's asthma plan is? You may think you know the policy but I have found in our school district to be very individualized per our forms.

 

[tiggger1]

according to this site http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?A=174&Q=244912 PA

also has a law stating in order to ensure that a child has his or her asthma medication immediately available in when an asthma attack occurs, Pennsylvania has enacted a law (Act 187) requiring schools to develop a written policy that allows school aged children to carry (possess) and use (self-administer) their asthma medication.

 

[live4christp1]

Just wanted to say my DD has known how to administer her inhaler since she was 4 (she will be 6 in March)- she knows 2 puffs only - she still uses a spacer but she prefers to do it herself. She also has an Epi-Pen which is kept locked away in the meds cabinet in the office, I'd prefer that the teacher have a safe place to keep in the class room but I don't think at 5 I'd want DD carrying it (the epi-pen) around the inhaler I'd have no issue with her carrying in her back pack.

 

[mickeyboat]

I have to jump on the bandwagon and agree that you should not say anything.

Make sure your DD knows to never play with it, and maybe even instruct her that if her friend seems to be in trouble, to retrieve it for her - or direct an adult to its location.

I agree, though, I would feel differently if this was an epi-pen.

Denae

 

[mjkacmom]

Boy you guys are rough!

Of course I would want to have a child be near their inhaler if they needed it!
Of course I have taught MY kid about not touching medication that belongs to her or others.

I know it is not my business which is why I am talking about it here and not running to the school.
I do know that the kids are NOT allowed to carry the meds on them.
I won't say anything, but I will feel badly for the little girl if she gets caught with it and gets in trouble.

First you ask if it's allowed. When the majority of the posters reply that it is probably allowed, you state it's not allowed. You say that you are concerned that the child will get caught (with harmless yet potentially life saving medication), yet you hope another mom calls the school and rats out the child. I'm guessing the inhaler is allowed, but if not, a 7 year old isn't going to be severely punished for carrying an inhaler. If my child needed one, and the school refused to let him or her carry it, I'd have my child sneak it.

BTW, I have a couple sitting on my counter - not one of my kids have ever tried to use it, even my 5 year olds, who can administer it to themselves without a problem.

 

[KikiFan]

Boy you guys are rough!

Of course I would want to have a child be near their inhaler if they needed it!
Of course I have taught MY kid about not touching medication that belongs to her or others.

I know it is not my business which is why I am talking about it here and not running to the school.
I do know that the kids are NOT allowed to carry the meds on them.
I won't say anything, but I will feel badly for the little girl if she gets caught with it and gets in trouble.

I think you may not realize that "zero tolerance" policies typically do not include rescue inhalers. A girl could not carry midol, yet can carry an inhaler. State law supersedes school policy when it comes to rescue inhalers.

 

[laurie31]

Boy you guys are rough!

Of course I would want to have a child be near their inhaler if they needed it!
Of course I have taught MY kid about not touching medication that belongs to her or others.

I know it is not my business which is why I am talking about it here and not running to the school.
I do know that the kids are NOT allowed to carry the meds on them.
I won't say anything, but I will feel badly for the little girl if she gets caught with it and gets in trouble.

Not being allowed to have meds and not being allowed to have an inhaler are two totally different things. I can't fathom that a school would not let a child have their inhaler - once the proper forms were filled out and the need was documented by a physician. (and there is NO WAY for you to know if those forms have been filled out, even if you did call, they couldn't tell you.)

I can tell you if I was that child's mother and I thought for an instant she wouldn't have access to her breathing medication, it would not be pretty. I think the school would be in vastly more trouble for denying it to her than she could possibly be in for having it. As someone pointed out, she doesn't try to hide that she's using it, so it's very likely that her parents and doctor DID fill out all the forms. If it were not allowed, and she's sneaking it, it's likely she would try to hide it.

Honestly, I wouldn't have given this a second thought, except maybe to tell my own DD some age-appropriate info about asthma.

 

[JessicaR]

Laws in 46 states and the District of Columbia requiring that self-administration of asthma drugs be allowed in public and private schools.

Every state except Connecticut, Louisiana, South Dakota and Vermont has a statewide law or regulation in place that requires schools to allow students to carry and use asthma inhalers.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/h...limit-students-access-to-asthma-inhalers.html
*Dated 2007 so there could be updated carry rights.

Originally Posted by Erin1700
Boy you guys are rough!

Of course I would want to have a child be near their inhaler if they needed it!
Of course I have taught MY kid about not touching medication that belongs to her or others.

I know it is not my business which is why I am talking about it here and not running to the school.
I do know that the kids are NOT allowed to carry the meds on them. I won't say anything, but I will feel badly for the little girl if she gets caught with it and gets in trouble.

That is NOT true when the medications are asthma and allergy related.

 

[RitaE]

That is what I was going to post. Google is a wonderful tool.

Pennsyvannia State Law Act 187 dictates that all school aged children must be allowed to carry their asthma inhalers and all school must have a written plan in place to make it possible.

Your concern for the girl is just a wonderful thing. But I think that in this case you simply do not realize the severe consequences that have been suffered by policies which have separated Asthmatic children from their medication. Children have DIED from not being able to obtain their medication in time.

So in answer to your original question. Yes, it is allowed.

 

[RitaE]

btw, here is the link to the PA Department of Health should you have further concerns.

http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?A=174&Q=244912

 

[tlens]

You've also talked to other parents about this (hence the call from the other mom). Honestly, it's not your business. It's not the other parent's business. Keep it up and you'll be known as "that parent" the other parents stay clear of.

 

[laurie31]

There is a swim program run at the high school for all kids 8th grade and younger. The kids are bused fom elementary school to the pool which is on the same campus. So, the kids bring their swim bags to school with them and they stay in the classroom.

Today, DD7 told me her friend had to take 2 puffs before practice. I know the little girl has asthma so I figured out she meant an inhaler. Well, the mom sends it in her bag to use before swimming. So there is an inhaler in the classroom all day and no one knows about it.

Is it my business to say something? I would feel horrible if some other 2nd grader got a hold of it and also she is using it in the locker room not under anyone's supervision. Remember, these kids are 7 years old.

I just reread the OP. I think it's been firmly established that it is not only ALLOWED, but mandated by law.

However, I think the bolded is interesting. I'm sure EVERYONE who needs to know (meaning the teacher, the swim coach, the child herself, the child's parents, the child's doctor, the school nurse, etc) DOES know. But no one else needs to know, nor do they have a right to know. Why does the OP assume that "no one" knows?

Truly curious, not trying to sound snarky!

 

[RitaZ.]

I rather have my child get in trouble and have us deal with it as parents, then for my child not to have thier medication handy.

I agree.

 

[maelstrom]

So there is an inhaler in the classroom all day and no one knows about it.

It's not a deadly weapon, or even a deadly medication; it's a rescue inhaler. There is nothing to get uppity about here.

 

[Erin1700]

You've also talked to other parents about this (hence the call from the other mom). Honestly, it's not your business. It's not the other parent's business. Keep it up and you'll be known as "that parent" the other parents stay clear of.

Nope, I didn't talk to other people. Their little girl saw it and the parents had the same concern and CALLED me asking if I knew about it.. NO ONE has spoken to anyone at the school.

How do I know no one knows about it?? Because the coaches keep them on them at the pool for all other kids and in the classroom, it is not kept in the backpack, but with the teacher. At swimming, wouldn't it be better to have it out on the deck with a coach than in the lockerroom in a locker?

I really am not a mean person and I am not that parent.
Is there a difference btwn having an inhaler in your backpack and having one readily available for the child to use?

 

[scottishduffy]

Erin,

The difference I believe is the sense of security for the parent. You have two options:
a) put the inhaler in your kids backpack, which you know they will always have with them at school and after school.
b) depend on another adult to remember to pick up a med baggie (with inhalers) along with however many other things they must get every day when they go to coach a team.

It is probably the security that the child only needs to remember their backpack (not hard) while an adult coach may have mutliple items to remember and forget a small inhaler. I would want a child with their inhaler on them for this reason. Count on yourself to help you, not always counting on others to remember to help you.

 

[sacall]

Nope, I didn't talk to other people. Their little girl saw it and the parents had the same concern and CALLED me asking if I knew about it.. NO ONE has spoken to anyone at the school.

How do I know no one knows about it?? Because the coaches keep them on them at the pool for all other kids and in the classroom, it is not kept in the backpack, but with the teacher. At swimming, wouldn't it be better to have it out on the deck with a coach than in the lockerroom in a locker?

I really am not a mean person and I am not that parent.
Is there a difference btwn having an inhaler in your backpack and having one readily available for the child to use?

Maybe it is in her backpack based on her medical plan that you really don't need to know about. There can be all different types of medical plans. My daughter is allowed to carry her medicine (not an inhaler) with her at all times. She needs it when she eats. She also is allowed to carry water and use the restroom when ever she wants to without permission. It is all in her medical plan, written up by her medical team. It does not concern anyone but her Principal and her teachers.

Anytime anyone has given her a hard time about taking meds before she eats, she tells them "I'm allowed to take my meds, if you have a problem, please go see the Principal". Same thing with carrying water in the hallway. Her Principal is the one who told her to tell people that so she wouldn't be bothered.

Stacy

 

[RitaE]

How do I know no one knows about it?? Because the coaches keep them on them at the pool for all other kids and in the classroom, it is not kept in the backpack, but with the teacher. At swimming, wouldn't it be better to have it out on the deck with a coach than in the lockerroom in a locker?

I'm confused. Why would the fact that the Coach has possession of somebody else's inhaler out on the Pool Deck mean that "nobody" knows that this other child has an inhaler in her school bag.

Let me explain. I'm the Mother of a child with an inhaler. When he was in school he carried one with him. Another was in the School Office. A third was in my car. His baseball Coach (who happened to be his Dad) carried one with the team Medical kit.

The fact that somebody else managed their child's asthma differently meant nothing. It didn't mean that we were evil and trying to "hide" illicit drugs. It didn't mean that the other people were "wrong" in not planting inhalers all over creation the way we did and I sure as heck didn't send out memos to all and sundry informing and explaining our decisions and who had given us permission. It would never occur to me that any other parent would even be remotely interested.

Why is this such a big deal? The child was simply clearing her lungs so she could swim. I don't get it.

 

[Mkrop]

Nope, I didn't talk to other people. Their little girl saw it and the parents had the same concern and CALLED me asking if I knew about it.. NO ONE has spoken to anyone at the school.

How do I know no one knows about it?? Because the coaches keep them on them at the pool for all other kids and in the classroom, it is not kept in the backpack, but with the teacher. At swimming, wouldn't it be better to have it out on the deck with a coach than in the lockerroom in a locker?I really am not a mean person and I am not that parent.
Is there a difference btwn having an inhaler in your backpack and having one readily available for the child to use?

How do you know this? How do you know that the swim coach had every other kids but not this one girl? You dont! How do you know how the classroom is handled? You dont! And why do you care why or how this child and her parents and her Drs have created HER astham plan? There is a law in PA that protects her if her family has filed the proper paperwork, and it is no one's business except the family and the school to know if the paperwork is on file.

Not all coaches are willing to handle the meds, I know the baseball coach wasnt, DS kept it in his bag which was with him in the dugout, the football coach prefers to have it in the med bag. I am ok with either as long as me, DH , DS and the coach are all on the same page.