Talking Allergies

Also, the school is in charge of putting up posters (with the child's photo and allergens) inside the classroom and right outside the door.

The Ministry of Community and Social Services will continue to be responsible for ensuring the provision of health support services in children's residential care and treatment facilities.

The school boards will be responsible for the administration of oral medication where such medication has been prescribed for use during school hours. For physically disabled pupils, the school boards will provide such services as lifting and positioning, assistance with mobility, feeding and toiletting, and general maintenance exercises. Boards will also continue to be responsible for necessary speech remediation, correction and habilitation programs.

School boards should establish or update their policies for the provision of these support services. Such policies should define administrative procedures, personnel roles, and routine safeguards. The local boards of health, local Home Care Program administrators, and local medical societies can provide valuable assistance in the development of such policies. The procedures for the administering of oral medication, in particular, should provide:

That such procedures be applied only to those services, requested by the parent and prescribed by a physician or other health care professional, which must be provided during school hours.

That a request for the service and the authorization to provide such service be made in writing by the parent and the physician, specifying the medication, the dosage, the frequency and method of administration, the dates for which the authorization applies, and the possible side effects, if any.

That the storage and safekeeping requirements for any labelled medication be stated.

That a record of administration be maintained which includes the pupil's name, date, time of provision, dosage given, name of person administering, etc.

That the telephone numbers of the parent and physician be readily accessible in the school.

That the medication be administered in a manner which allows for sensitivity and privacy and which encourages the pupil to take an appropriate level of responsibility for his or her medication.

The assignment of these responsibilities is not intended to replace the provision of services which some school boards have already established and may choose to continue. The implementation of this policy, however, does ensure that, by 1985, no school-aged child should be denied access to education because of special health support needs during school hours.

Implementation of these services is expected to begin September 1, 1984, with full provision of services by September 1, 1985.

Have you seen the At Risk Rescue medication station?