Medication

Rationale:

Teachers and schools are often asked by parents to administer medication for their children while at school. It is important that that such requests are managed in a manner that is appropriate, ensures the safety of students, and fulfils the duty of care of staff.

The Medication Policy follows the policy and guidelines of the Catholic Schools Office policy Administering Medicines in Schools (June 1999) and aims to ensure that medications are administered appropriately to students in our care.

Implementation:

Non-prescribed oral medications (e.g.: head-ache tablets) will not be administered by school staff.

All parent requests for the administering of prescribed medications to their child must be in 
writing on the form provided and must be supported by specific written instructions from the medical practitioner or pharmacist’s including the name of the student, dosage and time to be administered (original medications bottle or container should provide this information).

All student medications must be in the original containers, must be labelled, must have the quantity of tablets confirmed and documented, and must be stored in either the locked office first aid cabinet or office refrigerator, whichever is most appropriate. Consistent with our Asthma policy, asthmatic students may carry an asthma inhaler with them.

Classroom teachers will be informed by the Dean of Students or House Coordinator of prescribed medications for students in their charge, and classroom teachers will release students at prescribed times so that they may visit the school office and receive their medications.

All completed Medication Request Forms and details relating to students, their prescribed medication, dosage quantities and times of administering, will be kept and recorded in a confidential, official medications register, located in the school office by the Assistant Principal in the presence of, and confirmed by, a second staff member.

Students involved in school camps or excursions will be discreetly administered prescribed medications by the ‘Teacher in Charge’ in a manner consistent with the above procedures, with all details recorded in the official medications register. 

Parents and carers of students who may need injections, are required to meet with the Dean of Students to discuss the matter.

Staff are provided with information on students who suffer from severe allergic reactions (Anaphylaxis). Information re these students will be published in Compass. ‘EpiPen’s are kept at the College for emergency use.