Applies to situations where a parent/caregiver requests school in writing to administer prescribed medication as directed by a medical practitioner, and/or assist with managing a specific health condition as well as where a particular emergency first aid response is needed.
Statement of intent
Opportunities should be provided for students who require medication, or who have a health condition to participate in the full range of school activities according to the advice of their medical practitioner. This applies to classroom activities and activities such as excursions, camps, swimming, sport, physical education, outdoor education, vocational activities, work experience and public displays.
This procedure applies to medication prescribed by a medical practitioner, and which is considered essential to be administered at school for a student to achieve optimum health and to participate fully in school life. Medication is likely to be associated with a health condition such as epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, anaphylaxis, cystic fibrosis, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but may include other conditions diagnosed by a medical practitioner.
School staff can assist a student with medication under the carer provisions of the Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation (1996) provided that a written request is received from the student's parent/caregiver and that the medication includes an original pharmacy label detailing the name of the person authorised to take the medication, dosage, time to be taken and medical practitioner's name. Staff must follow the directions on the original label attached to the medication container.
Some students may be approved to self-administer their medication and this issue is also addressed in this procedure. All other medications require secure, in some cases locked, storage and administration only under the supervision of a staff member. Medication required for emergencies, such as an anaphylactic reaction or asthma attack, must be accessible at all times.
Provision of first aid in emergency situations to ensure the health and safety of staff, students and others affected by Education Queensland workplaces and workplace activities is an obligation under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.
School staff are not to administer prescription medications, unless they meet the accountability of a written request from a parent/caregiver and the medication includes an original pharmacy label detailing the name of the person authorised to take the medication, dosage, time to be taken and medical practitioner's name.
The administration of over-the-counter medications, including analgesics and homeopathic medications, are subject to the same accountabilities as prescription medications. However, as many over-the-counter medications will not have an original pharmacy label detailing the name of the person authorised to take the medication, dosage, time to be taken and medical practitioner's name, a letter from a medical practitioner will need to be provided to authorise administration of this medication.
For asthma relieving medications such as Ventolin, parents/caregivers are to notify the school in writing if their student has been prescribed this medication by a medical practitioner.
In emergency situations, school personnel may be required to administer medication to preserve the life, safety and health of a student. These emergencies may occur for students with diabetes, epilepsy, anaphylaxis and asthma. The possible medication requirements include administering inhaled medication such as "Ventolin" for asthma, rectal administration of "Valium" for epilepsy, an injection of glucagon for diabetes and an injection of adrenalin for anaphylaxis. Injections for diabetes and anaphylaxis are usually administered by a pen device and are not intravenous.
Schools should have an asthma reliever puffer such as "Ventolin" (salbutamol) or terbutaline, in their first aid kits. The containers for these are often blue. The Delegate of the Chief Health Officer, Queensland Health issued an authority on 8 October 1998 and amended authority on 12 October 2001 for school use of asthma medications in emergency situations.
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