The South Side Area School District recognizes that parents have the primary responsibility for the health of their children. Although the district strongly recommends that medication be given in the home, it realizes that the health of some children requires that they receive medication while in school. The administration of prescribed medication, in accordance with the direction of a licensed physician and a parent/guardian to a student during school hours, will be permitted only when failure to take such medication would jeopardize the health of the student, or the student would not be able to attend school if the medicine were not made available during school hours.

If a physician deems it medically necessary for students to take medications, either prescription or non-prescription, during school hours, the Authorization to Administer Medication Form, signed by the parent and completed and signed by the physician, must be returned to health services with the medication in the appropriate pharmacy-labeled container (over-the-counter medications should be in original bottle). A new form is required for each medication change, dose change, time change and for each school year. It is the responsibility of the student to report to the Health Office for her/his medication.

Note: Medications will not be administered unless these procedures are followed.

Please feel free to contact the building school nurse if you have any concerns regarding medication administration.

EMERGENCY MEDICATIONS FOR ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA

Asthma Inhalers

Asthma is a chronic lung disease. For people who have asthma, certain triggers cause the airway and lungs to become inflamed. The airways through which a person breathes begin to narrow and excess mucus forms in them. This means that very little air can pass through the airways into the lung and it becomes difficult to breathe. Wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing occur. This is what is called an asthma attack. Attacks can be mild or they can become very severe, serious and life threatening. Common triggers of asthma include outdoor air pollution, tobacco smoke, dust mites, cockroaches, pets, mold and mildew, strenuous physical activity, extreme weather conditions such as high humidity and cold, strong emotions, viruses and some foods and food additives. Asthma is a disease that affects all ages, children and adults. If the student's physician deems it medically necessary for an asthma inhaler to be carried by the student in school, the Asthma Packet must be completed by the physician and the parent. The packet includes a parent letter, an Authorization to Administer Medication form, Asthma Emergency Health Care Plan, and a Field Trip Authorization form. The forms in the packet must be completed and returned before the epinephrine autoinjector can be administered.

Epinephrine Autoinjectors

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that affects millions of Americans every year. Anaphylaxis can be caused by a variety of allergens, with the most common being food, medications, insect venom and latex. The flood of chemicals released by the immune system during anaphylaxis causes shock: drop in blood pressure. narrow airway and blocking of normal breathing. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include a rapid, weak pulse, skin rash, and nausea and vomiting. The definitive treatment of anaphylaxis is an immediate epinephrine injection and a trip to the emergency room for follow-up care. If the student's physician deems it medically necessary for an epinephrine autoinjector to be located at school, the Epinephrine Autoinjector Packet must be completed by the physician and the parent. The packet includes a parent letter, an Authorization to Administer Medication form, Allergy Emergency Health Care Plan, and a Field Trip Authorization form. The forms in the packet must be completed and returned before the epinephrine autoinjector can be administered.

EXTENDED FIELD TRIP MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION

Parent/Guardians of children who receive routine medication during school hours may request that the medication be available during extended field trips. The parent may request that the student self-administer the medication under the supervision of the Principal's designee. If your child requires medication, the field trip sponsor(s) require that this completed Extended Field Trip Medication Permission form be submitted to the field trip sponsor and the Authorization to Administer Medication form completed by the parent and physician be submitted to the school nurse prior to the day of the extended field trip.