http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/septmedications.htm
News Release
MEDICATING CHILDREN AT SCHOOL NEEDS ATTENTION OF PARENTS, TEACHERS AND
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
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Below is a news release on a policy statement published in the September
issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
For Release: September 2, 2003, 12:01 am (ET)
CHICAGO - It is increasingly common for children to need to take medication
during the school day - whether because they are sick and parents can not
tend to them at home, or because they have a condition such as asthma or
diabetes that requires daily dosage of a medication. In a revised policy
statement, "Guidelines for the Administration of Medication in School," the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) addresses over-the-counter (OTC)
products, herbal medications, experimental drugs that are administered as
part of a clinical trial, emergency medications, and principles of student
safety.
There are many more herbal medications on the market than ten years ago, and
both adults and children are using them with increasing frequency. The
policy urges parents and school administrators to understand that herbal
medications can sometimes have serious and dangerous adverse effects. Herbal
medications and OTC medications, when taken on a regular basis, should
require a physician's note to the school that in essence "prescribes" these
non-prescription medications.
The statement also advises that older and responsible students should be
allowed to self-medicate at school with OTC medications and certain
prescription medications (eg, albuterol for asthma, insulin for diabetes).
Self-medication is advised when recommended by the parent and physician, and
the student is deemed responsible to remember to take prescribed doses. The
policy goes on to recommend confiscating medications shared with classmates,
and removing the student's privilege of self-administration.
To provide for the safety of children, the policy says schools need to
develop protocols to prevent medication error. This should focus on an
approach that ensures the safe-keeping and delivery of medication in a
timely fashion. The statement says it is appropriate to develop a system of
accountability for students who carry and self-administer their medications.
The statement urges schools to think about medication issues in advance.
Answers to questions such as where medication will be stored, who is
responsible for the medication, and who will carry the medication for field
trips, should be defined in advance to maintain medication security and
safety while ensuring timely treatment.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of
57,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and
pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and
well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.