Southern Local School District
Administrative Guidelines
 

5330 - USE OF MEDICATIONS

The medications and/or treatments which may be administered are defined in Policy 5330. In those circumstances where a student must take prescribed medication during the school day, the following guidelines are to be observed:

 A.Parents should determine with the counsel of their child’s prescriber whether the medication schedule can be adjusted to avoid administering medication during school hours.
 B.Before the student will be permitted to take medication during school hours or to use an inhaler to self-administer asthma medication, Form 5330 F1, Authorization for Prescribed Medication or Treatment, or Form 5330 F3, Authorization for the Possession and Use of Asthma Inhalers, must be filed annually and as necessary for any change in medication order with the school principal and, to the School Nurse if one is assigned to the student’s building.
  1.Form 5330 F1, Authorization for Prescribed Medication or Treatment, shall include the following:
   a.student's name
   b.medication and dosage or procedure required
   c.times required
   d.possible reactions to be reported to the prescriber; a signed parental release which allows direct contact with the prescriber in such emergency reaction situations will not supersede nor abrogate the "Emergency Medical Form"
   e.special instructions including storage and sterility requirements
   f.date prescribed medication will be started
   g.date prescribed medication will no longer be needed
   h.prescriber’s name, address, and telephone number
   i.probable side effects
   j.authorization by both the prescriber and the parent for a student to self-administer the medication but only in the presence of an authorized staff member or parent
   k.authorization for school personnel to administer the prescribed medication, if necessary
   l.agreement/satisfactory arrangement to deliver medication to/from school
   m.agreement to re-submit Form 5330 F1, Authorization for Prescribed Medication or Treatment, if the medication, dosage, schedule, or procedure is changed or eliminated
   n.agreement to submit a new Form 5330 F1, Authorization for Prescribed Medication or Treatment, each school year or for each new medication
  2.Form 5330 F3, Authorization for the Possession and Use of Asthma Inhalers, shall include the following:
   a.the student’s name and address
   b.the names and dose of the medication contained in the inhaler
   c.the date the administration of the medication is to begin
   d.the date, if known, that the administration of the medication is to cease
   e.written instructions that outline procedures school personnel should follow in the event that the asthma medication does not produce the expected relief from the student’s asthma attack
   f.any severe adverse reactions that may occur to the child using the inhaler and that should be reported to the prescriber
   g.any severe adverse reactions that may occur to another child for whom the inhaler is not prescribed, should such a child receive a dose of the medication
   h.at least one (1) emergency telephone number at which the prescriber may be contacted in an emergency
   i.at least one (1) emergency telephone number for contacting the parent, guardian, or other person having care or charge of the student in an emergency, and
   j.any other special instructions from the prescriber
  3.A student may possess and use a metered dose inhaler or a dry powder inhaler either before exercise to prevent the onset of asthmatic symptoms or to treat the symptoms once they occur at school, or at any activity, event, or program sponsored by the student’s school or in which the school participates.
  4.Students authorized to possess and use a metered dose or dry powder inhaler under the Board policy may not transfer possession of any inhaler or other medication to any student or permit any other student to use the inhaler medication.
  5.School personnel are not authorized to assist a student in self-administering asthma medication unless the policy and procedures regulating administration of medication by school personnel have been met.
  6.Annually the nurse shall contact the parent(s) of any student whose school records indicate that s/he has asthma and advise them of the option to have said student carry and self-administer approved inhalers in school. A copy of Form 5330 F3, Authorization for the Possession and Use of Asthma Inhalers, is to be enclosed with this communication.
 C.Upon receipt, a copy of Form 5330 F1, Authorization for Prescribed Medication or Treatment, and/or a copy of Form 5330 F3, Authorization for the Possession and Use of Asthma Inhalers, shall be filed in the student's permanent record as well as in the binder with the student medication log sheet.
 D.All medications to be administered during school hours must be registered with the principal's office. Upon receipt of the medication, the nurse shall verify the amount of medication brought to the school and indicate that amount on the student medication log sheet.
 E.Medication that is brought to the office will be properly secured. Medication may be conveyed to school directly by the parent/guardian or other responsible adult at parental request. This should be arranged in advance. Two to four (2-4) weeks supply of medication is recommended. Medication MAY NOT be sent to school in the student's lunch box, pocket, or other means on or about his/her person. An exception to this would be prescriptions for emergency medications, for allergies and/or reactions, or asthma inhalers.
 F.For each prescribed medication, the container shall have a pharmacist's label with the following information:
  1.student's name
  2.prescriber’s name
  3.date
  4.pharmacy name and telephone
  5.name of medication
  6.prescribed dosage and frequency
  7.special handling and storage directions
 G.Any unused medication unclaimed by the parent will be destroyed by administrative personnel when a prescription is no longer to be administered or at the end of a school year.
 H.The staff member administering the medication shall make reasonable efforts to assist the student in taking the medication properly.
 I.If a student does not take the medication at the proper time, the staff member responsible for administering the medication shall attempt to locate the student and administer the medication and to then notify the parents of the importance of the child reporting on time for his/her medication.
 J.All medications are to be administered in such a way as to not unduly embarrass the student.
 K.A log for each prescribed medication shall be maintained which will note the personnel giving the medication, the date, and the time of day. This log will be maintained along with the prescriber’s written request and the parent's written release. (see Form 5330 F2)
 L.Form 5330 F1 shall be completed and signed by the principal authorizing the person(s) who may administer the medication or procedure.
 M.A count of each student's medication is to be made every week and the amount reconciled with the original amount indicated on the log sheet and the number administered since the last count.
 N.If, for supportable reasons, the principal wishes to discontinue the privilege of a student self-administering a medication, except for the possession and use of asthma inhalers, s/he shall notify the parent of this decision in sufficient time for an alternative administration to be established.
 O.Written documentation of any training provided for each person authorized to administer a prescribed medication or treatment will show:
  1.what training was given;
  2.the trainer's name and professional status;
  3.when the training was given;
  4.the duration of the training.
 P.If a student is exhibiting behavior which causes the teacher to be concerned about his/her medical status, this behavior must be reported to the building principal and/or school nurse and expressed in writing in behavioral terms. A designated person may then contact the parent and advise that they seek medical attention for the child, at which time the written observations may be given to the parent to take to the doctor.
 Q.Nonprescribed (Over-the-Counter) Medications
  A student in grades 9-12 may be allowed to possess and self-administer an over-the-counter medication upon the written authorization of the parent. The parent must complete Form 5330 F1a - Authorization for Nonprescribed Medication and Treatment and submit it to the school office for filing in the student's records.
  If a student is found with a medication in his/her possession, his/her record should be checked to determine if the proper authorization is on file. If not, the matter is to be reported to the principal for disciplinary action. The principal may use one or more of the following procedures, depending on the particular situation:
  1.Contact the parent and arrange for the parent to submit Form 5330 F1a as soon as possible.
  2.Suspend the student from school for no more than ten (10) days.
 

The purpose of any disciplinary action on this matter should be to make it clear to all students and parents that, because of its policy on drug use, the school cannot allow possession or use of any form of unauthorized drug or medication at any time.
 R.In order to minimize health and safety risks to student-athletes and maintain ethical standards, school personnel, coaches, athletic trainers and lay coaches should never dispense, supply or recommend, the use of any drug, medication, or food supplement solely for performance-enhancing purposes.
 S.Dispensing of nonauthorized, over-the-counter (OTC) medication by District employees to students served by the District is prohibited. Where investigation confirms such allegations, prompt corrective action shall be taken

Revised 12/27/05