Medication Policy Responsible management of medications in the School is important for the safety of both students taking the medication and others. This policy deals with prescription medications that a student may need for his or her continued well-being. Non-prescription medications are not considered to be the responsibility of the School to supervise, except where these are dispensed by a staff member. Aims •
To enable a student to lead a normal life with minimum disruption and minimal emphasis on illness
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To ensure the use of medication is safely kept to those students for whom it is intended under conditions prescribed by medical authorities
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To ensure that staff have clear guidelines under which any medicine is to be taken by students.
Guidelines 1. All parents and guardians must inform the School if their child is bringing prescription medications to school. 2. All parents and guardians must inform the School of any condition that may require a student needing emergency use of medications. 3. If parents or guardians wish the School to administer or supervise medication, then the parent or guardian must provide a written request detailing all valid information. Verbal instructions are not acceptable. The medicine must be properly labelled with the name of the student, the name of the medication, dosage and how to administer, name of the doctor and the date prescribed. 4. Medications are to be supervised from the designated health area, where they will be stored securely and recorded when dispensed to students. Non-prescribed drugs (e.g. Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Loratadine, Quik-eze/Tums, Mylanta, Vicks, and Betadine) may be dispensed to students by a registered nurse or person approved by the Principal. Details of the dosage must be recorded in a register listing the student, date and time, medication and quantity. Parents will be contacted before any non-prescription drugs may be administered to a student. 5. Staff who have the responsibility of dispensing non-prescribed drugs and who are not registered nurses should receive regular training in First Aid and will hold a current First Aid Certificate. 6. Guidelines for Medicines: •
Antihistamines – small quantities, properly labelled, may be left at the designated health area for emergency use.
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Allergy kits – may be carried by student, with a spare kit left in the designated health area.
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Asthma inhaler – must be carried by the student; the inhaler body should be labelled with the student’s name.
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Antibiotics – the dose for most antibiotics can be scheduled outside of school hours.
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Diabetic – students may need access to glucose in the form of suitable sweets or drink; any blood glucose tests should be carried out in the designated health area.
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Ritalin – and similar drugs are to be stored and administered in the designated health area.
Parent Student Handbook - Update October 2023
ACG JKT | 85
