Medication Policy

Children who are ill should be kept at home, receiving all the necessary medication and care to ensure their speedy recovery. In instances where it may be possible for prescribed medication to be given in school, Stocks Wood Outdoor Centre will pass this responsibility onto the school’s staff to follow procedure as identified in their relevant school policy.

During any holiday clubs, parents must provide in person or in writing, a request for prescribed medication to be administered.

All children are encouraged to apply any prescribed creams themselves and should first be taught to do this at home.

Parents must ensure that all medication is in its original container and clearly labelled. It must not be in decanted or single dose form. It should be clearly labelled with:

· Name of child

· Name of medication

· Strength of medication                               

· How much to give, i.e. dose

· When it should be given

· Length of treatment - date/stop date if appropriate

· Any other instructions

· Expiry date whenever possible

· Any side effects and immediate management.

Record Keeping

A parental consent form must be completed each time there is a request for medication to be administered.  No medication will be administered without this.

ASTHMA POLICY

At Stocks Wood Outdoor Centre we recognise that asthma is an important condition affecting an increasing number of children.

Identifying children with asthma

Children with asthma (and other medical conditions) are identified when their parents or school complete a registration form.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION ONLY AND WHERE AN ASTHMATIC CHILD DID NOT HAVE HIS/ HER MEDICATION AVAILABLE, THE EMERGENCY INHALER OR ANOTHER CHILD’S MEDICATION COULD BE USED ONLY IF IT WERE EXACTLY THE SAME.  THE SUPERVISING ADULT WOULD NEED TO CHECK THE DETAILS OF MEDICATION.

Access to medication to relieve asthma

In most cases, pupils will keep their asthma medication/inhaler with them and take responsibility for administering it themselves.  An exception to this might occur if a pupil was deemed too young or forgetful, in which case parents should make arrangements with the class teacher to remind and assist the child.

Dealing with an asthma attack

1. Let child take their reliever (blue) inhaler immediately.  It should work in 5-10 minutes.

2. Stay calm and reassure the child.

3. Help the child to breathe by encouraging him/her to sit upright or slightly forward and to breathe slowly and deeply

4. As soon as the child feels better, he/she can return to normal activity.

5. Always inform the child’s teacher and parents if he/she has had an attack.

EMERGENCY SITUATION

In the event of a severe asthma attack, always call for an ambulance if:

·  There is no significant improvement in the child’s condition 5 - 10 minutes after using their inhaler.

· The child is distressed and gasping or struggling for breath.

·  The child cannot complete a sentence.

· The child is showing signs of fatigue or exhaustion.

· The child is pale, sweaty and may be blue around the lips.

· The child is exhibiting a reduced level of consciousness.

· There are ANY doubts about the child’s condition.

Whilst Waiting For The Ambulance To Arrive:

· Stay calm and reassure the child.

· The child should continue to take puffs of their reliever (blue) inhaler as needed until symptoms resolve.

· Alternatively, if a spacer inhaler is available, give up to ten puffs into the spacer, one puff at a time, every 15 to 30 seconds (shaking the inhaler between each puff).

· Ensure the child’s parents/guardians are contacted.