Mechanicsburg Exempted Village School District
Bylaws & Policies
 

5330 - USE OF MEDICATIONS

The Board of Education shall not be responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of student illness. With the exception of diabetes care covered under Policy 5336, the administration of prescribed medication and/or medically-prescribed treatments to a student during school hours will be permitted only when failure to do so would jeopardize the health of the student, the student would not be able to attend school if the medication or treatment were not made available during school hours, or if the child is disabled and requires medication to benefit from his/her educational program.

For purposes of this policy, "medication" shall include all medicines including those prescribed by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs and any nonprescribed (over-the-counter) drugs, preparations, and/or remedies. "Treatment" refers both to the manner in which a medication is administered and to health-care procedures which require special training, such as catheterization.

Before any medication (i.e., a drug) or treatment may be administered to any student during school hours, the Board shall require a written statement from a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs ("prescriber") accompanied by the written authorization of the parent (see Form 5330 F1, Form 5330 F1a, and Form 5330 F1b). These documents shall be kept on file in the office of the school nurse, and made available to the persons designated by this policy as authorized to administer medication or treatment. A copy of the parent's written request and authorization and the prescriber's written statement must be given, by the next school day following the District's receipt of the documents, to the person authorized to administer drugs to the student for whom the authorization and statement have been received. No student is allowed to provide or sell any type of over-the-counter medication to another student. Violations of this rule will be considered violations of Policy 5530 - Drug Prevention and of the Student Code of Conduct/Discipline Code.

Only medication in its original container; labeled with the date, if a prescription; the student's name; and exact dosage will be administered. The Superintendent shall determine a location in each building where the medications to be administered under this policy shall be stored, which shall be a locked storage place, unless the medications require refrigeration in which case they shall be stored in a refrigerator in a place not commonly used by students, and unless the medication to be administered is diabetes medication, which must be kept in an easily accessible location pursuant to Policy 5336.

Additionally, students may administer medication or treatment to themselves, if authorized in writing by their parents and a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs but only in the presence of a designated school employee with the exception of students authorized to attend to their diabetes care and management pursuant to Policy 5336.

However, students shall be permitted to carry and use, as necessary, an asthma inhaler, provided the student has prior written permission from his/her parent and physician and has submitted Form 5330 F3, Authorization for the Possession and Use of Asthma Inhalers/Other Emergency Medication(s), to the principal and any school nurse assigned to the building.

Additionally, students shall be permitted to carry and use, as necessary, an epinephrine autoinjector to treat anaphylaxis, provided the student has prior written approval from the prescriber of the medication and his/her parent/guardian, if the student is a minor, and has submitted written approval (Form 5330 F4, Authorization for the Possession and Use of Epinephrine Autoinjector (epi-pen)) to the principal and any school nurse assigned to the building. The parent/guardian or the student shall provide a back-up dose of the medication to the principal or school nurse. This permission shall extend to any activity, event, or program sponsored by the school or in which the school participates. In the event epinephrine is administered by the student or a school employee at school or at any of the covered events, a school employee shall immediately request assistance from an emergency medical service provider (911). Students with diabetes authorized to attend to their diabetes care and management may do so in accordance with Policy 5336.

With the exception of diabetes care covered under Policy 5336, only employees of the Board who are licensed health professionals or who have completed a drug administration training program conducted by a licensed health professional and are designated by the Board may administer prescription drugs to students in school.

With the exception of diabetes care covered under Policy 5336, provided they have completed the requisite training, the following staff are authorized to administer medication and treatment to students:

 

A.

principal

   
 

B.

school nurse

   
 

C.

building secretary

   
 

D.

others as designated by student’s IEP and/or 504 plan

No employee will be required to administer a drug to a student if the employee objects, on the basis of religious convictions, to administering the drug.

With the exception of diabetes care covered under Policy 5336, the Board shall permit the administration by a licensed nurse or other authorized staff member of any medication requiring intravenous or intramuscular injection or the insertion of a device into the body when both the medication and the procedure are prescribed by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs and the nurse/staff member has completed any and all necessary training.

Students who may require administration of an emergency medication may have such medication in their possession upon written authorization of their parent(s) or, such medication, upon being identified as aforenoted, may be stored in the nurse’s office and administered in accord with this policy and Policy 5336.

The Superintendent shall prepare administrative guidelines, as needed, to address the proper implementation of this policy.

R.C. 3313.712, 3313.713, 3313.7110, 3313.716, 3313.718, 4729.01

Revised 11/10/14

© Neola 2014