The school's registered professional nurse may administer medication to a student during school hours under certain conditions. (For the purpose of this policy "medication" includes prescription and non-prescription). Per New York State Education Department (NYSED) requirements, the school must receive the following before medication is given to a student:

a)      The original written order from the student's physician stating the name of the medication, precise dosage, frequency and time of administration;

b)      A written, signed consent from the student's parent or legal guardian requesting the administration of the medication, as prescribed by the physician, to the student in school; and

c)      The medication, properly labeled in its original container, must be delivered to the School Health Office by the student's parent or legal guardian. (The term "properly labeled" in the context of this policy means that the container must include the following information: the student's name, name of medication, dosage, frequency and prescribing physician). A student is not permitted to carry any medication on his/her person in school, or on the school bus, or keep any medication in his/her school locker(s). An exception to this policy may apply for a student's asthma inhaler or epi-pen which a student may carry and use under certain conditions.

         All medication orders must be reviewed annually or whenever there is a change in dosage.

Procedures governing the School District's receipt, storage and disposal of medication, as well as those pertaining to the administration of medication to a student after school hours and/or off school grounds during a school-sponsored activity will be in accordance with NYSED guidelines.

Emergency Medication

         The administration of emergency medication (injectable, including "epi-pens," and/or oral) to a student for extreme hypersensitivity may be performed by a school staff member responding to an emergency situation when such use has been prescribed by a licensed prescriber. However, a registered professional nurse/nurse practitioner/physician/physician's assistant must have trained the staff member to administer the emergency medication for that particular emergency situation (e.g., "epi-pen") and given him/her approval to assist the student in the event of an emergency anaphylactic reaction. Such a response would fall under the Good Samaritan exemption for rendering emergency care during a life threatening situation.

Use of Asthma Inhalers

         A student may carry and use an asthma inhaler if the School Health Office has on file:  the physician's written order/diagnosis that the student has a severe asthma condition and may be subject to sudden and debilitating asthmatic attacks; and written permission from the student's parent or legal guardian. Upon written request of the student's parent or legal guardian, the school must allow a student to maintain an extra asthma inhaler in the care and custody of the school's registered professional nurse. (A School District is not required to hire a registered professional nurse solely for the purpose of maintaining a spare inhaler or to ensure that a registered professional nurse is available at all times in a school building for such purpose).

Blood Glucose Monitoring

         Children with diabetes have the right to care for their diabetes at school in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which provide protection against discrimination for children with disabilities, including diabetes.

         Accordingly, blood glucose monitoring must be allowed in the school setting at any time, within any place, and by anyone necessitating such testing. Children must receive assistance if needed with the procedure.

         The school nurse shall oversee any arrangements that need to be made for testing and a system to report the results to the nurse as needed. Proper arrangements should be made for the disposal of sharps.

Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers

         Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are considered over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by the United States Food and Drug Administration. However, due to the fact that careful hand-washing and sanitation is the most effective way to control the recent spread of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in schools, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has allowed a medical exemption to the requirements for OTC preparations in the school setting to permit the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

         The School Medical Director may approve and permit the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in the District's schools without a physician's order. Parents may provide written notification to the school in the event that they do not wish to have their child use this product.

         It should be noted that hand sanitizers which contain alcohol are flammable and shall not be placed in hallways or near an open flame or source of sparks.

Disposal of Unused Medication

            Any unused medication (including, but not limited to expired prescription and nonprescription drugs) must be returned to the parent/guardian by the end of each school year. If the parent/guardian does not retrieve the  unused medication  by the end of the  school year, then  the School  Nurse or

designated School Health Office personnel must document that the medication was abandoned and dispose of the unused medication.