Rescue inhalers and off-site swim class

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I'm in an elementary school. The kids are about to start swimming. There are several with rescue inhalers, a diastat, a couple diabetics. Last year I was able to run things over to the school with the pool (it's about 5 minutes away) but this year the PE period spans lunch time and shortly after. It will be very hard for me to break away.

Any suggestions on how to handle this? Grades 3-5.

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
I'm in an elementary school. The kids are about to start swimming. There are several with rescue inhalers, a diastat, a couple diabetics. Last year I was able to run things over to the school with the pool (it's about 5 minutes away) but this year the PE period spans lunch time and shortly after. It will be very hard for me to break away.

Any suggestions on how to handle this? Grades 3-5.

Can the teacher be made to be responsible to make he/she takes the meds when they go to the pool?

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Specializes in kids.
Can the teacher be made to be responsible to make he/she takes the meds when they go to the pool?

Is diastat able to be delegated? Can they get midazolam (intranasal)

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Can the teacher be made to be responsible to make he/she takes the meds when they go to the pool?

No, the kids go over on a bus. No teacher goes with them; they meet up with the PE teacher when they get there. The bus driver shuttles and doesn't get off the bus.

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Is diastat able to be delegated? Can they get midazolam (intranasal)

There is a school nurse at the facility that would administer the Diastat.

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
No, the kids go over on a bus. No teacher goes with them; they meet up with the PE teacher when they get there. The bus driver shuttles and doesn't get off the bus.

Oooh gee...sorry. :(

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Specializes in School nursing.
No, the kids go over on a bus. No teacher goes with them; they meet up with the PE teacher when they get there. The bus driver shuttles and doesn't get off the bus.

Can't you package inhalers/meds to hand to the bus driver, then the PE teacher meets bus driver at bus to go on and grab the package of meds?

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

This is a tough one... But our teachers and drivers are trained for Diastat so handing it off may be an option.

Of course you then run the risk of the driver forgetting to hand it off.

Maybe a sign-off sheet in the bag with the meds?

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

is it a PE teacher that originates from your building? or is there an administrator that can run the medication over for you? They have to make some concessions to keep the children safe on all ends - and you're only one person.

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

In NY no delegation of Diastat. If there is a willing nurse at the school she could administer it. We transport both in a locked box to the bowling alley where there is a nurse with another key. She stays there all day and the various students come and go. The lock boxes travel back and forth with the students. If not then the school needs to provide a nurse to accompany the child. Inhalers can be self administered by the student if the MD and parent agree the child is responsible to do so. If not a nurse needs to be there as well. There is no delegation of any meds except epipens and glucagon.

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