Epipen-what would you do?

[chasinRT]

I have a child whose Epipen expired and the parent hasn't replaced it after several phone calls. The child's class has a field trip coming up. He is peanut allergic and the field trip has the potential for food samples and the class will bring lunch from home so very high risk for student. What would you do in this case?

[Windchaser22]

No pen and orders = no trip. The school is responsible for the child's safety during school and at school sponsored events. Kiddo can't be safe without access to lifesaving meds given that food is involved. BTW I don't send my spare because I need it in case of emergency at school and because then parents won't send one in if they know they don't have to.

^^^^^^^^^What she said^^^^^^^^

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

i agree - no trip for that child until order in and pen in your possession. once you lay that law down you'll have it the next day

[WineRN]

We cannot exclude from field trips

I had a similar situation in the spring and everyone in the school thought I was the crazy one for not wanting to send the child without their epipen. But since the parent said they were OK with no epi pen being sent and there was no food involved with the field trip (except you know the bag lunches with the classes from non peanut free classrooms), the child went.

[Cattz, ADN]

Allrightee.then. So, the kiddo can't be excluded from the trip. Not a problem. "Dear Mama- In order for our school to be able to ensure your child's safety while on the field trip. Your child can go >>>1. if you provide and epi-pen as per dr. order. OR>>>> 2. you drive your child to and from the trip and accompany her/him at all times." Thank you and Have a Lovely Day.

[grammy1]

We cannot exclude from field trips

We can't exclude because of an illness, condition, or disability BUT the parent must also keep up their part of the job. We can't exclude because of the allergy, but if mom doesn't hold up her end by sending in the epi-pen we can. Same with asthma and inhalers.

[FloridaBeagle]

No pen and orders = no trip. The school is responsible for the child's safety during school and at school sponsored events. Kiddo can't be safe without access to lifesaving meds given that food is involved. BTW I don't send my spare because I need it in case of emergency at school and because then parents won't send one in if they know they don't have to.

Wow, we've been told the exact opposite where I practice: if we deny a child a field trip based solely for a medical reason, then we're violating their civil rights (or the ADA, something like that!). Our plan is to call 911. It's amazing how different school nursing is from place to place.

[Windchaser22]

Wow, we've been told the exact opposite where I practice: if we deny a child a field trip based solely for a medical reason, then we're violating their civil rights (or the ADA, something like that!). Our plan is to call 911. It's amazing how different school nursing is from place to place.

We cannot deny based on a medical reason either; however, the parent is responsible for supplying medications and orders. So they can either choose to accompany or send in the meds. An overwhelming majority work and cannot or will not attend. They have to hold up their end of the bargain or it's not a legal violation.

[FloridaBeagle]

We cannot deny based on a medical reason either; however, the parent is responsible for supplying medications and orders. So they can either choose to accompany or send in the meds. An overwhelming majority work and cannot or will not attend. They have to hold up their end of the bargain or it's not a legal violation.

This has been run past your legal department?