Epipens and field trips

[chasinRT]

I have a kindergarten student with a severe peanut allergy who has an epipen. His teacher is trained but will not necessarily be with his group. Mom can't chaperone. What do you do in a circumstance such as this? Do you end up going on the field trip? I realize at this point I should have addressed this in his 504 meeting. Live and learn.

[OldDude]

He needs to stay in the group with his teacher at all times.

[OldDude]

Oh yea. And unless his allergy keeps him from fully functioning at school a 504 isn't necessary. Field trips can be addressed in his allergy action plan.

[GmaPearl BSN RN]

What OldDude said!!!

[100kids, BSN, RN]

I would make sure it is clear to the teacher that this student must be with them for the trip because of the epi pen.

[chasinRT]

She says she can't be with a group because she has to be available for all the groups if needed.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

She says she can't be with a group because she has to be available for all the groups if needed.

Then she brings the allergic child with her.

[SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN]

The student should at least be in the vicinity of a trained staff member. Exactly how far away could the teacher be at any given moment? Even in the school there is not always a trained staff member right with a student who has severe allergies, at least in my district. If a student has a reaction out on the playground, for example, someone would still have to accompany the child to the clinic or summon the nurse (who might be on the complete other side of the building). It should not be necessary for the School Nurse to go on a field trip.

[SnowyJ, RN]

The child needs to stay with the trained teacher. Or the parent has to designate a trained adult to attend the trip.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

If all that fails, you go and get a sub.

[chasinRT]

I spoke with mom. Her child has been assigned to a group with another peanut-allergic child (though not as severe) whose mother will be the chaperone. She feels comfortable with that because she knows that mom is careful. I don't know that I am comfortable with that. The teacher could be a fair distance; they will be at a zoo (albeit a small one).

[Farawyn]

I spoke with mom. Her child has been assigned to a group with another peanut-allergic child (though not as severe) whose mother will be the chaperone. She feels comfortable with that because she knows that mom is careful. I don't know that I am comfortable with that. The teacher could be a fair distance; they will be at a zoo (albeit a small one).

This may sound paranoid, but I would have mom write that in a note.