tiredmommy
Well-Known Member
I have a major headache right now (literally and figuratively). Every summer, I go through the school's Special Education department to ensure that Duckie is placed on a bus that has a monitor due to her epipen. The monitor has held the epipen during the morning and afternoon rides and returned it to the nurse's office during the school day.
It's all messed up this year.
Our school district has two schools that house the k-5 kids, bus routes have kids from both buildings and the pick-up/drop-off point is between the two. Both schools' schedules have changed this year so that the monitor (that works in the other building) doesn't have time in her schedule to pick up or drop off Duckie's epipen for the bus runs. The school nurse felt Duckie is mature enough to keep the epipen in backpack (in her locker) throughout the day since there are adults around to supervise. I reluctantly agreed though I voiced my concerns about another student getting into her bag and someone getting hurt or the epipen getting lost. Also, the district policy for medicine in school only allows for rescue inhalers to be carried by students and I didn't want to assume any liability should anything go wrong. I was assured that wouldn't be an issue.
All this happened in the few days before school started. I get a call on Monday from the nurse that they wanted me to get a note from the doctor stating that Duckie was allowed to carry the epipen (this was to address the district policy... c.y.a.). Well, the doctor refused to give the note stating she is too young and he's not comfortable in that another student could potentially get a hold of it and hurt someone. Besides, if there's adequate adult supervision then the adult can hold the epipen.
I have left a message for the nurse but haven't heard back yet. All I know is that Duckie MUST have the epipen and they must provide a monitor. It's their problem to work out at this point.
It's all messed up this year.
Our school district has two schools that house the k-5 kids, bus routes have kids from both buildings and the pick-up/drop-off point is between the two. Both schools' schedules have changed this year so that the monitor (that works in the other building) doesn't have time in her schedule to pick up or drop off Duckie's epipen for the bus runs. The school nurse felt Duckie is mature enough to keep the epipen in backpack (in her locker) throughout the day since there are adults around to supervise. I reluctantly agreed though I voiced my concerns about another student getting into her bag and someone getting hurt or the epipen getting lost. Also, the district policy for medicine in school only allows for rescue inhalers to be carried by students and I didn't want to assume any liability should anything go wrong. I was assured that wouldn't be an issue.
All this happened in the few days before school started. I get a call on Monday from the nurse that they wanted me to get a note from the doctor stating that Duckie was allowed to carry the epipen (this was to address the district policy... c.y.a.). Well, the doctor refused to give the note stating she is too young and he's not comfortable in that another student could potentially get a hold of it and hurt someone. Besides, if there's adequate adult supervision then the adult can hold the epipen.
I have left a message for the nurse but haven't heard back yet. All I know is that Duckie MUST have the epipen and they must provide a monitor. It's their problem to work out at this point.