The Committee onward School Health...

The Committee onward School Health of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has revised its policy statement forward children taking medication during the educate day. "Guidelines for the Administration of Medication in School" appears in the September 2003 issue of Pediatrics and is available online at http://www.aap.org/ policy/s010105.html.

Many children and teenagers with special health care distresss are able to attend gymnasium because of the effectiveness of their medication. The health circumstances that require medication are diverse. Over-the-counter (OTC) and herbal effects experimental drugs that are administered as part of a clinical trial, unforeseen occasion medications, and principles of scholar safety are addressed in the policy statement.

Children and teenagers are increasingly using herbal returnss Parents and school administrators are urg to understand that herbal proceedss can have serious and dangerous adverse weights OTC and herbal products, when taken upon a regular basis, should require a physician's note to the teach that "prescribes" these nonprescription agents.

Older and responsible learners should be allowed to self-medicate at indoctrinate with OTC products and certain prescription medications (eg albuterol for asthma, insulin for diabetes). Self-medication is advised when commended by the parent and physician, and the bookish man is deemed responsible to remember to take prescribed doses. Medications should be confiscated if shared with classmates, and the student's privilege of self-administration should be revoked

To provide for the safety of children, the AAP policy states that indoctrinates need to develop protocols to preclude medication errors. This should focus onward an approach that ensures the safekeeping and delivery of medication in a timely manner. It is appropriate to cause to grow a system of accountability for pupils who carry and self-administer their medications.

The statement beseechs schools to think about medication issues in advance. Answers to questions similar as where medication will be stored, who will be responsible for the medication, and who will carry the medication when pupils take field trips, should be defined in advance to maintain medication security and safety while ensuring timely treatment.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

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