nursing services @ sf

Self-Administration of Inhalers

Students in the South Fayette Township School District will be allowed to carry and self-administer their metered dose inhaler (MDI) medication in school as needed for asthma and other respiratory conditions. The inhaler may be used to alleviate and/or prevent the onset of asthmatic symptoms. This procedure includes dosages required at school, on school-sponsored transportation, or at any activity, event, or program sponsored by or in which the pupil's school is participating.

To ensure your child's health and safety, you and your child's physician will need to complete a medication order (form 5-N) and authorization form, and return it to the school nurse. This authorization shall provide the name of the drug, the dose, the times when the medication is to be taken, and the diagnosis or reason the medicine is needed. It shall also include any serious reaction that may occur in conjunction with use of the medication. In addition, this authorization relieves the school of responsibility for the benefits or consequences of the medication. It also acknowledges that the school bears no responsibility for ensuring that the medication is taken.

The nurse will review proper MDI administration technique with your child and evaluate that self-administration is safe and appropriate. You and your child must then sign the self-administration assessment and contract form (form 7-N). All children in grades K - 6 must notify the school nurse immediately following each use of an inhaler, and sign off such self-administration on the medication record.

The student will be held responsible to keep their inhaler in a safe place that is not accessible to other students. If any irresponsible behavior is observed in the use of the inhaler, such as sharing medication with another student, the inhaler will immediately be confiscated and parent notified of the loss of the privilege to self-administer.

It is highly recommended that you keep an additional inhaler in the health office should your child forget his/her inhaler.