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Medication Administration

Under no circumstances will school personnel diagnose, provide or prescribe any medicine for a student. Medication shall include all pills, drugs and medicines prescribed by a physician and any over-the-counter medicines. No herbal remedies will be given during the school day.

The South Fayette Township School District requests that medicine be given at home during non-school hours. However, it recognizes that sometimes it is essential for medication to be administered at school. Any medication to be administered during school hours must be accompanied by a written request signed by both a physician and parent/guardian.

I.	Prescription Medication

A written request must be submitted by the parent/guardian requesting the school nurse administer medication as prescribed by a physician.
Physician’s signed request (note or medication form 5-N) authorizing the administration of the prescribed medication.
Prescription medication must be in a pharmacy labeled bottle containing:

Name and telephone number of the pharmacy
Pupil’s name
Name of the physician
Name of the drug
Prescribed dose and times of administration
Rx number

II.

Non-Prescription (over-the-counter) Medication

A written request must be submitted by the parent/guardian requesting the school nurse administer over-the-counter medication as prescribed by a physician.
A physician’s signed request (note or medication form 5-N) authorizing the administration of all over-the-counter medication.
Over-the-counter medication must be in the original manufacturer’s package and imprinted with the dosage instructions that are typically found on labeled bottles, blister packs, tubes or cans.

III.

Storage of Medication

Medication shall be kept in a secured appropriate storage area in the health office.

IV.

Transportation of Medication to School

All medication shall be brought to school by the parent and kept in the health office. If this is not possible, the pharmacy-labeled container or original manufacturer’s package must be sent to school in a sealed envelope with a note signed by the parent/guardian stating the number of tablets being sent to school. The nurse will verify this information with a phone call to the parent/guardian.

V.	Request for Administration of Medication During School Hours Form

This form is available in the health office, the student handbook, and as form 5-N. The form is not essential to use as long as all the requested information is included in a written note.

VI.

Medication Administration

All medications, except asthma inhalers, shall be administered by the school nurse. Inhalers may be self-administered as long as written authorization (form 5-N) is provided by the child's physician and parent/guardian, and a contract (form 7-N) is signed by the child and parent/guardian. All children in grades kindergarten through 6 must notify the 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. If any irresponsible behavior observed, the child will lose 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.

VII.

Emergency Medications

Under emergency medical situations such as anaphylactic shock, the school physician has ordered certain medications, such as epinephrine (EpiPen or Epi-Pen Jr.) and Benadryl to be administered.

The mission of the South Fayette Township School District, as an integral part of the community, is to foster development and growth of each student's full academic, artistic and athletic potential by providing exemplary opportunities in a caring, safe, positive environment; to promote lifelong learning, and to cultivate ethical, responsible, contributing members in a global society.