Communication with Schools

School allergy care
NHS GGC

Parents/carers have the responsibility to inform the school of their child’s allergies upon enrolment, or as soon as the allergy is diagnosed.

 

Management plans

Each patient should be given a Personalised Allergy Action Plan by a healthcare professional upon diagnosis. This confirms that the allergy has been medically diagnosed which will help ensure the correct management strategy is followed in school.

An example of a management plan is the Go to websiteBSACI Allergy Action Plan. Different health boards may use a different design or style of plan, but they should all include the same information.

The plan will state the allergen(s) to avoid and the management of a mild-moderate or severe reaction.

Important information - be aware
The allergy action plan will be reviewed and usually updated after hospital appointments.

Parents/carers therefore need to ensure the school has an up to date copy of the plan and that staff are aware of any changes.

Emergency medication

Most children with allergies will be prescribed antihistamines to treat symptoms of mild to moderate reactions, such as swelling of the lips and eyes, itching or sneezing. This may be in syrup or tablet form.
Some children will be at higher risk of anaphylaxis than others, which is determined by a healthcare professional. If the child classed as high risk of anaphylaxis, they will also be issued an adrenaline autoinjector. Not all patients with allergies will require an adrenaline autoinjector, a number of risk factors are assessed before the child is issued one:

Yellow hazard sign

History of anaphylaxis

Inhaler

Additional conditions e.g. asthma

Magnifying glass

Reactions to small amounts of allergen

Wine bottle with glasses

Risk Taking Behaviours (Teenagers)

 

The parents/carers will need to update the school on any changes to the child’s medication for instance following hospital appointments or at the start of each school term

Useful information - take note
If the child has an adrenaline autoinjector, the expiry date will need to be monitored and new devices ordered in time. Most AAI’s last for 12-18months.

Parents/carers can sign up to receive email alerts from the manufacturer when the AAI is close to the expiry date. Click below on the relevant brand to sign up:
Go to website Epipen
Go to websiteJext
Go to websiteEmerade

Storage of emergency medication in school

Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring medication kept at school is correct and in date.

The Go to websiteMHRA guideline states that patients should have access to two AAI’s at all times, as a second dose might be required, or in case the AAI device is used wrongly or misfires.

The Go to websiteDepartment of Health recommends that schools may wish to store pupil’s AAI’s in the school, to avoid the risk of the child/parents/carers forgetting to bring the medication each day. However, such pupils will require access to the AAI when travelling to and from school. For this reason, school aged patients are usually issued with four pens (two sets): one set to be stored in the school and one set to be kept with the child at all times.

It is common for schools to request pupils’ AAIs are left in school to avoid the situation where a pupil or their family forgets to bring the AAIs to school each day. Before school holidays, schools may wish pupils to take their medication home to ensure they remain in date.

The AAI’s should be stored as part of an emergency kit which should include:

Number 1 of 4

The Personalised Allergy Action Plan

Number 2

Antihistamines for mild to moderate reactions

Number 3

Two adrenaline auto injectors for anaphylaxis

Number 4

Salbutamol inhaler (blue inhaler: asthma reliever) if the pupil has been prescribed with this along with a spacer

Primary and secondary schools may have different policies for storing the child’s own emergency medication:

Primary School

Secondary School

The pupil must still have access to an AAI when travelling to and from school. The child’s own emergency kit should be carried by the parent/carer or left at school and passed back to the parent/carers for transport to and from school.

Where children are considered to be sufficiently responsible they should carry their emergency medication on their person. Staff should learn where this is kept.

Ideally pupils will store medication in an emergency bag that is carried with them at all times.

However medication may also be stored in convenient places for pupils such as pencil cases, blazer pocket or school bag.

In large schools or split sites, it is often quicker for staff to use an adrenaline autoinjector that is with the child rather taking time to collect one from a central location.

 

Important information - be aware
Parents/carers are encouraged to discuss with the Head Teacher about the storage of medication in schools. The emergency kit should be kept in an unlocked, easily accessible place such as the school office or staff room, no more than 5 minutes from where they may be needed.

The medication should be stored in a highly identifiable bag (with the child’s name and picture on) such as Go to websiteMedpac bag