Administering Medicine

Student Health Care

The health and safety of your child is an important priority for our schools. We have developed procedures and guidelines so that our schools are able to accommodate the health care needs of your child and to ensure that students are healthy and safe while they are entrusted to our care.

When you register your child in one of our schools, we encourage you to become familiar with our 
Student Health Care Policy and Procedures (under revision) It is critical that you provide the school with all relevant information relating to your child's health care needs. In addition, there are forms that you will be asked to fill out and it is important that you return those forms to the school in a timely and accurate manner. We also urge parents to provide a Medic Alert bracelet for children who have life-threatening allergies or medical conditions.

Administration of Medicine

We have standard procedures regarding the administration of medicine at school. Medication cannot be administered by school staff unless you have filled out and submitted a written consent form. These forms are available from your child's school.

Storage and Handling

Children are also not permitted to carry medication with them at anytime – medications must be provided to a staff person at the school inits original container and will be stored in a secure location. Students at risk of anaphylactic reaction are permitted to carry an epi-pen (see more information below). Inhalers may also be kept in the classroom or carried by the student.

Sabrina's Law – Handling Life Threatening Allergies

Since January 2006, Sabrina's Law has been in place in schools throughout Ontario. This law requires that every school board establish and maintain an anaphylaxis policy. It also requires that principals develop individual plans for students with an anaphylactic allergy.

Anaphylaxis is a rapid, severe and life-threatening allergic reaction caused by exposure to a trigger. Food is the most common cause, but insect stings, medicine, latex or exercise can also cause reactions. Our Board has developed procedures to help us deal with the risk of anaphylaxis. It is our goal to provide a safe environment for children with life-threatening allergies. For more information about our anaphylaxis procedures, please review our Health Care Procedures (under revision) document. For more information about what we can all do to prevent and treat an anaphylactic reaction, please visit www.eworkshop.on.ca/allergies