Review your medication policies and procedures
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Reviewing your policies and procedures’
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ECE policies and procedures
ECE policies and procedures
Review your policies and procedures to align with HS28 Medicine administration guidelines.
Your policy should include:
- who has authority to give asthma medication
- where asthma medication will be safely stored but easily accessed by an adult when needed
- gaining written authority from parents to give medication
- a system for recording medication stored and dosage to be given – name of child and the amount of medicine to be given
- record of medicine administered (keep for 2 years)
- an annual review schedule for checking expiry dates on asthma emergency kits
- a procedure for sending all medication home to parents at the end of each year for them to check expiry dates and renew as required for the beginning of the new year.
School policies and procedures
School policies and procedures
Review your policies to ensure quick and safe access to asthma medication.
The Ministry of Education recommends your policy should include:
- who has authority to give asthma medication
- where asthma medication will be safely stored
- written authority from parents to give asthma medication
- a system for recording when a student is carrying their own medication
- a system for recording medication stored and dosage to be given – name of child and the amount of to be given
- a system for recording dosage to be given in an emergency
- an annual review schedule for checking expiry dates on asthma emergency kits
- a procedure for sending all medication home to parents at the end of each year for them to check expiry dates and renew as required for the beginning of the new year.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ have developed a School Asthma Policy, which you could choose to use or adapt to support these recommendations.
Ensure access to asthma medication
Ensure access to asthma medication
Quick and easy access to medication can prevent or reduce the severity of asthma episodes.
The age at which children are ready to take care of, and be responsible for, their own asthma medication varies.
Considerations when developing school policy and procedures:
- Accessibility of asthma medication – is it accessed only through the medical room or by adults?
- Schools must record when a student is carrying their own medication.
- Reduce barriers to ensure quick access. For example, name individual inhalers and spacers, and store them in a safe, accessible place.
- Have an asthma emergency kit onsite to ensure access to medication in an emergency. Date medication and ensure it hasn’t expired.
- Partner with family/whānau and students to ensure accessibility.
Inhalers and ECE
Inhalers and ECE
Early learning services should ensure that all children with asthma have a named reliever inhaler and spacer stored in a secure place.
Inhalers can be kept on the premises or be brought everyday with the child.
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Asthma emergency kits
Asthma emergency kits
Provide access to asthma emergency medication.
Asthma emergency kits can be purchased from the Asthma + Respiratory Foundation NZ. They include resources and instructions for asthma emergencies when children may not have their inhaler with them, or have not had a previous asthma attack. Kits are particularly useful for off-site excursions and sports events.
Authority for School Principals Obtaining Bronchodilator Inhalers for Emergency Kits (PDF, 24KB) – This document gives principals of registered schools the authority to obtain bronchodilator inhalers for inclusion in an emergency medical kit. Issued by the Medical Officer of Health, Medsafe.
Maintaining and cleaning spacers – use this information from Asthma New Zealand to keep spacers in your emergency kit clean and operational.
Useful resources
Useful resources
Understanding your inhaler
Read time: 13 min
Information on different types of asthma inhalers.
Publisher: Asthma + Respiratory Foundation, NZ
Supporting ākonga with health conditions
Read time: 10 min
This guidance helps early learning services and schools embrace and support ākonga (learners) with health conditions. It sets the scene for you to do so in ways that keep them safe, enrich their hauora and nurture their continued growth and learning.
Asthma treatment
Read time: 20 min
Information on different types of asthma medications.
Publisher: Asthma + Respiratory Foundation, NZ
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Review your policies and procedures”:
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How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Asthma and learning
Understand:
Strategies for action:
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Recognise and respond to an asthma attackShow suggestions for Recognise and respond to an asthma attack
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Review your policies and proceduresShow suggestions for Review your policies and procedures
- Review your enrolment policies
- Ask for asthma action plans
- Plan safe EOTC trips
- Review your medication policies
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Develop inclusive systemsShow suggestions for Develop inclusive systems
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Create inclusive learning environmentsShow suggestions for Create inclusive learning environments
