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Daily Dose: Medications in Schools

Aired August 14, 2003 - 11:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We turn to today's health news. School kids and medications. Now, if your child needs to take medication during the school day, there are some things you need to know, whether you know it or not.
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with the details, and these details may actually surprise some folks.

DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, Leon.

And, fortunately, many of the medications are now available in long-acting forms, so a dose in the morning will last all day, but there are times when kids must take medications at schools. The American Academy of pediatrics say that for prescription medications, the school should have a written statement signed by the doctor and the parents, and it should include the name of the drug, the dosage, when it should be given, and the reason the medication is needed, unless, of course, the reason needs to remain confidential.

For over-the-counter medications, it depends on the school. Some say that a child who is sick enough to be on medication should stay at home. You don't want to send your child to school if they're sick, but it's tough, especially if both parent work.

HARRIS: Yes. You know, I've heard that story about if your child is sick, don't let them come to school anyway, but what about just letting a kid carry their own Ibuprofen, Aspirin or something like that in their backpacks, is that allowed?

FRYHOFER: Usually, it's not allowed, Leon.

Most of the time, they are not going to let kids do this. There are some exceptions, however, for emergency medications, like inhalers, for ashmatics, and ebupens (ph) for children who have severe allergic reactions.

Now, in general, children are allowed to carry their inhalers. Here in Georgia there is actually even a law requiring that children be allowed to carry their inhalers with them, and this happened after a child died because his inhaler was locked up in the clinic and he couldn't get it.

Remember, though, that these ebupens have needles, so depending on the child's age and maturity level, it might be best to have them passed from teacher to teacher, because you don't want a kid sticking another child. HARRIS: Yes, exactly, exactly. But what about whether or not -- do schools -- is there a standard, I should ask, about schools and what they actually keep on campus. Do schools have their own little supplies of medicines that can be given to children if children do need them?

FRYHOFER: Well, that's a great point, Leon, and it depends upon the school. Usually not in public school. But let's say your child has a tendency towards headaches. You can provide your own bottle of Ibuprofen with specific instructions signed by you the parent and the doctor possibly, and then your child could go to the principal's office and get one if needed.

Some private schools keep a few over-the-counter medications on hand, but still, permission from the parents is required. But parents, you need to ask your school's medication policy, know where the medication will be stored and who's responsible for it, and don't forget to ask who will carry the medication for field trips, especially if your child has severe allergies. You wouldn't want your child who needs an ebupen to go somewhere and not have it.

HARRIS: Yes, I know these rules are put in place to protect the children and make sure they are safe and make sure that there are no lawsuits that come out about this sort of thing.

But just in your own experience, have you heard about these things being abused in any way?

FRYHOFER: I haven't, Leon. But you think about having a little kid with something with a needle, even want him to get mad and say, OK, I'm mad at you, pow. A child who gets a medication, the schools don't want to be responsible for that, and neither do the parents.

HARRIS: That's good advice. Thanks, doc. Appreciate it, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired August 14, 2003 - 11:24   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We turn to today's health news. School kids and medications. Now, if your child needs to take medication during the school day, there are some things you need to know, whether you know it or not.
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with the details, and these details may actually surprise some folks.

DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, Leon.

And, fortunately, many of the medications are now available in long-acting forms, so a dose in the morning will last all day, but there are times when kids must take medications at schools. The American Academy of pediatrics say that for prescription medications, the school should have a written statement signed by the doctor and the parents, and it should include the name of the drug, the dosage, when it should be given, and the reason the medication is needed, unless, of course, the reason needs to remain confidential.

For over-the-counter medications, it depends on the school. Some say that a child who is sick enough to be on medication should stay at home. You don't want to send your child to school if they're sick, but it's tough, especially if both parent work.

HARRIS: Yes. You know, I've heard that story about if your child is sick, don't let them come to school anyway, but what about just letting a kid carry their own Ibuprofen, Aspirin or something like that in their backpacks, is that allowed?

FRYHOFER: Usually, it's not allowed, Leon.

Most of the time, they are not going to let kids do this. There are some exceptions, however, for emergency medications, like inhalers, for ashmatics, and ebupens (ph) for children who have severe allergic reactions.

Now, in general, children are allowed to carry their inhalers. Here in Georgia there is actually even a law requiring that children be allowed to carry their inhalers with them, and this happened after a child died because his inhaler was locked up in the clinic and he couldn't get it.

Remember, though, that these ebupens have needles, so depending on the child's age and maturity level, it might be best to have them passed from teacher to teacher, because you don't want a kid sticking another child. HARRIS: Yes, exactly, exactly. But what about whether or not -- do schools -- is there a standard, I should ask, about schools and what they actually keep on campus. Do schools have their own little supplies of medicines that can be given to children if children do need them?

FRYHOFER: Well, that's a great point, Leon, and it depends upon the school. Usually not in public school. But let's say your child has a tendency towards headaches. You can provide your own bottle of Ibuprofen with specific instructions signed by you the parent and the doctor possibly, and then your child could go to the principal's office and get one if needed.

Some private schools keep a few over-the-counter medications on hand, but still, permission from the parents is required. But parents, you need to ask your school's medication policy, know where the medication will be stored and who's responsible for it, and don't forget to ask who will carry the medication for field trips, especially if your child has severe allergies. You wouldn't want your child who needs an ebupen to go somewhere and not have it.

HARRIS: Yes, I know these rules are put in place to protect the children and make sure they are safe and make sure that there are no lawsuits that come out about this sort of thing.

But just in your own experience, have you heard about these things being abused in any way?

FRYHOFER: I haven't, Leon. But you think about having a little kid with something with a needle, even want him to get mad and say, OK, I'm mad at you, pow. A child who gets a medication, the schools don't want to be responsible for that, and neither do the parents.

HARRIS: That's good advice. Thanks, doc. Appreciate it, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com