When school personnel must administer medication, the following guidelines must be followed:
- Any medication brought to school must come in the original container.
- Prescription medication must be in the prescription bottle with the correct label that includes the student's name, name and dose of medicine, directions for taking the medicine, doctor's name, pharmacy's name, current date.
- “Over the counter” medicine must be in the original container with a note from the parent/guardian giving directions that include what the medicine is for, when, and how much is to be given. If parent directions do not follow the guidelines written on the label regarding frequency and dose, the medicine will not be given without a written note from a doctor.
- Written consent for giving medication from a parent/guardian must accompany any medicine brought to school.
- The Board of Trustees wishes to prevent opiate-related overdose deaths. For this reason, the Board authorizes the Superintendent to work with the district's school nurses to make available in any schools the Superintendent deems appropriate, any opioid antagonists (marketed as Narcan, Naloxone) permitted by Idaho Code 54-1733B. If the Superintendent elects to make opioid antagonists available in district schools, the Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures for the acquisition, storage, and administration of opioid antagonists and for the training of staff members in how to administer them. This procedure shall also provide a process for ensuring there is na adequate supply of opioid antagonists at each school designated to have a supply, ensuring that the medication has not expired, and replacing the medication as needed.
The Superintendent or designee may obtain opioid antagonists from a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe and dispense them by Idaho law. Documentation that the opioid antagonist was prescribed and dispensed in accordance with State law shall be maintained in the Superintendent's office, and copies of any directions provided with the opioid antagonist shall be kept with the medication. Administration of an opioid antagonist shall not be required in circumstances of unavailability of the medication, unavailability of an employee trained to administer it, and/or uncertainty as to whether an opioid overdose is occurring, among other reasons. This policy shall not create a duty on the part of the District and/or its personnel to administer opioid antagonists.
- Training. Before any district employee may administer an opioid antagonist under this policy, the employee must successfully complete training on recognizing opioid-related overdose, administering the opioid antagonist provided by the district, promptly seeking medical attention for drug overdoses, and on this policy.
- Employees shall be trained every other year on these topics.
- Evidence that such training has been completed shall be placed in the employee's personnel file.
- A list of district employees who successfully completed such training shall be maintained, updated, and kept in the school nurse's office.
- Storage of Opioid Antagonists. If the Superintendent directs opioid antagonists to be kept at a school, the medication shall be stored in a safe location in compliance with the drug manufacturer's instructions. The opioid antagonist shall be readily accessible to those employees who have completed the required training to administer it in the event of a suspected drug overdose. All properly trained employees shall be made aware of exactly where the medication is being stored.
- Administration of Opioid Antagonist. These protocols shall be followed when administering an opioid antagonist to respond to a suspected drug overdose:
- The employee shall immediately ensure that someone calls 911 for emergency medical service personnel to be dispatched to respond to a suspected drug overdose.
- The employee shall administer the opioid antagonist in accordance with the training they have received and take any further measures directed by their training.
- The employee shall fully cooperate with emergency medical service personnel responding to the scene and shall not interfere with or impede the administration of emergency medical services to the individual suffering the suspected drug overdose.
- The employee shall notify the building administrator of the incident as soon as possible.
- The employee shall provide a written report describing the facts and circumstances surrounding the event.
- Indemnification. Any person who administers an opioid antagonist provided under this policy to another person who appears to be experiencing an opiate related overdose and who:
- Acts in good faith and exercises reasonable care; and
- Contacts emergency medical services as soon as possible will not be liable in a civil or administrative action or subec to criminal prosecution for such acts, as described in Idaho Code 54-1735B.
- Parental Notification. The District shall notify all parents/guardians of students of this policy once each school year through methods which may include providing it in the student handbook. A student's parents/guardians, as well as law enforcement, shall be notified of any incident in which their student is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. In addition, the student's parents/guardians shall be notified of any health emergency they experience.
- Non-Employee Administration of Opioid Antagonists. Nothing in this policy is intended to regulate, restrict, or otherwise deter any emergency medical technician from administering their own supply of an opioid antagonist when responding in good faith to a suspected drug overdose occurring on district property.
- Ony designated school personnel who have received training by the school nurse on dispensing medications may administer medication to students.