Policy 580 - Use of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors by Personnel
Adopted on June 18, 2019
Effective July 1, 2019
The schools located within this County may possess and maintain at the school a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors for use in emergency medical care or treatment for an anaphylactic reaction. A prior diagnosis for a student or school personnel requiring the use of epinephrine auto-injectors is not necessary to permit the school to stock epinephrine auto-injectors. An authorized, licensed health care practitioner may prescribe epinephrine injectors and protocols to an authorized school. A licensed pharmacist may dispense an epinephrine auto-injectors pursuant to a prescription issued in the name of an authorized school.
A school wishing to voluntarily maintain and use epinephrine auto-injectors for emergency care or treatment of anaphylactic reactions must develop a written emergency plan for students or school personnel without a known history of anaphylactic reactions and training designated qualified personnel. The plan should include step-by-step instructions to follow, emergency phone numbers and include: physician standing orders and protocols; acquisition of stock and replacement medication; storage of stock in a secure location assessable by medical personnel and authorized nonmedical personnel and not by students; training of designated nonmedical personnel in the administration of epinephrine auto-injector; parental notification and reporting of incidents of anaphylactic reactions resulting in the administration of school maintained epinephrine to the West Virginia Poison Center.
The epinephrine auto-injectors shall be stored in accordance with the epinephrine auto-injector's instructions. The school shall designate employees or agents who are trained to be responsible for the storage, maintenance and general oversight of epinephrine auto-injectors. Epinephrine auto-injectors shall be maintained by the school in a secure unlocked location that is only accessible to school nurses, health care providers and designated, trained and authorized non-medical personnel and not by students.
A school nurse or individual designated, trained, and authorized pursuant to State law may, on the premises of or in connection with the school, use epinephrine auto-injectors to:
A. provide an epinephrine auto-injector to a person who the designated, trained, and authorized individual in good faith believes is experiencing a severe allergic reaction for that person's immediate self-administration, regardless of whether the person has a prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector or has previously been diagnosed with an allergy, or
B. administer an epinephrine auto-injector to a person who the designated, trained, and authorized individual in good faith believes is experiencing a severe allergic reaction, regardless of whether the person has a prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector or has previously been diagnosed with an allergy.
Educational training programs shall be conducted by a nationally recognized organization experienced in training layperson in emergency health treatment or an entity or individual approved by the Department of Health and Human Resources. The curriculum shall include at a minimum:
A. recognition of the symptoms of allergic reactions to food, insect stings, and other allergens; and
B. the proper administration of a subcutaneous injection of epinephrine auto-injector.
The school nurse or designated, trained, and authorized non-medical school personnel may use the school supply of epinephrine auto-injectors for a student or school personnel designated, trained, and authorized to self-administer that meet the requirements of a prescription on file with the school.
The Board will provide training on anaphylaxis and allergy awareness for food service workers and others in the school system, if easily available locally.
Prior notice to the parents of a student of the administration of the epinephrine auto-injector is not required. Immediately following the administration of the epinephrine auto-injector, the school shall provide a comprehensive notification to the parent of a student who received an auto-injection. The comprehensive notification should include date and the approximate time the incident occurred, symptoms observed, who administered the injection, the rational for administering the injection, the response to the epinephrine administration, the dose of epinephrine administered, the current location of the student and other necessary elements to make the student's parents fully aware of the circumstances surrounding the administration of the injection.
A school nurse or designated, trained, and authorized non-medical school employee who administers or provides an epinephrine auto-injection to a person is immune from liability for any civil action arising out of an act or omission resulting from the administration of the epinephrine auto-injection unless the act or omission was the result of the individual's gross negligence or willful misconduct.
All schools are required to report each reaction resulting in the administration of epinephrine injections in their district. Other medication incidents (e.g., wrong dose, incorrect medication administered, other medication errors) shall also be reported. The incident will be reported to the West Virginia Poison Center by calling 800-222-1222 after emergency medical services have transported the student or staff member to acute care. The notification should include:
A. the name of the student;
B. the student's age and gender;
C. date and the approximate time the incident occurred;
D. symptoms observed;
E. who administered the injection;
F. the name of the school the student attends;
G. a contact telephone number;
H. the rational for administering the injection;
I. the response to the epinephrine administration;
J. the dose of epinephrine administered; and
K. any other necessary elements to provide a complete report for the individual situation.
The West Virginia Poison Center will provide the data upon request to the public schools, local boards of education and annually to the State Superintendent of Schools.
The Board may participate in free or discounted drug programs from pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide epinephrine auto-injectors to its schools.
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