Each school in the Catawba County School District has a person designated to provide assistance to parents when prescriptive and non-prescriptive (over-the-counter) medication must be given during school hours to help maintain students’ authorized medication plans.
School officials and employees take the responsibility of giving medication to a student very seriously. Extreme care is taken in order to maintain the safety of both the individual child and the school.

Procedures have been developed in collaboration with both the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Resources and the Catawba County Public Health Department to guide the giving of medication by school employees. These procedures are in compliance with all laws and Board of Education policy pertaining to school health and medication.

Definition of Medication

Medication, for purposes of school system procedures, has been defined as both prescriptive and non-prescriptive/over-the-counter drugs. Further, over-the-counter drugs have been defined to include such products as aspirin, Tylenol, Midol, Dimetapp, Benadryl, and topical ointments. In addition, such things as Calamine lotion, pink eye medication, and non-prescriptive inhalers are also considered over-the-counter drugs.

For purposes of the district guidelines, such items as cough drops, Chapstick, and sunscreen are not included in the category of medications.

District Guidelines for Prescription and Non-Prescription Medication (Grades K-8)

District guidelines require that medication be given to a K-8 student only if the school has:

1. current written authorization signed by parent and physician on the designated form (#3); and
   
2. current bottle/container of medication with a pharmacist’s label designating student’s name, instructions, name of drug, prescribed dosage/frequency and physician’s name.
   
   Further, medication must be:
   
   
3. stored by the school in a locked cabinet
   
4. given only as directed on the bottle/container with no increase/decrease in dosage unless authorized in writing by the parent and a physician
   
5. observed as it is being taken
   
6. logged by the medication designee
   
   

Prescription and Non-Prescription Medication (Grades 9-12)

Students in grades 9-12 have the same guidelines for controlled substance medications as do elementary and middle school students. They are permitted to keep other prescription and nonprescription medications with them only under the following conditions:

1. The principal has a note from the parent/guardian identifying the medication and the reason for the student’s having to take the medication.
   
2. The student keeps medication equal only to one school day at a time.
   
3. The medication is not stored in the student’s locker.
   
4. The parents and students agree that the medication will not be shared with anyone for any reason.
   
   

Parent-School: Shared Responsibility

Once a parent requests the school give his/her child medication and the school agrees to provide this service, the agreement is of a contractual nature. As such, it carries a responsibility on the part of both the parent and the school to see that the medication is given as prescribed and according to district guidelines. Should an error occur in giving medication, the parent will be notified immediately.

It is important that the parent assume responsibility for the following:

• obtaining the proper form(s) [#3] from the school or physician’s office
• asking the physician (when medication is authorized) if it must be given during school hours (versus prior to and/or after school)
  
• obtaining physician signature and providing parent signature on required form (#3)
• taking medications which are controlled drugs (i.e., Ritalin/Cyclert/others used to control attention disorders, codeine, etc.) along with the appropriate form to the school versus sending them with the child
• encouraging the child to be responsible for taking the medication at the prescribed times when given by the designated school employee
• making no request for the school to alter the prescribed dosage without the current written authorizations
• sending medication refills to the school as needed and picking up any unused medication once the child mist no longer take it or at the end of the school year
  
  

Once the school agrees to give a child medication as requested through written authorizations, the contractual nature of this agreement carries with it the responsibility on the school’s part to follow the district’s guidelines in order to provide the service.

Required Forms

Form #1: Student Emergency Form

This form is required of all students K-12. It provides the school with information which can be used in the event of accident or sickness at school. Each student receives the form at the time of enrollment and when a new school year begins. Parent/Guardian signature is required on this form.

Form #2: Medical Authorization for Emergency Treatment

Public Health nurses and school social workers screen the Student Emergency Forms once they are returned to the school. Students who appear to have the potential for an emergency situation at school which would call for immediate treatment are asked to complete the Medical Authorization for Emergency Treatment form which requires both parent/guardian and physicians signature.

Form #3: Parental Request and Physician’s Order for Medication

When a physician has prescribed medication (prescriptive and/or non-prescriptive) which must be given at school, the parent/guardian may go to the school in order to give the medicine to his/her child. However, if he/she wishes to have the school give the medication, the Parental Request and Physician’s Order for Medication is required. This form requires the signature of both the physician and the parent.

These forms can be obtained from your child’s school prior to visiting the physician, or from most clinics/physician’s offices, hospital emergency rooms and oral surgeon’s offices.
(Note: The school will accept written authorization from a physician and a parent for non-prescriptive medication to be given as needed when long-term use is requires.)

Special Situations

If your child has need of special procedures such as catherization, injections of such things as insulin, or epi pen, etc., this should be designated on the Student Emergency Form (#1). The school nurse will follow up with a parent contract in order to develop an appropriate plan so that this service can be provided.

If you have any questions about medications your child needs to take at school, please contact any of the following.

• Medication Designee at Your child’s School
• Pat Hensley, Catawba County Schools; 828-464-8333, extension 240
• Kelly Isenhour, Catawba County Public Health Department; 828-326-5800 or 828-326-5820
• Anne Thompson, Catawba County Public Health Department; 828-326-5800 or 828-326-5893