Epi-pen policy at DCPS - steps to take?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, she'll be in preK, so not at the self-administer and I assume not even at the self-carry level. Also can't meet with teacher - won't know who it is, and this isn't the sort of thing I can leave up to chance, hoping I get a teacher who works with us. The nurse is the one who outlined the policy - I asked the principal and he directed me to the nurse, so I'm not sure that there's a different policy, but I can definitely ask. I'd like to do so in an assertive, this needs to be taken seriously, but not aggressive I'm going to alienate you (yet) sort of way. But I guess I'd like to understand the process and possibility of getting the school to work with us. If they won't, I don't think attending there is an option (which will be a real problem from an early stages/sped placement perspective...). Yes, nothing will likely happen, but the bad outcome if it does is not worth even minimal risk.

If your intended principal does not know (or care to know the policy) this is a big problem. You want to be assertive so assert yourself and go the principal and discuss the policy, the principal of the school is ultimately the one who is responsible for the policy, not the nurse. It's not like you are asking for special treatment. You had one conversation with a person who is not running the school and you are then jumping ahead and worrying about getting the school to work with you and/or options if they don't. Take a step back and talk to the principal.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't allow this to be a deal-breaker for you. Here's why. I've found schools to be unwilling to engage in "policy" issues in general, but especially with a parent who has not even enrolled her child. Get enrolled, and then if they still state the same (uninformed and ridiculous) policy, put the pressure on at that point. It is unlikely you would get the policy changed school-wide, but I bet you would get some special accommodations for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't allow this to be a deal-breaker for you. Here's why. I've found schools to be unwilling to engage in "policy" issues in general, but especially with a parent who has not even enrolled her child. Get enrolled, and then if they still state the same (uninformed and ridiculous) policy, put the pressure on at that point. It is unlikely you would get the policy changed school-wide, but I bet you would get some special accommodations for your child.

If they are unwilling to engage in policy issues that go against medical advice or CDC or FARE guidelines for schools then I would definitely insist on a 504 plan and take it further up the chain of command.

In regards to 504 plans, the first principal I dealt with actually wanted a 504 plan so that his teachers and staff knew that they would be accountable for enforcing the plan to protect my kid.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies, they've been mostly helpful. Seems to me asking to meet with the principal falls under the general category of what I asked about getting the school to work with me and a how did you go about addressing issues with school policy sort of thing. And thinking ahead never hurts, in my experience, particularly with important issues. I'll have to see if the principal is open to having a discussion now given that we can't enroll yet, that doesn't involve referring back to the nurse - I'm hoping the school doesn't set up that sort of catch 22 - we won't discuss with you whether we can meet your kids needs until you enroll but you can't enroll until you know if we're able to meet your kids needs...(unless I want to give up the opportunity for finding a school that will work with us on this).

[Anonymous]

Sorry that's "most helpful" not mostly...

[Anonymous]

We have a classmate who has an epi-pen in the classroom not the nurse's office. DCPS preK4.

I believe the family approached the principal before enrolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a classmate who has an epi-pen in the classroom not the nurse's office. DCPS preK4.

I believe the family approached the principal before enrolling.

This what I insisted upon with my kid too. Anaphylaxis should be treated within a couple of minutes at most and if the epi-pen is locked up somewhere else then you can pretty much guarantee that it will take at least 10 minutes or longer for the epi-pen to be given to the kid which is against all medical advice. In the hospital we kept all emergency meds within close locations with locks that could be ripped open because in emergencies time is of essence.

Our allergist also told us that epi-pens are often given too long after anaphylaxis begins in school settings which can be disastrous. You should emphasize that the school should give it when in doubt and to not hesitate to give it as ordered. In fact, our allergist said if the school gives it by mistake, it is not really a concern in terms of safety. He said it is more worrying that the school will not give it or delay in giving when needed which could be disastrous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies, they've been mostly helpful. Seems to me asking to meet with the principal falls under the general category of what I asked about getting the school to work with me and a how did you go about addressing issues with school policy sort of thing. And thinking ahead never hurts, in my experience, particularly with important issues. I'll have to see if the principal is open to having a discussion now given that we can't enroll yet, that doesn't involve referring back to the nurse - I'm hoping the school doesn't set up that sort of catch 22 - we won't discuss with you whether we can meet your kids needs until you enroll but you can't enroll until you know if we're able to meet your kids needs...(unless I want to give up the opportunity for finding a school that will work with us on this).

If it is a DCPS school then they should all be held to the same standard and could be made to hold to the standard. A 504 plan would help. If it is a charter, it will vary, but again a 504 plan will help as well as possibly the DC charter board, OSSE, and DC council, etc. Our kid did not attend school in DC when he was young but I do know of least one charter school that was nut free. I think I would lean towards whatever school is a best fit for your kid educationally since I am pretty sure you can get them to do the things I listed previously and from FARE. You may have to be a squeaky wheel but that is OK since it is your kid.

[Anonymous]

One more tip another allergy mom taught me long ago is that Krispy Kreme donuts are peanut and tree nut free which come in handy as a substitute for cupcakes when you are short for time. There is at least one Krispy Kreme shop in DC and many groceries sell there products. However, I always check every time I buy anything since a manufacturer can change their ingredients or policies at any time. She and FARE also taught me to avoid tree nuts too since they are often cross contaminated.

[Anonymous]

It's really school by school. Also, some DCPS are nut-free and others are not. We called around a bunch of schools in our area to survey which were. Even in a nut-free environment, epis need to stay close to children and be easily accessible. I encourage you to meet with the principal and teachers. We did and everyone has been very helpful in setting up a protocol that meets our child's needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies, they've been mostly helpful. Seems to me asking to meet with the principal falls under the general category of what I asked about getting the school to work with me and a how did you go about addressing issues with school policy sort of thing. And thinking ahead never hurts, in my experience, particularly with important issues. I'll have to see if the principal is open to having a discussion now given that we can't enroll yet, that doesn't involve referring back to the nurse - I'm hoping the school doesn't set up that sort of catch 22 - we won't discuss with you whether we can meet your kids needs until you enroll but you can't enroll until you know if we're able to meet your kids needs...(unless I want to give up the opportunity for finding a school that will work with us on this).

Chances are there is a child who is already enrolled in the school that has a nut allergy. It is irrelevant that you are not enrolled because you are not a special case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a classmate who has an epi-pen in the classroom not the nurse's office. DCPS preK4.

I believe the family approached the principal before enrolling.

This what I insisted upon with my kid too. Anaphylaxis should be treated within a couple of minutes at most and if the epi-pen is locked up somewhere else then you can pretty much guarantee that it will take at least 10 minutes or longer for the epi-pen to be given to the kid which is against all medical advice. In the hospital we kept all emergency meds within close locations with locks that could be ripped open because in emergencies time is of essence.

Our allergist also told us that epi-pens are often given too long after anaphylaxis begins in school settings which can be disastrous. You should emphasize that the school should give it when in doubt and to not hesitate to give it as ordered. In fact, our allergist said if the school gives it by mistake, it is not really a concern in terms of safety. He said it is more worrying that the school will not give it or delay in giving when needed which could be disastrous.

^^. This. I teach in FCPS and our whole staff has to go thru Epi pen training every year, presented by our school health supervisor. Any teacher who has a student with an Epi pen is required to take it on all field trips, and we also take a school set of Epi pens on field trips in case any student has an allergy emergency. We are told to err on the side of safety if we see signs of anaphylactic shock. This is SOP in FCPS--I don't think you would be out of line to ask that at least the teacher is trained and the Epi pen is accessible.

[Anonymous]

In our DCPS the nurse insists that all meds stY locked in office so there is always at least one pen per child on site. When pens travel they don't always come back and/or get stored in the right location. This doesn't mean there cannot be another pen on the child or in the classroom, or that goes on field trips. It just means that you can't take the primary one. Also, let's face it, teachers have SO many demands, that remembering your child's pen could slip through the cracks. That's why, at our school, field trip forms clearly state that it's the parents' obligation to send or carry a separate dose, not the school's. This ultimately IS for you child's safety.

[Anonymous]

PS there are also substitutes a few times a year who might not get the info about where a classroom dose is stored and who does not have training on its use. Cabinets also get locked, or the episode happens when the child is in the library, etc. On a field trip, if teacher was responsible for carrying pen, what if they had to deal with something else and had to leave students with chaperones for a few minutes? No, an adult who is solely responsible for their allergic child needs to go. Teachers have far too many other obligations in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS there are also substitutes a few times a year who might not get the info about where a classroom dose is stored and who does not have training on its use. Cabinets also get locked, or the episode happens when the child is in the library, etc. On a field trip, if teacher was responsible for carrying pen, what if they had to deal with something else and had to leave students with chaperones for a few minutes? No, an adult who is solely responsible for their allergic child needs to go. Teachers have far too many other obligations in that situation.

This and the above post are good reasons for a 504 plan since the school and its personnel will be accountable to following the plan. I used to volunteer to come along on field trips so I would ask if you can do that as well. As for the nurse on insisting that epi-pens be locked in the office, again that is against sound medical advice and emergency protocols. I would still insist that the epi-pen always be in the same location as you child with an adult who is trained on how to recognize anaphylaxis and on how to give the epi-pen. If they want a second set in the office fine, but I would still insist on the former.