It is the policy of Chelmsford Public Schools to administer medications during the school day only when necessary. If at any time during the school year your child requires the administration of any medications during the school day, then please refer to the following:
Medications in School
All medication orders and/or consents must be on file in your child’s health record before any medication is given at school (these orders and/or consents must be submitted every year or at the start or restart of any medication treatment.) Medication consent forms are located on the school web site. Each medication must have:
- Signed consent by parent/guardian to give the medication- This includes prescription medications as well as non-prescription medications or “over the counter” medications such as, but not limited to non-prescription eye drops and cough medications.
- Signed physician medication order- This needs to be obtained and returned to the school nurse for both prescription medications as well as non-prescription medications.
Short-term antibiotics are the only prescription medications that do not require a separate signed physician medication order. The instructions on the bottle will be sufficient if the current label is intact, and a parent or guardian’s signed consent is provided for the short term antibiotics.
IMPORTANT:
- Students who have had surgery, dental procedures, or injuries and are taking any type of narcotic pain reliever (i.e. Percocet, Vicodin, Tylenol #3) are not allowed to return to school until their pain can be managed with a non-narcotic analgesic such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol. Narcotic pain relievers will not be administered in school.
- Over the counter medications such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen will not be administered within 30 minutes of the end of the school day as the effects of the medication can not be evaluated.
Medication Delivery/Pick-up Requirements
All medications must be delivered to the school and retrieved from the school by a responsible adult.
All medications can be picked up from the nurse’s office anytime during the school day. Medications will be disposed of if they are not picked up within one week following termination of the order, if they are expired or if they are not picked up by the last day of school.
All prescription medications must be in a pharmacy labeled container that includes the child’s name, name and correct dose of the medication, physician’s name, and current date. Please ask your pharmacy to provide separate bottles for school and home. Not more than a thirty-day supply of medicine should be delivered to the school. All non-prescription medications must be in the original manufacturer’s container.
Additional Medication Information
- Students are not permitted to have medicine in the classroom or on their person without a doctor’s note permitting the student to carry the medication and without informing the school nurse.
- No medications that are scheduled to be given after the early release dismissal time will be given on school half-days unless specifically requested in writing by a parent and/or guardian.
- In order for your child to receive any medications on a field trip or for any medications to be sent on a field trip, the appropriate field trip consents must be completed before your child goes on the field trip. Please note that all the appropriate forms and items must be sent in prior to the day of the field trip in order for any medication to be sent on any field trip. If a field trip is approaching and you have not received the appropriate forms, please contact the nurse’s office immediately.
- It is important for the school nurse to be informed of any medication that your child is taking- even if your child does not need to receive these medications during the school day. It is also important for the school nurse to be informed of any medication changes; please contact the school nurse in a timely manner.
- First dose of a new medication: For students taking the first dose of a new medication, please administer the dose at home so that the student can be monitored in the event of an adverse reaction.
As noted on the emergency form, the school physician has approved after a nurses assessment and if deemed appropriate for the safety and welfare of a student, the use of Acetaminophen/Tylenol, Caladryl, Benadryl, Oragel, Vaseline, Sting Relief Wipes, Saline eye solutions, Bacitracin, Silvadene Cream, Hydrocortisone cream, Motrin, Tums and First Aid Cream. Students showing signs a of life threatening allergic reaction or anaphylaxis may be given EpiPen and Emergency Medical Services will be summoned. Parent/guardians are to contact their school nurse if they do not want any of the listed medications or ointments used.
