PROCUREMENT AND USE OF EPINEPHRINE AUTO INJECTORS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

PROCUREMENT AND USE OF EPINEPHRINE AUTO INJECTORS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

po5330.02Adopted December 18, 2014Revised December 17, 2016

5330.02 - PROCUREMENT AND USE OF EPINEPHRINE AUTO INJECTORS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

In accordance with state law, the Board of Education shall procure epinephrine auto-injectors ("Epi-Pens") for use in emergency situations. Epinephrine is a prescription drug used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions caused by insect bites or stings, foods, medications, latex, and other causes. The Superintendent shall adopt a policy and procedures, alternatively termed "Administrative Guidelines," governing the maintenance and use of Epi-Pens. The Superintendent shall consult with a licensed health professional who is authorized to prescribe drugs ("Prescriber") when developing policy/administrative guidelines.

The Superintendent’s policy/administrative guidelines shall:

  1. identify the location(s) in each school building where the Epi-Pens shall be stored;

  2. specify the conditions under which Epi-Pens must be stored, replaced, and disposed of;

  3. specify the individuals employed by or under contract with the Board, in addition to a licensed school nurse and licensed athletic trainer, who may access and use Epi-Pens in emergency situations;

  4. specify the training that Board employees or contractors (besides school nurses or athletic trainers) must complete before being authorized to access and use Epi-Pens;

  5. identify the emergency situations, including when an individual exhibits signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, in which a school nurse, athletic trainer, or other trained employee/contractor may access and use an Epi- Pen;

  6. specify that assistance from an emergency medical service provider (911) must be requested immediately after an Epi-Pen is used; and

  7. specify individuals, in addition to students, employees, contractors, and visitors, to whom a dosage of epinephrine may be administered through an Epi-Pen in an emergency situation.

Each Building Principal shall endeavor to maintain at least two (2) Epi-Pens of both prescribed doses in their building. In procuring Epi-Pens, the Board will accept donations of Epi-Pens from wholesale distributors of dangerous drugs or manufacturers of dangerous drugs, as well as donations of money from any person to purchase Epi-Pens. The Superintendent shall report to the Ohio Department of Education ("ODE"), in the form and manner determined by ODE, each procurement of Epi-Pens and each occurrence in which an Epi-Pen is used from District’s supply.

In order to facilitate the use of an Epi-Pen in an emergency situation pursuant to this Policy and AG 5330.02, the Board will procure Epi-Pens by either (1) having a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs, acting in accordance with State laws, personally furnish the Epi-Pens to the District or issue a prescription for them in the name of the District, or (2) having the Superintendent obtain a prescriber-issued protocol that includes definitive order for Epi-Pens and the dosages of epinephrine to be administered through them. If the Superintendent obtains a prescriber-issued protocol, s/he will retain the original protocol and provide a copy of it to each Building Principal of each school at which Epi-Pens are maintained in accordance with this Policy and AG 5330.02.

In accordance with Ohio law, the Board, its members, employees and contractors, and a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs who personally furnishes or prescribes Epi-Pens, consults with the Superintendent, or issues a protocol, shall not be liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an act or omission associated with procuring, maintaining, accessing, or using Epi-Pens in emergency situations as provided for by this policy and AG 5330.02, unless the act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

Guideline

In consultation with a licensed health professional who is authorized to prescribe drugs, and in accordance with State law, the Superintendent hereby approves this policy and procedure, alternatively termed "Administrative Guidelines," governing the maintenance and use of epinephrine auto-injectors ("Epi-Pens").

  1. Locations: At least two (2) Epi-Pens of both dose sizes (i.e., 0.3 mg of epinephrine and 0.15 mg of epinephrine) shall be securely stored in the following location in each school building:

    1. Office of School Nurse

    2. Athletic Trainer’s Office

  2. Storage, Replacement, and Disposal: Epi-Pens shall be stored, replaced, and disposed of in accordance with the following guidelines:

    1. Storage: Epi-Pens shall be stored in the carrier tube provided at a temperature between 60ºF - 80ºF. Further, they should be maintained in the manufacturer’s provided yellow box with snap lock.

    2. Replacement: Order from BioRidge Pharma

    3. Disposal: Used or expired Epi-Pens will be disposed of in Sharps container and given to Perry Co. Health Department

    The school nurse is responsible for verifying that an appropriate number of Epi-Pens are maintained in the school building and they have not expired.

    1. Individuals Authorized to Administer Epi-Pens in Emergency Situations: The following individuals are authorized to access and use Epi-Pens in emergency situations:

      1. licensed school nurse

      2. licensed athletic trainer

      3. building Principal

      4. other, as designated by student’s IEP, 504 Plan, or IHP

      5. coaches

      Each school shall have at least two (2) persons trained in the appropriate use of an epinephrine auto-injector. Building Principals shall maintain a list of the specific individuals authorized to use, in emergency situations, the District-maintained Epi-Pens. The list shall also be available on an electronically accessible site for employees’ reference.

      1. Training: Before using an Epi-Pen in an emergency situation, an individual other than a licensed school nurse or licensed athletic trainer, must complete an Epi-Pen administration program conducted by a licensed health professional. The training shall be done in accordance with any guidance provided by the Ohio Department of Education. The training shall include how to recognize anaphylaxis and administer an epinephrine auto-injector. The training shall also include an evaluation by the licensed health professional of the employees’ understanding of the protocols for administration of an Epi-Pen. The school nurse is responsible for coordinating the training of Board employees to administer Epi-Pens.

      2. Emergency Situations: The authorized individuals may access and use an Epi-Pen in emergency situations, including but not limited to:

        1. when an individual demonstrates signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis;

        2. upon the first signs of a severe allergic reaction for which Epi-Pen treatment is indicated;

      3. Emergency Medical Provider Assistance: Immediately following deployment of an Epi-Pen, the individual administering it shall request assistance from an emergency medical service provider (911). If the Epi-Pen was self-administered by the student, pursuant to AG 5330, the school nurse shall be responsible for requesting assistance from an emergency medical service provider (911) immediately following the incident.

      4. Additional Recipients of Epi-Pen Assistance: In addition to students, school employees, contractors, and visitors, an Epi-Pen may be administered to the following individuals in an emergency situation: any individual on school grounds who is believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction.

      5. Reporting of Injections: Any person who administers an Epi-Pen to a student shall promptly notify the School Nurse, who shall be responsible for promptly notifying the student’s parent/guardian that an injection has been administered

        Additionally, all Epi-Pen injections by Board employees/contractors to students shall be reported in writing to the Superintendent and Perry County Medical Director. The report shall include whether the school’s or student’s Epi-Pen was used, and whether the student was previously known to be subject to severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

      Protocol for Use:

      The definitive protocol for Epi-Pens, as issued by Bradley C. Wilson, DO, are as follows:

      1. administration: See Epinephrine Standing Order Protocol

      2. dosage: copy in nurses’ office and each box of Epinephrine

      Nothing herein shall affect a student’s ability to self-administer Epi-Pens in accordance with Policy 5330 and AG 5330.

      © Neola 2016