Taking Medications at school

Any medications required during school hours including prescription, “over-the-counter” (OTC) and homeopathic/herbal medications require a medication order signed by an approved health care provider and are subject to the HCPSS medication policy and procedure.

School health room staff administer medications, store medications in the school’s health room and keep records of when medications are taken by the student.

Approved Non-Medications

The items below are not considered medications. Students may bring the items to school without a medical prescription. Health Services requests that a parent/guardian note accompany the item to serve as permission to bring to school.

  • Sunscreen
  • Chapstick
  • Hand lotion
  • Non-medicated cough drops
  • Saline contact solution

Sunscreen must be supplied by an individual student and is not to be shared with other students due to potential allergens and skin reactions. It is recommended that a first application be applied at home prior to the start of the school day. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an SPF of at least 15 for sun protection.

Getting a medication to school

Step 1 – Have your family physician complete an order form and submit it to your school

A new medication order is required for every new school year dated on or after July 1.

Medication order form

All approved medication orders for the current school year are valid through summer school.

School nurses will evaluate the physician order for appropriate dosage amount. If any area of the order form needs clarification, the nurse will consult your family physician.

Step 2 – Label the medication

Once approved, the parent can begin readying the medication for school use.

  • Pharmacy Medications
    • Pharmacy medications must be consistent with the medication order and properly labeled. Pharmacy containers and labeling are required. To make it easier on parents, a second labeled container for school use can be obtained from your pharmacist. Physician samples must also be appropriately labeled by the physician or parent.
    • The following information must be on the label
      • Name of the student
      • Date of the medication order
      • Name of the medication
      • Route, time and frequency of the medication
      • Dosage and strength of the medication
      • Authorized health care provider name
  • Over the Counter Medications
    • Over the counter medications must be received in new, unopened containers.
    • Over the counter medications must be clearly labeled with the student’s name.

Step 3 – Give a dose at home, drop off the medication

The first dose of any new prescription coming to the school must be given at home 24 hours before coming to school.

At the start of the school year, parents can drop off their student’s medication at the school after giving the first dose 24 hours before coming to school. Students cannot bring their own medications in.

Step 4 – Monitor the medication during the school year

Stopping the medication? Let your child’s school know and then pick up the medication.

Dose change? New medication? Parents have to submit a new order form.

Expired Medication

Within one week after expiration of the effective date on physician’s order, the parent must personally collect any unused portion of the medication from the health room. Medication not claimed within that period will be destroyed.

At the end of the school year all medications not picked up by the parent will be disposed of.

Need More Information?

Contact Ms. Quinn at anna_quinn@hcpss.org

Visit the HCPSS website: https://www.hcpss.org/health/medications/

Date

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 (All day)