medication usage question
Question:
You can see from some of the replies why I’m so careful. If you ever have any doubts a signed letter from an attorneys your best protection. People it seems are very worried about getting sued and will act accordingly. Best for your daughter Lane
Response:
Sure and the first time you leave that’s when the child has the "LIFE THREATENING" problem. Your idea is extremely dangerous and is part of the asthmatics problem. Albuterol is not a dangerous drug and maybe a class on drugs would be in order. Don’t let the asthmatic die because some children can’t behave themselves. This is why laws and education have to be mandated. Someone always thinks they have a good reason to lock away a life saving med when seconds are extremely important. Lane
Response:
> well,kids DO do things that us parents think "our kids" would never > do…but im not saying that your kid does..im just saying that some > parents would be surprised at what thier little angels do when they are > away (mine included) > But..just for the record..It does not state in the scouters handbook > anything about the meds having to be locked up,and scouting is a > national orginazation,not a state, so the scouters law is the same in > every state. I wouldnt worry too much about it,if her leader is on your > side and knows about your daughters condition. > Scouting is for the kids and they certainly wouldnt want to put any > child in jepardy,their policies are for the protection of all the kids. > I dont suspect they will give you any grief over it.
Lynn, I know that my kids will do things that they shouldn’t and things that may shock me at some point. But I also know that my daughter would not abuse her medication or allow others to do so. She is very med/asthma aware. We talked about this in the car on the way to the camp bus today, and she was shocked that anyone could think she might mis-use her medication this way, or that anyone would. In her own words, "if someone gives their meds to others or doesn’t use them properly then their parents and Dr haven’t done a very good job of education them. It’s also very unfair to judge other people by a small few’s stupid behavior".
Response:
>in charge of my sons group and then put him (the adult) >in charge of that inhler and epi pen
I would only hope that if a child has an asthma attack they are able to locate the one who is carrying them around or in charge of the key where they are locked up. If it was my child I would sure fight to have him have his inhaler with him and not try to find the one with the inhaler.
Response:
well,kids DO do things that us parents think "our kids" would never do…but im not saying that your kid does..im just saying that some parents would be surprised at what thier little angels do when they are away (mine included) But..just for the record..It does not state in the scouters handbook anything about the meds having to be locked up,and scouting is a national orginazation,not a state, so the scouters law is the same in every state. I wouldnt worry too much about it,if her leader is on your side and knows about your daughters condition. Scouting is for the kids and they certainly wouldnt want to put any child in jepardy,their policies are for the protection of all the kids. I dont suspect they will give you any grief over it.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Speaking as a (cub) scout master and mother of cub scouts and boy > scouts. > I have seen first hand why young children shouldnt be allowed to carry > around inhalers. Children,when around other peers like to "show off" so > to speak. They may get the inhaler out and show and tell kinda thing. > With my son…his buddies liked to use it (dont ask me why) maybe it > produced some kind of "high" or something. So having him carry it around > was sometimes more dangerous than not. > As a scout master…i do know the laws of scouting and with cub scout > and girl scout age children (6 to 11) they are never to be > hiking,swimming,fishing,sleeping,ect,ect without at least 2 adults > present ,so when i had to send my son to camp i always educated the > adult supervisor in charge of my sons group and then put him (the adult) > in charge of that inhler and epi pen. > It always worked out great and i didnt have to worry about other kids > using his meds or him losing it.
Unlike the children you refer to, my duaghter knows the proper use of her inhaler. She would not show off with it, nor would she allow others to use it. She won’t even let me use her inhaler (same rx) or use mine since the correct name is not on it. She is "in control" of her emergency meds 24/7 any other time. "In the care of an adult" at camp means that the nurse locks it in the first aid box, and the nurse is the only one with the key. The time it would take to talk to the leader, find the nurse, get her to unlock the box, and get the inhaler out may be more time than is available.
Response:
Speaking as a (cub) scout master and mother of cub scouts and boy scouts. I have seen first hand why young children shouldnt be allowed to carry around inhalers. Children,when around other peers like to "show off" so to speak. They may get the inhaler out and show and tell kinda thing. With my son…his buddies liked to use it (dont ask me why) maybe it produced some kind of "high" or something. So having him carry it around was sometimes more dangerous than not. As a scout master…i do know the laws of scouting and with cub scout and girl scout age children (6 to 11) they are never to be hiking,swimming,fishing,sleeping,ect,ect without at least 2 adults present ,so when i had to send my son to camp i always educated the adult supervisor in charge of my sons group and then put him (the adult) in charge of that inhler and epi pen. It always worked out great and i didnt have to worry about other kids using his meds or him losing it.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I would strongly recommend that you contact an attorney. The people at the > camp need to be informed as to what’s legal and what’s not thru an > attorney > not a doctor. This could be extremely serious if she is out on a hike and > her meds are back at camp. > Lane > She’s aware of this and agrees that she need to keep her inhaler on her at > all times. She wouldn’t give it up, even if it meant not attending camp. > So far we’ve had no problems. Her direct group leader is one of her troop > leaders, who is also asthmatic and agreed with us. She has said that as > long as the camp director doesn’t directly ask, she won’t say anything and > DD will carry her inhaler. She also said that when they do the overnight > tomorrow night she’ll just have DD keep her night and morning meds in her > backpack and take them herself. At almost 11 DD is more than capable of > this, and it makes things easier for everyone. > I appreciate the vehemence of all your comments, and second them whole > heartedly. My other child has a form of autism, so between the 2 kids I’ve > learned that sitting back on the sidelines and leaving things to "the people > in charge" is often the worst thing you can do. I don’t hesitate to jump > right in and stand up for my kids. I’m not going to contact a lawyer until > there’s something to contact them about, however; i.e. if they insist that > the inhaler be taken from her and locked away. Thanks for the links as > well, Ellis. I was able to find some basic info, and a couple of > particulars in other states, but these were great. > Lesa
I have cared for kids with asthma for more years than I care to remember, and have seen everything about their treatment change except the attitude of the schools toward their medications. The schools have a reason to be wary, in this litigious society, and it has become no better in recent years now that there is a zero tolerance for "drugs" on school property. I have always hoped that there would be a teacher who would want to look the other way, and if that were not the case I have recommended that the inhaler be used in the bathroom stall. The latter approach has worked, but I have always wished that I didn’t have to tell youngsters that it was perfectly appropriate for them to break rules. This school policy must be changed, but you are not going to be able to get the Law to do it. Policies are iterated by School Boards, which are elected by us and are, in theory at least, sensitive to the desires of the community. I think an approach to the School Board is the only way you will be able to do anything positive. This was my experience when I found that several of my patients were having more trouble in the gymnasium, even when not exercising. They were allergic to dogs; the school had allowed a dog-training course to use that facility. An approach to the Principal did nothing. An approach to several School Board members led to prompt removal of the dogs. Again, a private organization like the scouts can simply point out that there is no need and no right to use their facilities if one does not care to abide by their rules. We may have vehement feelings; it may be that it should not be thus, but it is, and there are Supreme Court decisions to back it. The local Law is not going to question their dicta. Larry
Response:
I would strongly recommend that you contact an attorney. The people at the camp need to be informed as to what’s legal and what’s not thru an attorney not a doctor. This could be extremely serious if she is out on a hike and her meds are back at camp. Lane
Response:
> I would strongly recommend that you contact an attorney. The people at the > camp need to be informed as to what’s legal and what’s not thru an attorney > not a doctor. This could be extremely serious if she is out on a hike and > her meds are back at camp. > Lane
She’s aware of this and agrees that she need to keep her inhaler on her at all times. She wouldn’t give it up, even if it meant not attending camp. So far we’ve had no problems. Her direct group leader is one of her troop leaders, who is also asthmatic and agreed with us. She has said that as long as the camp director doesn’t directly ask, she won’t say anything and DD will carry her inhaler. She also said that when they do the overnight tomorrow night she’ll just have DD keep her night and morning meds in her backpack and take them herself. At almost 11 DD is more than capable of this, and it makes things easier for everyone. I appreciate the vehemence of all your comments, and second them whole heartedly. My other child has a form of autism, so between the 2 kids I’ve learned that sitting back on the sidelines and leaving things to "the people in charge" is often the worst thing you can do. I don’t hesitate to jump right in and stand up for my kids. I’m not going to contact a lawyer until there’s something to contact them about, however; i.e. if they insist that the inhaler be taken from her and locked away. Thanks for the links as well, Ellis. I was able to find some basic info, and a couple of particulars in other states, but these were great. Lesa
Response:
No the laws should be very clear about this sort of emergency meds as it is with other emergency medications. Esp if they lock them up and take you away from the location where the med is being kept. UM MOM Susan
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> There are laws protecting people to have emergency medications withing > their > immediate reach. I went through this with the school system and a > basketball league for another child not my own. UM MOM Susan > I know that there are laws which state that an individual cannot be > prevented or blocked from their emergency meds. Whether or not having an > emergency med in the care of the "first aid person" rather than on the > individual’s person is "blocking" is a pretty grey area. > If I have to battle them on this one I will, and do so very vehemently if > necessary (my kids don’t call me Queen Mega Bitch for nothing). I was just > hoping that someone could give me more details on their experiences with > putting these laws into practice.
Response:
> There are laws protecting people to have emergency medications withing their > immediate reach. I went through this with the school system and a > basketball league for another child not my own. UM MOM Susan
I know that there are laws which state that an individual cannot be prevented or blocked from their emergency meds. Whether or not having an emergency med in the care of the "first aid person" rather than on the individual’s person is "blocking" is a pretty grey area. If I have to battle them on this one I will, and do so very vehemently if necessary (my kids don’t call me Queen Mega Bitch for nothing). I was just hoping that someone could give me more details on their experiences with putting these laws into practice.
Response:
No, to be honest it was the University in Tampa, forget the name, and public parks systems. But you are right about how the laws work, that I too don’t know for sure. That is why I suggested the Attorney general in the area. I am sure that one of the lawyers there can advice of the laws of the state. UM MOM Susan
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> There are laws protecting people to have emergency medications withing their > immediate reach. I went through this with the school system and a > basketball league for another child not my own. UM MOM Susan > That is precisely why I said "As far as the laws are concerned I would > expect that the Girl Scout camp would be treated as a private organization > rather than a public accommodation; this would differentiate it from a > public school, for instance." Was the basketball league sponsored by the > school system? > Lp
Response:
> There are laws protecting people to have emergency medications withing their > immediate reach. I went through this with the school system and a > basketball league for another child not my own. UM MOM Susan
That is precisely why I said "As far as the laws are concerned I would expect that the Girl Scout camp would be treated as a private organization rather than a public accommodation; this would differentiate it from a public school, for instance." Was the basketball league sponsored by the school system? Lp
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I know that many of you here are very familiar with laws concerning > medications for asthma. I’m in the midst of a battle with our local Girl > Scout council concerning this, and would appreciate input. > My daughter is signed up for GS day camp I received notice that the > council’s policy is that all medication, including emergency meds such as > ventolin and epi-pens, are kept locked up in the first aid box. I have > informed them that my daughter will carry her ventolin inhaler with her, and > has been told not to turn it over to them but to tell them to call me if > they ask her to do so. > The council in insisting that for safety reasons they need to keep all > medications locked up. I’ve talked to them about the lack of safety of her > needing her inhaler and having to contact her group leader, then find the > first aid person to unlock it before she can get to it. I’ve stressed how > unsafe this is, especially if they’re off hiking somewhere when she needs > it. The Dr has even called them.
Here are some related links: http://reason.com/0204/fe.cs.asthma.shtml Asthma Attack April 2002 When "zero tolerance" collides with children
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