Welcome!

My twist for this issue (Drug and Alcohol Awareness month) focuses on topics related to medication for students with disabilities and schools. You may be experiencing more and more students in your physical education classes unable to do activities (e.g., aerobic activities) due to medical conditions or issues associated with their medication. The saying ‘knowledge is power’ really holds true – if you are knowledgeable about disabilities, medications and their effects and side-effects - your ability to plan appropriate learning activities is greatly enhanced! In addition to knowledge/power, communication will be a vital importance. Your ability to communicate with the school nurse to identify children who take medication is a necessity. S/He will be able to provide you with how the drug affects the learner, as well as potential side effects. Again, knowledge is power – knowing a drug’s side effect is dizziness, you can plan safe, alternative activities for the learner! Lastly, consider your advocacy role when communicating with parents/guardians. Listen to their concerns regarding the impact of activity for their daughter/son and be willing to modify and adapt however possible. By working with the learner, the parents/guardians, and the school nurse, physical education doesn’t have to be traumatic for learners who take medication.

Happy Spring!

Sue Tarr
Adapted Section Editor

According to McCarthy, Kelly, and Reed (2000), approximately half of school nurses surveyed reported medication errors in their schools. The survey was administered to 649 school nurses (large and small schools) across the country. The focus of this study was to investigate medication administration, the policies and procedures for dispensing drugs to students, the types of medication administered, and which school personnel were authorized to dispense medication.

Some of the findings were:

• nurses estimated 5.6% of students in K-12th grades received medications on a typical school day;
• common medications given included over-the-counter drugs, analgesics (aspirin, ibuprofen), stimulant medication (Ritalin, Adderall), asthma inhalers & drugs, and anti-seizure drugs (treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder);
• error in administering drugs (overdose, double dose) - 22.9%, error in giving medications without authorization - 20.6%, error in giving the incorrect medication - 20%, and errors of unspecified mistakes - 29.8%;
• only 25% of nurses surveyed indicated they administer all the medication in their schools and the other 75% of nurses reported that unlicensed personnel dispensed medication to students;
• 75% of schools that had unlicensed personnel administer the medication did have training programs for those persons;
• most training programs were two hours or less in length; and
• unlicensed personnel dispensing medication were three time more likely to have medication errors.

To read more about this topic and find out ways you can make sure mistakes are NOT made with your students’ medication, click on:

http://bipolar.about.com/Cs/kids_parents/a/ 0207_schoolmeds_p.htm

More and more students are coming to physical education who have asthma – some with inhalers, some without. It would make good sense for you, the school nurse, the parent/guardian, and student (if appropriate) to determine an asthma action plan. The plan should indicate the type of medication the student is using, how and when the medication should be administered, and what to do in case of an emergency. The website, http://allergies.about.com/Cs/school/a/ blaaaai081303_p.htm, provides more information about an asthma action plan and a link for downloading a copy of such a plan.

Be an advocate for your students with asthma! Use the seven questions identified on: http://allergies.about.com/library/ blnhlbischool.htm, to see if your school is asthma friendly.