DRAFTING AND REVISING SCHOOL POLICIES

D. AN EXERCISE: ASSISTING A SCHOOL WITH EMERGENCY CARE POLICIES

One way the pediatrician can get started in school health policy is by offering to review and update a school's emergency care policies. Schools will appreciate the expertise and input in this important area.

The pediatrician should review current policies with school staff to determine where changes are necessary. When planning emergency response and care, schools should consider

• State laws, including those addressing Good Samaritan laws, administration of medication, scope of practice, and indemnification of school staff;
• Training of staff, union issues, and how to handle standing orders
• Qualifications of staff for assessment, interventions, and management
• Issues related to the response of the emergency medical services team, such as time needed to get to school, qualifications and skill level of the responders, available equipment, and transport time to the hospital.

SLIDE III-8

The brief scenarios presented below should generate discussion of consulting with schools on policy development and the issues that might be involved. Participants should consider which issues should be addressed in an emergency care plan to ensure proper response and treatment in potential situations related to the following scenarios.

Presenters can address the following scenarios through a didactic presentation or in small discussion groups, but participants should be encouraged to interact and to examine their own knowledge and expertise. Other scenarios can be developed or solicited from the audience's own experience.

• A student with peanut allergy who mistakenly ingests peanuts
• An elementary school student with diabetes who develops ...
• A high school student with asthma who has...