Administering Medication During Class Time

Should your child need medication during school time a staff member must administer it. 

All medications are held in our sick bay area and must be in their original packaging.  If the medication is a prescription product, it must be prescribed in the name of the child who is to receive it.   Please complete a Permission to Administer Medication Form available to download from the link below and bring the medication along with the completed form to administration. This form will detail the following:

• Permission for a staff member to administer
• The child’s name
• The time of day/dates the medication is to be administered
• The dose required
• The name and phone number of the medical practitioner who prescribed the medication.

Asthma Management

Students with asthma attending St. Brigid’s School must provide a current asthma management plan. This is to be signed by a doctor.  We ask that this plan be kept up to date and that any changes in condition are to be notified immediately.  Please also provide Ventolin (or equivalent) and a spacer to the school.  These are to be clearly labelled with your child’s name and both will be kept in our sick bay for use during school time.

Emergency Care (Asthma): In the event of a student developing what appears to be an asthma attack, their Asthma Management Plan will be followed.  If the student does not show improvement within ten minutes of taking their medication, medical assistance will be sought without delay using the telephone contacts recorded.

Anaphylaxis 

Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapidly progressive allergic reaction that is potentially life threatening.  The most common allergens in school aged children are peanuts, eggs, tree nuts (e.g. cashews), cow’s milk, fish and shell fish, wheat, soy, sesame, latex, certain insect stings and medication.

Any student who has been diagnosed by a medical practitioner as being at risk of anaphylaxis will have an individual management plan developed in consultation with the student’s parents.  The plan will need to be in place prior to the student commencing at St Brigid’s. Staff undergo training refreshers twice a year and must complete an ASCIA approved online course annually.

If your child requires an EpiPen, one will need to be provided to the school, this will be kept in our sick bay.  Each learning centre, where there is a child diagnosed with Anaphylaxis will also contain a scho

ol issued EpiPen for emergency use.

Other Diagnosed Medical Conditions

Any student who has been diagnosed by a medical practitioner with a serious medical condition will require an individual management plan developed in consultation with the student’s parents.  The plan will need to be in place prior to the student commencing at St Brigid’s. Conditions may include diabetes, epilepsy etc

Food Allergies

PLEASE DO NOT SHARE FOOD AT SCHOOL

We have several children across all levels at St. Brigid’s with life threatening allergies. We therefore, remind and ask that students do not share food with other students.

If your child has an allergy or is at risk of anaphylaxis and you have not notified the school, please do so immediately. Your child’s teacher and school office must be informed in order for you and the school to put into place a management plan to reduce the risk and harm to your child.

To further support these students, we respectfully ask that lunch boxes do not contain nuts of any kind or any products containing nuts. We understand that this may be an inconvenience for some families, however we ask for your cooperation in minimizing any risk to our students in this regard and remove the severe consequences that may follow.  

It is our expectation that students respect themselves and others and take care not to cause undue harm to fellow students.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction to a substance most commonly nuts, nut bi-products, egg, milk, wheat, soy, seafood, some insect stings and medications.

Anaphylaxis can be life threatening, however with the proper management and prevention strategies put in place, the risk can be reduced.

At St. Brigid’s we aim to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis by ensuring our staff undergo training. Educating students about food allergies and the importance of seeking help if they see a student with an allergic reaction and encouraging students to wash their hands after eating are some of the ways we support students at risk of anaphylaxis.

We ask you to reinforce with your children that food and drinks are not to be shared during the school day. Together with your help we can minimize any risk and provide a safer environment that meets the needs of all children at St. Brigid’s.

We ask that students DO NOT bring food to share with other students.

This includes celebration food such as birthday food or sweets.

From time to time our learning communities have an activity that involves food. At these times Permission Notices are sent home before the activity can take place. This allows parents to make an informed decision on whether their child can participate in the activity and let the teachers know of any food allergy their child may have.

For more information that may assist you please go to www.allergyfacts.org.au

Illness and Injury

When a student is sick or injured a parent/emergency contact will be notified and asked to come and collect their child.  Until such time as an adult arrives, the sick/injured child will be cared for in our sick bay which is located in the administration building.

For serious injuries/illness requiring urgent medical assistance, an ambulance will also be called.

Fruit Breaks and Water Bottles

• At St. Brigid’s we encourage healthy eating habits for all children.
• Each class will have a fruit break each day.
• The time of the fruit break will be at the discretion of the teacher.
• Students are encouraged to have water bottles in class so that they can maintain hydration (important for optimum brain functioning).

• Bottles may only contain water – no cordial or juices.

Clean Air Policy (No Smoking)

In the interests of all parties involved in Catholic education we ensure that a safe working environment is maintained in our school.

In order to maintain a safe working environment, the following will apply:

• No smoking on school premises
• No smoking in school buildings at any time
• No smoking within 4 metres of any gate or entrance

SunSmart

Our SunSmart Policy has been developed in line with recommendations of the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria.   It ensures that all children attending this school are protected from skin damage caused by the harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun.

As part of general SunSmart strategies our school has a NO school hat NO play policy during term one and term four.