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Gloucester High School

Gloucester High School

Care Achievement Respect Effort Responsibility

Telephone02 6558 1605

Emailgloucester-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

First Aid and Medications at School

First Aid Procedures

If students become unwell or are injured during the day they must notify their classroom teacher who will grant them permission to report to the school office. The student will then be assessed by the school office first aid personnel. Parents of students unable to be returned to class will be contacted to collect the student and take them home. If a parent is unable to collect his/her child, it is essential that the parent make alternate arrangements so that the student may be collected from school as soon as possible. The first aid room is for assessment and observation only. In emergencies an ambulance will be called (at no cost to the parent), and parents will be immediately contacted. If necessary, the child's doctor will be notified. It is essential that contact telephone numbers are kept up to date.

Medications At School

Parents/carers of children who require prescribed medication to be administered at school must complete a written request which outlines all details and medication required to be administered at school. Any medication to be given to a student at school must come in its original packaging and if prescribed medication, the prescription label must be attached. The medication will be held at the school office for the required day only.

Parents/carers of children who have been diagnosed with asthma and/or anaphylaxis are excluded from the above statement for this diagnosis. It is important for students to have immediate access to their medication and have an established Asmtha Care Plan and/or ASCIA Plan provided by the students doctor. High school students should carry their own adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen®, Anapen®) or asthma reliever medication on them while at school. Please inform the school that your child is carrying their own autoinjector/asthma reliever by completing the Request for student to carry own autoinjector or asthma reliever medication.  This is in addition to the medication held by the school. The school still needs you to provide at least one additional EpiPen®, Anapen® and/or asthma reliever medication for your child in case we need it in an emergency. This could happen, for example, if your child doesn’t have theirs with them at school when it is needed. We will store it in a central location in the school and use it to help your child if required.

Students must not carry medications unless there is a written agreement between the school and the student's parents/carers, this includes non-prescribed medications that a doctor may not write a prescription for, as it may be available 'over the counter'. NSW Health advises that 'over the counter' medication may still be harmful and that schools should follow the same procedure for non-prescribed medications as for prescribed medications. Therefore, any over the counter medications provided to students by parents will not be given to students at school unless a signed written request from parents is given to the school office. This will be valid for that day only. Over the counter medications and consent forms will not be held for "just in case" purposes.

The school office can accommodate for parents to issue medication to their child in the school office area only during break times, but this is strictly through prior arrangements with the school office and student.

Please note that medications including but not limited to paracetamol are not kept on school premises.

Parents are expected to:

  • cooperate with the school on student health matters
  • inform the school of the health needs of the child at enrolment or when health conditions develop or change.
  • liaise with the child's medical practitioner about the implications of any health condition for their  schooling and convey advice and information from the medical practitioner to the school.
  • if required, provide prescribed medication and ‘consumables' for administration by the school in a timely way and as agreed with the principal.
  • where relevant, collaborate with the school in planning support for the child's health needs at school including updating information and reviewing plans.

For further information, including Frequently Asked Questions on NSW Department of Education administering medication and non-medication procedures, visit https://education.nsw.gov.au/student-wellbeing/health-and-physical-care/health-care-procedures/administering-medication

We are strongly committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our students to thrive and succeed at this school. This is best achieved when we keep you informed and work in partnership with both you and, where possible, your children.