804.05 Stock Epinephrine Auto-Injector Supply

The North Linn Community School District seeks to provide a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors who are at risk of severe allergic reactions. Therefore, it is the policy of the district to annually obtain a prescription for epinephrine auto-injectors from a licensed health care professional, in the name of the school district, for administration by a school nurse or personnel trained and authorized to administer to a student or individual who may be experiencing an anaphylactic reaction. 

Procurement and maintenance of supply: The district shall stock a minimum of one pediatric dose and one adult dose epinephrine auto-injector for each school building.  The supply of such medication shall be maintained in a secure, easily accessible area for an emergency within the school building, or in addition to other locations as determined by the school district.
 

The school nurse shall routinely check stock of medication and document in a log monthly:  

• The expiration date; 

• Any visualized particles or color change for epinephrine auto-injectors; 

The school nurse shall be responsible for ensuring the district replaces, as soon as reasonably possible, any logged epinephrine auto-injector that is used, close to expiration, or discolored or has particles visible in the liquid.   The district shall dispose of stock medications and delivery devices in accordance with state laws and regulations. 

Training: A school nurse or personnel trained and authorized may provide or administer any of the medication listed in this policy from a school supply to a student or individual if the authorized personnel or school nurse reasonably and in good faith believes the student or individual is having an anaphylactic reaction. Training to obtain a signed certificate to become personnel authorized to administer an epinephrine auto-injector shall consist of the requirements of medication administration established by law. 

Authorized personnel will be required to retake the medication administration course, training program and provide a procedural skills demonstration to the school nurse demonstrating competency in the administration of stock epinephrine auto-injectors, to retain authorization to administer these medications if the following occur:  

• Failure to administer an epinephrine auto-injector, according to generally accepted standards of practice (“medication error”); or 

• Accidental injection injury to school personnel related to improperly administering the medication (“medication incident”).  

Reporting: The district will contact emergency medical services (911) immediately after a stock epinephrine auto-injector is administered to a student or individual. The school nurse or authorized personnel will remain with the student or individual until emergency medical services arrive. 

Within 48 hours, the district will report to the Iowa Department of Education:  

• Each medication incident with the administration of stock epinephrine;

• Each medication error with the administration of stock epinephrine; or 

• The administration of a stock epinephrine auto-injector. 

As provided by law, the district, board, authorized personnel or school nurse, and the prescriber shall not be liable for any injury arising from the provision, administration, failure to administer, or assistance in the administration of an epinephrine auto-injector provided they acted reasonably and in good faith. 

The superintendent and/or school nurse may develop an administrative process to implement this policy. 
  

  

Legal Reference:

Iowa Code §§ 135.185; 190; 279.8.  281 I.A.C. 14.3.  655 I.A.C 6.2(2)

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 135.185	Epi-pen Supply
Iowa Code  § 279.8	Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees
I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code	Description
281 I.A.C. 14.3	Epi-pen Stock
655 I.A.C 6	Nursing

Cross References

Code	Description
507.02	Administration of Medication to Students
507.02-E(1)	Administration of Medication to Students - Authorization - Asthma,  Airway Constricting or Respiratory Distress Medication Self-Administration Consent Form
507.02-E(2)	Administration of Medication to Students - Parental Authorization and Release Form for the Administration of Medication  or Special Health Services to Students
507.02-E(3)	Administration of Medication to Students - Parental Authorization and Release Form for Independent Self Carry and Administration of Prescribed Medication or Independent Delivery of Health Services by the Student
507.02-E(4)	Administration of Medication to Students - Parental Authorization and Release Form for the Administration of Voluntary School Stock of Over-the-Counter Medication to Students

 

Approved     3-20-24    Reviewed   __________   Revised