What happens to inhalers at secondary?

[PixieOnaChristmasTree]

DD2 is in Y7 at a prep school and will start at secondary at the end of next year.

She has asthma and needs to have her Ventolin on hand for PE/during lessons in case she gets wheezy. At her current school her teacher looks after it and makes sure it's in the right place during PE. She also reminds DD to use it before PE and asks her afterwards if she needs it. The dinnerladies also know she has asthma and know to watch out for her at lunchtime (as they do with all asthmatic children).

I was just wondering what the procedures at secondary were regarding inhalers. DD1 isn't asthmatic and none of her friends are, so she doesn't know.

Thanks!

[hocuspontas]

Dd3 carries her blue inhaler in her blazer pocket. It's up to her if she feels she needs to have a puff.

I filled in the medical forms stating that she has one and self administers. Every so often she has to have regular doses of the brown inhaler and I might send a note in to her form teacher to ask dd3 at lunchtime if she's remembered to take it. When I get around to it I might send in spares to keep in the office incase she loses them.

[Tortington]

dd was supposed to have hers in the office.

we kept one in the ofice just incase she was fuckwited enough to forget hers.

but despite school policy she always had one in her bag.

[roisin]

At our school the students carry their own inhalers and are responsible for their use. If they are likely to need them during PE, they bring them and put them on the side somewhere during PE lesson.

Actually I'm pretty sure this is what happens in junior school too.

[Goblinchild]

One of our asthmatics carries her inhaler round her neck on a snapcord. Certainly by upper KS2 the children are supposed to be responsible for their own inhalers.
(Yes, all staff know who are the medical need children, and peers know to get help if necessary)

[poinsettydawg]

Children should start becoming responsible for carrying their own inhalers at primary school. dd2 is in yr 6 and has had an inhaler on her for the last 18 months or so. There is also one at the office just in case of any emergency.

I will expect dd2 to have an inhaler on her at secondary too.

If your dd is prone to attacks, ask for one to be kept at the office as well.

[CardyMow]

At what age should a child be able to self administer an inhaler? My 6yo DS still has to have a spacer with a face mask as he doesn't have enough muscle control to do it without, and he is unable to press down hard enough to get it to spray. This year's class teacher is being incredibly good about it (Y1) but the others in his class are meant to do it themselves. I'm concerned that the Y2 teachers (I know who they will be) next year won't be as helpful. My 6yo DS does have other sn, a muscle problem etc. I was fully capable of doing my inhaler (old style with the powder capsules) at 8yo, but I don't think DS will be able to do it properly without help ever for a long time....

[MaureenMLove]

We ask parents to provide a spare inhaler to keep at school, in case of emergency.

[VicarInaTinselTuTu]

my DD has one at the office and carries one in her bag with her.

[Goblinchild]

Loudlass, if his sn includes poor muscle control then make sure that the school understands that he needs support to administer his inhaler and that he must have it. Go through SENCO, call it reasonable accommodation for sn and give written permission if necessary.

[hocuspontas]

Dd3 had help at infant and junior school with hers.

At the infants' school where I work we ask the children if they want help or want to do it themselves. I don't know about other schools but we have to log all the times an inhaler is used on the children's individual asthma cards so an adult is always on hand to help anyway.

Loudlass - there is no way your ds will be left to self-administer so don't worry.

[AMerryScot]

At our school, the student carries their own inhaler, and they lodge a spare one with the school nurse.

[FolornHope]

ime hte teachers all use them and do sily voices