Follow board policies and procedures regarding student health issues. These policies might include topics such as:
- administration of medication to students
- anaphylaxis
- communicable diseases
- first aid and training
- HIV/AIDS
- reporting an accident or injury.
Review board policies, procedures and expectations with regular and occasional staff.
Educate staff about the duty of teachers, principals and vice-principals to accommodate the needs of students with chronic illnesses/conditions, severe physical disability and life-threatening allergies.
Ask the vice-principal and/or office coordinator to brief you concerning school practices for:
- administering medication to students
- managing students with anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, etc.
- responding to injured students.
Ensure that these school practices follow board policies and procedures
Think in terms of both preventive and reactive strategies. Consider what needs to be done before, during and after an injury or accident, an anaphylactic reaction, the administration of medication to students, etc.
The standard of care for a teacher or administrator is that of a prudent parent. The standard is not one of perfection, but asks what a prudent parent, in similar circumstances, would do.
OPC Professional Advice Article: Allergies and Emergency Medical Treatment
(www.principals.ca)
(See chapter on Civil Liability in Schools for more information regarding standard of care.)