Statement

STSWR recognizes that, during the bus trip from home to school and back, it may be necessary to immediately administer the medication epinephrine, using the EPI-PEN auto-injector, to students who have a life-threatening allergic reaction and STSWR supports the transportation Operators implementing this measure.

Procedures

In accordance with the procedure described below and subject to the approval of the Manager of Transportation or a designated person, bus drivers may administer the medication according to the following protocol:

  1. The student’s parent or guardian must have completed and signed the School Board’s Epi-Pen Form which is obtained from the School Board’s Principal and must be signed by a doctor and given to the school.
  2. The student must carry the medication on his/her person.

When a bus driver uses the Epi-Pen auto-injector, he/she does so in accordance with the policy of STSWR and applying the “in loco parentis” principle, not as a health professional.

All students identified as having life-threatening allergic reactions and who may need to have epinephrine administered with the Epi-Pen auto-injector, must hand in the School Board’s Epi-Pen Form duly completed and signed by the appropriate staff.

This request will remain valid until the pupil’s pathological condition requires a new statement from the doctor. It is the responsibility of the child’s parent or guardian to notify the school who then notify STSWR about any changes or about the expiry date of the doctor’s prescription.

Each year, The School Board shall provide the following information to STSWR who will forward information to the school bus operators, who in turn must provide this information to their bus drivers, their dispatcher, and their appropriate staff  members:

  1. The name of the students who have been identified as having allergic reactions.
  2. The school bus route number and transfer bus number.
  3. The name of their school and any other pertinent information.

Once the School Board’s Epi-Pen Form has been completed, the documentation pertaining to each pupil having life threatening allergic reactions will include a legible photocopy of the form, along with the standard information cards, which must include a clear photograph of the student, his/her name and grade, the name of his/her school, his/her school bus route number, information about his/her bus stop, his/her medical disorder, the phone number of the parent or guardian and the family doctor, as well as the location of the Epi-Pen on the child’s person.

School bus operator will coordinate training sessions for their bus drivers at the beginning of each school year, or as required.

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to inform bus drivers about the location of the Epi-Pen on the student’s person.

It is not the responsibility of the bus driver to carry or store Epi-Pen auto-injectors