Another epi pen question

[boiler717]

So I just found out that our school keeps one Epi Pen in the classroom and one in the office. I’m a little stressed because of “don’t separate epi pens” but think it might be okay because both would still be accessible during the day (I assume so, going to confirm). I think the rationale is classroom because most of the day is there, but office in case needed outside / special and classroom is further away. Thoughts?

[whattheheck]

Personally I would consider that just fine because you can still get the second dose in the necessary time frame which - in my understanding - not a medical person - is typically five to fifteen minutes.

[redheadk]

I would prefer that. As a teacher, my classroom was often locked if we were not in the room. Having an epipen in both places and knowing they are always in both places would give time to get the first dose in a timely manner while retrieving the second dose if the first needed to be used.

ETA: Also, if that is the procedure followed by the rest of the school, I would definitely stick to it because that is what everyone will be familiar with. If something happens and his epipen is needed, the adults will act based on what they know. Students are not always with their homeroom teacher and the aides, specials teachers, etc, that may be monitoring the class may not know that this one kid's epipens are kept together in a single place. What if they go to the wrong place first, expecting it to be there?

[pooh8402]

As a nurse, I actually prefer that. One in the immediate vicinity of the child, one also close by if needed.

[AdaraMarie]

They don't do this at my dd's school, but I think it's a good idea.

[court26]

I don’t think I would be opposed to this, especially if it was a widely known plan! I was so worried that something would happen and the nurse wouldn’t get there in time when DS was in kinder that he wore his meds in a Cars fanny pack ha. It was a big school and a lot of kids and one nurse so we went through the list of who was trained throughout the building and I finally relaxed and he stopped wearing the meds about halfway through the year. I swear I’m not as extra as that sounds. But having them in separate places sounds good!

[magpie]

I don't think it's a bad idea at all, but I wonder if the school could get an epipen to keep in the office for any child who might need one? My school keeps a set of epipens in the office. It isn't assigned to any particular student, but it's mounted in an alarmed glass case on the wall (right next to the defibrillator). If you open the case, the alarm goes off (hopefully to bring help). The school nurse trains the office staff as well as many teachers in the building in how to use it at the start of the year (plus, kids with known allergies submit an allergy plan, which goes to all their teachers at the start of the year).

From quick googling, it looks like they have a program to supply schools with a free pen for this use:
www.epipen.com/en/hcp/for-health-care-partners/for-school-nurses


edited to add that we keep my child's epipen in her classroom (the teacher usually puts it on a shelf or in her desk drawer), but I think it's great to have a centralized place in school where everyone knows there's a pen for any child who might have a reaction, since the classroom teacher is really the only person who knows where her personal pen is stored.

[jordylee]

I would be extremely happy about this setup. Always having one in both places greatly increases the odds of getting the first dose in ASAP if the kid is not in their home room.

[vamoose]

We keep a full set in my son’s classroom and a full set in the office. They require a set in the office, and I am more comfortable having one close by in his classroom. That could be a good option depending on insurance coverage for the epi pens.

[boiler717]

We also need two inhalers (one in each location) plus the inhaler for our home and insurance is being difficult.

[vamoose]

Jul 27, 2021 10:15:58 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

We also need two inhalers (one in each location) plus the inhaler for our home and insurance is being difficult.

Ugh. I'm sorry. These things can be $$$$.

I have been thinking about the insurance coverage question lately. In my ideal world, I would have 6 sets of epic pens - one for myself, one for my husband, one for his classroom, one for the office, and two for two different after school activities (parkour and tennis have both said they can keep a set on hand in the office so we don't forget to do the hand off). Is that reasonable? I'm not sure. My insurance sure doesn't think so lol. 

[CloudBee]

Jul 27, 2021 10:15:58 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

We also need two inhalers (one in each location) plus the inhaler for our home and insurance is being difficult.

Has your doctor written the prescription for 2 inhalers? My son's are always written this way, as the pediatrician knows we will fill less often, and have enough to keep one in my son's karate bag, and one at home or in my purse. Insurance has never pushed back. This is for his albuterol, not his steroid. 

With EpiPens (we've needed a handful of times for my son already) we have enough refills on file that I can fill one, then 4 weeks later fill again.

When we've HAD to use the EpiPen, either the pharmacist or doctor has notified insurance that we need a replacement ASAP and it's waived. They basically just don't want you stockpiling them. 

I know every insurance company and plan works differently, but hope this helps. ^

FWIW I "would" be very comfortable with the plan of 1 Epi in the classroom, and the other in the office. That's a very safe approach.

[SusanBAnthony]

Jul 27, 2021 11:51:59 GMT -5 vamoose said:

Jul 27, 2021 10:15:58 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

We also need two inhalers (one in each location) plus the inhaler for our home and insurance is being difficult.

Ugh. I'm sorry. These things can be $$$$.

I have been thinking about the insurance coverage question lately. In my ideal world, I would have 6 sets of epic pens - one for myself, one for my husband, one for his classroom, one for the office, and two for two different after school activities (parkour and tennis have both said they can keep a set on hand in the office so we don't forget to do the hand off). Is that reasonable? I'm not sure. My insurance sure doesn't think so lol. 

Even as young as Kinder, the kids I know carried their own epipens in a fanny pack to deal with this. Seems like it would also be faster because it is literally on the kid.

[vamoose]

Jul 27, 2021 16:40:24 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

Jul 27, 2021 11:51:59 GMT -5 vamoose said:

Ugh. I'm sorry. These things can be $$$$.

I have been thinking about the insurance coverage question lately. In my ideal world, I would have 6 sets of epic pens - one for myself, one for my husband, one for his classroom, one for the office, and two for two different after school activities (parkour and tennis have both said they can keep a set on hand in the office so we don't forget to do the hand off). Is that reasonable? I'm not sure. My insurance sure doesn't think so lol. 

Even as young as Kinder, the kids I know carried their own epipens in a fanny pack to deal with this. Seems like it would also be faster because it is literally on the kid.

Our old elementary school didn't allow any kids to self carry epi pens (they said it was district policy...). We moved over covid and I haven't asked the new district. My son's allergist said she usually has kids start to self carry around 5th grade (or later, depending on maturity). I'm sure different doctors feel differently about that. My son has ADHD and even though he is going into fifth grade, I don't think he is quite there maturity wise to be responsible for always having his epi pens with him. 

[jg183]

we had to have our dr petition insurance once when we needed a set for daycare and school and then sets for home. Trust me, I'm not just hoarding extras!