School Nurse Delays Epi, Ignores Action Plan

[name]

I don't even know what to say about this one.  Share with your school and review EAP, IHCP, and policy just to be sure.  At least the article reports best practices accurately.

District 214 apologizes after nurse allegedly delays student with peanut allergy from using EpiPen

According to Lonnie Joy Sommer, after the first bite of a turkey sandwich with pesto served in the Hersey cafeteria that day, Lia, who has dealt with the peanut allergy her entire life, knew immediately that she had been exposed to peanut contamination.

Sommer said her daughter headed to the Hersey nurse's office, accompanied by a friend, where the nurse on staff allegedly advised Lia to take an antihistamine, Benadryl, Sommer said in a letter she read aloud to the Township High School District 214 Board of Education at a Thursday night meeting.

"Lia refused, knowing from previous experience that her symptoms would be masked by the antihistamine, though the anaphylactic reaction would not be halted, and would continue to silently and dangerously escalate undetected," Sommer said.

"Instead of following Lia's Allergy and Anaphylaxis Plan on file in the health office, which clearly states, 'Give EpiPen First!' the nurse opted to have her call me to confirm before administering epinephrine, with my daughter's life held in the balance."

chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/news/ct-ahp-hersey-student-peanut-allergy-tl-0922-20160922-story.html

[PurpleCat]

I heard about this yesterday and was stunned!  What is the point of having Dr's orders if the school nurse does not follow them!  So glad our school nurses are different.  (unfortunately we know this because they have treated children having reactions.)