Medication Guidelines for Overnight Field Trips
Provided Over-the-Counter Medication: For students who do not regularly take medication, but may develop stomach upset or another ache or pain during the trip, three common over-the-counter medications are provided by the school on an “as needed” basis: acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol), and topical diphenhydramine (Benadryl cream). Please complete the permission form for these four medications indicating whether your child may take any of these during the trip.
Not Provided Over-the-Counter Medication: example – allergy medication, motion sickness medication. (Please: no acetaminophen, ibuprofen or bismuth salicylate – they are provided) Dosage may not exceed package labelling (if it does, it becomes a prescription medication – see below). A Parent’s Request for Over the Counter Medication Administration form must be completed for each medication.
Prescription Medication: a Prescription Medication Administration Record must be completed by both the prescribing healthcare provider and the parent FOR EACH MEDICATION. Example: student takes two different prescription medications at the same time OR takes Medication 1 at breakfast and bedtime, and Medication 2 at dinner – in each case, this will be 2 different forms. This would include insulin orders outside the usual school day, antibiotics, over-the-counter medication in dosage that exceeds package labelling, ADHD medication, etc.
Prescription medication already on file at the school “as needed”: examples - epinephrine autoinjectors, asthma inhalers, glucagon, migraine medications – if the school already has such a Prescription Medication Administration Record on file, that order does apply to any field trip (including those longer than the regular school day, including overnight trips); no further paperwork is needed. The medication in the school office will be taken on the field trip. Note: TWO epinephrine autoinjectors are required to go on the trip.
Prescription medication already at school: If a student receives a daily prescription medication at school, and during the field trip, the time it is to be administered is EXACTLY the same (example – at lunchtime), no further paperwork is needed; medication and paperwork from the school office will be taken on the field trip. HOWEVER, if that same medication is to be administered outside the usual school hours (example – at breakfast, at dinner, at bedtime), a new Prescription Medication Administration Record will need to be completed.
How to provide medication:
When: paperwork must be in at least TWO WEEKS before the first day of the field trip; can send medication at that time also, but must be at least FIVE DAYS before field trip
How: an adult must bring medication to school in ORIGINAL packaging, smallest container possible, please. (Sometimes, pharmacist will create a smaller bottle with current label for prescriptions.) If half-pills are required, parent must split them.
How much: maximum number of doses for entire trip PLUS ONE.