The Emmetsburg Community School District seeks to provide a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors who are at risk of severe allergic reactions. Therefore, it is the policy of the district to annually obtain a prescription for epinephrine delivery systems from a licensed health care professional, in the name of the school district, for administration by a school nurse or personnel trained and authorized to a student or individual who may be experiencing an anaphylactic reaction.
Procurement and maintenance of supply: The district shall stock a minimum of the following for each attendance center:
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One pediatric dose and one adult dose epinephrine delivery system
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One pediatric and one adult dose bronchodilator canister and spacer;
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One dose of naloxone or other opioid antagonist.
The supply of such medication shall be maintained in a secure, easily accessible area for an emergency within the school building, or in addition to other locations as determined by the school district.
The school nurse shall routinely check stock medication and document in a log monthly:
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The expiration date;
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Any visualized particles or color change for epinephrine delivery systems, or
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Bronchodilator canister damage.
The employee shall be responsible for ensuring the district replaces, as soon as reasonably possible, any logged epinephrine delivery systems bronchodilator canister or spacer or opioid antagonist that is empty after use, damaged or, close to expiration., The district shall dispose of stock medications and delivery devices in accordance with state laws and regulations.
Training: A school nurse or personnel trained and authorized may provide or administer any of the medication listed in this policy from a school supply to a student or individual if the authorized personnel or school nurse reasonably and in good faith believes the student or individual is having an anaphylactic reaction, respiratory distress, asthma or other airway-constricting disease, or opioid overdose. Training to obtain a signed certificate to become personnel authorized to administer an epinephrine delivery systems bronchodilator canister or spacer or opioid antagonist shall consist of the requirements of medication administration established by law and an annual anaphylaxis, asthma, other airway-constricting disease, opioid overdose training program approved by the Department of Education. .
Authorized personnel will be required to provide a procedural skills demonstration to the school nurse demonstrating competency in the administration of stock epinephrine delivery systems to retain authorization to administer stock epinephrine auto-injectors if the following occur:
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Failure to administer an epinephrine delivery systems to a student or individual by proper route, failure to administer the correct dosage, or failure to administer an epinephrine auto-injector according to generally accepted standards of practice (“medication error”); or
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Accidental injection of an epinephrine auto-injector into a digit of the authorized personnel administering the medication (“medication incident”).
Reporting: Authorized personnel will contact the school nurse or emergency medical services (911) immediately after a stock bronchodilator canister is administered to a student or individual. The school nurse retains accountability for professional nursing judgment with the administration of stock bronchodilators and whether to contact emergency medical services in accordance with Iowa laws. The district will contact emergency medical services (911) immediately after a stock epinephrine delivery systems or stock opioid antagonist is administered to a student or individual. The school nurse or authorized personnel will remain with the student or individual until emergency medical services arrive.
Within 48 hours, the district will report to the Iowa Department of Education:
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Each medication incident with the administration of stock epinephrine, bronchodilator canister or spacer, or opioid antagonist;
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Each medication error with the administration of stock epinephrine, bronchodilator canister or spacer, or opioid antagonist; or
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The administration of a stock epinephrine delivery systems bronchodilator canister or spacer, or opioid antagonist.
As provided by law, the district, board, authorized personnel or school nurse, and the prescriber shall not be liable for any injury arising from the provision, administration, failure to administer, or assistance in the administration of an epinephrine delivery systems bronchodilator canister or spacer, or opioid antagonist provided they acted reasonably and in good faith.
The superintendent may develop an administrative process to implement this policy.
This is a mandatory policy.
NOTE: Districts are not required by law to stock and maintain a supply of epinephrine delivery systems. However, if a district decides to stock and maintain a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors, the board is required to establish a policy.
NOTE: For additional information and resources regarding epinephrine auto-injectors, please visit the “School Nurse Administrative Resources” section of the Iowa Department of Education’s website, located at https://www.educateiowa.gov/administrative-resources-school-nurses.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 135.185; 279.8.
281 I.A.C. 14.3.
Cross Reference: 507.2 Administration of Medication
Approved 3/16/16 Reviewed 7-19-17 Revised 7/15/26
