Preschool not wanting to administer Diastat

[petealicat]

Hello all,
I just joined (see my newby note over in the Foyer). So we're back in the US and I just found a great little Montessori with a half day program a few mornings per week. Perfect. Except they refuse to administer Diastat if my daughter has a tonic clonic longer than 5 minutes. They said they don't have a full time nurse and their license doesn't allow them to administer Diastat. For some reason they can administer Epi Pens, however, so that seems kind of odd to me. Has anyone else dealt with this? What can I do? Thanks!
Allison

 

[Endless]

Hello,

And welcome!

Administration of Diastat has been a topic of conversation in here a few times. What rights your daughter have may vary by state. Researching your state's specific laws may help. Here are some resources.

This is a legal brief on your daughter's rights under the ADA, provided by the epilepsy foundation: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsylegal/upload/diastatschool.pdf

Your school isn't public, so this may not apply. But here's a summary of the laws for pulbic schools, by state.

http://www.womeningovernment.org/files/file/a-z/DiastatinSchoolsChartCurrent2.pdf
http://www.diastat.com/13-Nursing/1.1-State_Legislation.html

Here are some other resources:
http://www.epilepsy.com/node/622729
http://askaschoolnurse.com/responsibilities-and-tasks/emergency-medications/diastat.html

Good luck. Will you keep us posted?

 

[petealicat]

Talked to the school nurse...

Hello,
Thanks for your welcome, responses, and resources. I sent a whole bunch of info to the school, and today the nurse and I met. She explained that the Colorado licensing for day care (which covers this Montessori school) does not allow any rectal medication to be given. She did, however, reassure me that the moment Chloe has a seizure, the EMTs will be called, and typically they can be at the school within 3 minutes and the school will give the EMTs the Diastat to administer. This was done previously for a child who had a tonic clonic. I feel better, but I would feel better still if they would administer it themselves. But at least I feel safer letting her go to school for her 3.5 hours per day.
Thanks,
Allison