If your child has a medical condition and they need to be given medicine to manage it during school hours, it’s important to meet with their teachers and any support staff to discuss a medicine management plan. This way everyone will know when and how to give the medicine, and how to safely store the medicine at school. These can be regular or ‘as needed’ medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor.

Know the school medicines policy

Check with the school to find out what their policy is for managing medicines during school time. You may be asked to supply a letter or medication authority form that has been completed by your child’s doctor.

Some children may be confident to carry and administer their own medicine, such as an asthma inhaler. If your child can manage their own medicines, you should discuss this with the school.

Check with the school about their policy on medicines that have been prescribed or recommended by someone other than a doctor, such as a naturopath or pharmacist.

Emergency medicines

If your child has a medical condition that can get worse quickly and may require emergency medicine, you should notify the school.

Your child’s GP will need to complete an emergency action plan which clearly states the circumstances when a medicine must be given and how to give the medicine.

Some medical conditions can get worse quickly and may need emergency medicine.

These include severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), asthma, diabetes and epilepsy.

If your child has one of these medical conditions, their doctor should complete an emergency action plan for the school that provides clear instructions on what to do in the case of emergency.

Emergency action plans can include:

• signs and symptoms (mild, moderate and severe)
• how to give first aid
• when and how to give medicine
• the dose of medicine
• where the medicine is stored
• when to call an ambulance.

Help your child know their triggers, signs and symptoms

It’s important for your child to know what their early signs and symptoms are and when to tell a teacher if they become unwell. Remind your child to communicate as clearly as possible. For example, tell the teacher or a school friend, 'I have an allergy, and I need help/ I need medicine.'

They should also know what triggers are (what causes their condition to worsen) so they can avoid these if possible.

Help your child describe their symptoms

Children may need help describing how their symptoms feel. You can help them to describe the symptoms, for example, 'my mouth feels swollen', or 'I am feeling wheezy'.

It’s a good idea to practise what your child must do when they feel unwell at school.

Check the plan and medicine

Emergency action plans must be reviewed and updated regularly by the doctor (or healthcare team) who manages your child’s condition.

Make sure the school has the most up-to-date copy of your child’s emergency action plan, and the correct emergency medicine is stored safely at the school with the plan.

Read on for more about triggers, symptoms and emergency action plans for anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy

Signs and symptoms of allergy and anaphylaxis

Even if symptoms of an allergic reaction are mild to moderate, they can develop into anaphylaxis. Mild to moderate symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:

• swelling of lips, face or eyes
• hives or welts on the skin
• abdominal pain or vomiting (these can also be signs of a severe allergic reaction to insect bites or stings).

Symptoms of anaphylaxis are potentially life-threatening and include any one of the following:

• difficult or noisy breathing
• swelling of the tongue
• swelling or tightness of the throat
• difficulty talking or a hoarse voice
• wheeze or persistent cough
• persistent dizziness and/or collapse
• being pale and floppy (in young children).

Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) require immediate life-saving medicine called adrenaline (also called epinephrine). Read more about this medicine below.

ASCIA action plans

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) provide action plans for anaphylaxis. 

An ASCIA action plan for anaphylaxis must be completed and signed by a treating doctor or nurse practitioner.

Your child’s class teacher and any other support staff who are involved with first aid management must read and know how to follow the anaphylaxis action plan and how to give emergency medicine.

Anaphylaxis emergency medicine

Adrenaline (also called epinephrine) is an emergency medicine given via an easy-to-use auto-injector device, such as an EpiPen. The medicine is given as part of an anaphylaxis action plan.

If your child has a serious allergy, or anaphylaxis, you must have an adrenaline auto-injector for use at home and one that is always kept at school. These should be stored safely with a copy of the anaphylaxis action plan.

Use of expired adrenaline auto-injectors

Supply shortages of adrenaline (epinephrine) auto-injectors have occurred in Australia.

All adrenaline auto-injectors will have their expiry clearly shown on the device. It is always best to use an in-date auto-injector. However, in an anaphylaxis emergency, if no in-date device is available, using a recently expired adrenaline autoinjector is better than not using one at all.

Research suggests that recently expired auto-injectors still work. If the medicine is discoloured or cloudy, use an alternative device if easily accessible. If there is no other option then use the cloudy or discoloured medicine. 

For current information about adrenaline auto-injector supplies, talk to your pharmacist.

Medicines Line

You can also call NPS MedicineWise Medicines Line for information about medicines.

Call 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) from anywhere in Australia.

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm AET (excluding NSW public holidays).

If your child has asthma, talk to their teachers about your child's asthma action plan and their usual triggers, symptoms and medicines.

Remember that asthma triggers can get worse at certain times of the year. Bushfire season is a time to be on high alert for asthma symptoms.

Find out more about asthma triggers and bushfire smoke at the National Asthma Council

Before your child starts school, take them to see their GP for a check-up and to review their asthma action plan.

What is an asthma action plan?

An asthma action plan is a written document that outlines the signs and symptoms of asthma, your child’s triggers, and what to do when your child is having an asthma attack.

At the beginning of the school year, give the school a copy of your child’s asthma action plan along with a labelled asthma inhaler and spacer. The action plan and medicine should be kept together and stored safely at school.

Find out more about asthma action plans at the National Asthma Council.

Signs and symptoms of asthma

Signs and symptoms of asthma include:

• breathlessness
• wheezing
• feeling tight in the chest
• continuing cough.

Silent symptoms

Sometimes people with asthma can experience ‘silent symptoms’. This is where the signs of feeling tight in the chest don’t result in the sounds of wheezing and coughing.

Children may not know how to describe silent symptoms of chest tightness, and they might say that they have a 'sore tummy' or that they are 'feeling sick'.

If you child experiences silent symptoms of asthma, it is important for the school to be aware and for this information to be included in their asthma action plan.

Asthma first aid

The National Asthma Council has a downloadable first aid chart that shows how to give first aid for asthma. Make sure the school has a copy in the classroom.

Download the Kids First Aid for Asthma chart

Every child with type 1 diabetes should have a diabetes management plan that includes clear instructions, so teachers know what to do if they become unwell at school.

Before your child starts school, take them to see their diabetes team for a check-up and to review their diabetes management plan.

What is a diabetes management plan?

A diabetes management plan is a written document that has been prepared by your child’s diabetes team and should include:

• if or when your child needs their blood glucose levels checked during the day
• how to manage high blood glucose and low blood glucose levels
• what to do when your child is becoming unwell because of their diabetes
• if your child needs insulin, when and how to give it
• the nominated teachers or support people who will be responsible for your child’s diabetes management at school.

At the beginning of the school year, give the school a copy of your child’s diabetes management plan, along with a blood glucose monitor and labelled insulin if required. The management plan and medicine should be kept together and stored safely at school.

Find out more about diabetes management plans at the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) website 

You can call the NDSS Helpline on 1300 136 588.

Medicines Line

You can also call NPS MedicineWise Medicines Line for information about medicines.

Call 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) from anywhere in Australia.

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm AET (excluding NSW public holidays).

If your child has epilepsy, an epilepsy management plan can help teachers and school staff understand and respond to their needs.

An epilepsy management plan is a written document about your child’s epilepsy that describes:

• the type of seizure they have
• seizure triggers
• the support they need when they are having a seizure
• emergency procedures that should be followed if they have a seizure.

Your child’s doctor can help prepare this management plan.

Find out more about epilepsy management plans at

• Epilepsy Foundation
• Epilepsy Australia

ADHD

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, talk to their teacher. A behaviour management plan helps guide children towards appropriate behaviour with strategies to support them in the classroom.

If your child is prescribed medicine to manage their ADHD, you will need to talk to the school about their medicine management policy.

Anxiety

Some children who are experiencing anxiety may need extra support, especially when anxiety stops them from participating in social or school activities.

If your child has been diagnosed with anxiety, it’s important to let their teachers know, so that the school can support them.

If you are concerned about your child’s mood or behaviour, talk to your GP.

Find out more about childhood anxiety at Beyond Blue

Other health issues

Other issues that can affect children’s health at school include:

• family issues
• learning disabilities
• physical disabilities
• vision or hearing impairment.

If your child is experiencing a medical condition or health issue and may need help, make an appointment with your child’s teacher, school support person or counsellor so you can work out how the school can provide the support they need.

Vaccines and immunisation

Before your child starts school, it’s important to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations.

Read more about commonly given vaccines

• ADHD Australia
• Asthma Australia
• Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
• Autism Spectrum Australia (ASpect)
• Beyond Blue - Healthy Families
• Diabetes Australia
• Epilepsy Australia
• Epilepsy Foundation
• Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
• National Asthma Council: Back to school checklist for kids with asthma
• National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS)
• Raising Children Network
• Understanding learning difficulties: a guide for parents