Administering Medicines
If a child attending United Adventure Camps requires prescription medication of any kind, their parent or carer must complete a Permission to administer medicine form in advance. Staff at the United Adventure Camps will not administer any medication without such prior written consent.
Ideally children should take their medication before arriving at the Camp. If this is not possible, children will be encouraged to take personal responsibility for their medication, if appropriate. If children carry their own medication (eg asthma inhalers), the Camp staff will offer to keep the medication safe until it is required. Inhalers must be labelled with the child’s name.
Prescription medication
United Adventure Camps can only administer medication that has been prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist. However, if a medicine contains aspirin we can only administer it if it has been prescribed by a doctor. All medication provided must have the prescription sticker attached which includes the child’s name, the date, the type of medicine and the dosage.
Non-prescription medication
If a child requires a non-prescription medication to be administered, we will consider this on a case by case basis after careful discussion with the parent or carer. We reserve the right to refuse to administer non-prescription medication.
Procedure for administering medication
A designated staff member will be responsible for administering medication or for witnessing self-administration by the child. The designated person will record receipt of the medication on a Medication Log, will check that the medication is properly labelled, and will ensure that it is stored securely during the session.
Before any medication is given, the designated person will:
- Check that the Camp has received written consent
- Take steps to check when the last dosage was given
- Ask another member of staff to witness that the correct dosage is given.
When the medication has been administered, the designated person must:
- Record all relevant details on the Record of Medication Given form
- Ask the child’s parent or carer to sign the form to acknowledge that the medication has been given.
When the medication is returned to the child’s parent or carer, the designated person will record this on the Medication Log.
If a child refuses to take their medication, staff will not force them to do so. The manager and the child’s parent or carer will be notified, and the incident recorded on the Record of Medication Given.
Specialist Training
Certain medications require specialist training before use, eg Epi Pens. If a child requires such medication the manager will arrange appropriate training as soon as possible. It may be necessary to absent the child until such training has been undertaken. Where specialist training is required, only appropriately trained staff may administer the medication.
Changes to Medication
A child’s parent or carer must complete a new Permission to Administer Medication form if there are any changes to a child’s medication (including change of dosage or frequency).
Long term conditions
If a child suffers from a long-term medical condition the Camp will ask the child’s parents to provide a medical care plan from their doctor, to clarify exactly what the symptoms and treatment are so that the Camp has a clear statement of the child’s medical requirements.
Managing children with allergies, or who are sick or infectious
We provide care for healthy children and promote health through identifying allergies and preventing contact with the allergenic substance and through preventing cross infection of viruses and bacterial infections.
Procedures for children with allergies
When parents/carers start their children at the setting they are asked if their child suffers from any known allergies. This is recorded on the camp attendance form and also on staff area wall.
If a child has an allergy, a risk assessment form is completed to detail the following:
- The allergen (i.e. the substance, material or living creature the child is allergic to such as nuts, eggs, bee stings, cats etc.)
- The nature of the allergic reactions e.g. anaphylactic shock reaction, including rash, reddening of skin, swelling, breathing problems etc.
- What to do in case of allergic reactions, any medication used and how it is to be used (e.g. Epipen).
- Control measures
- such as how the child can be prevented from contact with the allergen.
Parents/carers train staff in how to administer special medication in the event of an allergic reaction.
Generally, no nuts or nut products are used within the setting.
Parents/carers are made aware so that no nut or nut products are accidentally brought in, for example to a party.
At all times the administration of medication must be compliant with the Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and follow procedures based on advice given in Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings (DfES 2005)
Procedures for children who are sick or infectious
If children appear unwell during the session, have a temperature, sickness, diarrhoea or pains, particularly in the head or stomach the Site Manager/Team Leader calls the parents/carers and asks them to collect the child, or send a known carer to collect on their behalf.
If a child has a temperature, they are kept cool, by removing top clothing, sponging their heads with cool water, but kept away from draughts.
In extreme cases of emergency, the child should be taken to the nearest hospital and the parent/carer informed; all management team have their cars insured for business purposes.
Parents/carers are asked to take their child to the doctor before returning them to the setting; the setting can refuse admittance to children who have a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea or a contagious infection or disease.
Where children have been prescribed antibiotics, parents/carers are asked to keep them at home for 48 hours before returning to the setting.
After diarrhoea, parents/carers are asked to keep children home for 48 hours or until a formed stool is passed.
The settings have a list of excludable diseases and current exclusion times, but the parents/carers also receive one in their information packs. The full list can be obtained from www.patient.co.uk and includes common childhood illnesses such as measles; we can provide information sheets relating to specific diseases as needed.
Nits and head lice
Nits and head lice are not an excludable condition, although in exceptional cases a parent/carer may be asked to keep the child away until the infestation has cleared.
On identifying cases of head lice, all parents/carers are informed and asked to treat their child and all the family if they are found to have head lice.
Further guidance #
Managing medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings (DfES 2005)
| Symptoms | When the child may return |
| Diarrhoea and/or vomiting | 48 hours from last episode of Diarrhoea or vomiting Must not swim for 2 weeks after last episode. |
| Typhoid* | Some children may need to be excluded because they may find necessary hygiene practices difficult. Always consult Head Office. Must not swim for 2 weeks after last episode |
| Dysentery | Some children may need to be excluded because they may find necessary hygiene practices difficult. Always consult Head Office. Must not swim for 2 weeks after last episode |
| Flu | When recovered Must not swim for 2 weeks after last episode |
| Tuberculosis* | Always consult Head Office Not usually spread from children. |
| Whooping Cough | 5 days from commencing antibiotics or 21 days from onset of illness if no antibiotic treatment After treatment none infectious coughing takes place. |
| Athletes foot | No restriction Treatment is recommended but not serious |
| Chicken Pox | 5 days from onset of rash Pregnant staff may be vulnerable. |
| German Measles | 5 days from onset of rash Pregnant staff may be vulnerable. |
| Impetigo | Until lesions are crusted or healed Antibiotics may speed healing |
| Measles* | 5 days from onset of rash Pregnant staff may be vulnerable. |
| Ringworm | Upon commencement of treatment Treatment important, scalp ringworm requires visit to GP, pets may need treatment also. |
| Scabies | After first treatment Two treatments required 1 week apart. Close, regular contacts should also be treated. |
| Scarlet Fever* | 5 days from commencing antibiotics |
| Shingles | After all wounds have stopped weeping or covered. Spread by very close contact. Can cause chicken pox in those who have not had it. Pregnant staff may be vulnerable |
| Warts and Verrucae | No restriction Verrucae should be covered for sport/swimming |
| Diphtheria* | No return without consultation with Head Office Preventable by vaccination |
| Head Lice | No restriction Treatment if live lice seen – parents use combing |
| Hepatitis A* | No return without consultation with Head Office Good hygiene should prevent spread. Great care required when clearing body fluid spillages |
| Hepatitis B* and C* | No restriction As above |
| HIV/AIDS | No restriction As above |
| MeningococcalMeningitis*/septicaemia* | When recovered Preventable by vaccination |
| Meningitis viral* | No restriction |
| Mumps* | 5 days from onset of swollen glands Preventable by vaccination |
