Medical

See below for medical forms or guidance on medical concerns. If you, as a parent, need to provide medication for your child, to be administered during the school day, please complete the downloadable form at the bottom of this page and send this in via the office.

Asthma

Asthma is a disease of the airways – the breathing tubes that carry air into our lungs. Sometimes it is harder for a person with asthma to breathe in and out, but at other times their breathing is normal. Asthma is a long-term (chronic) disease.

Many people think they have asthma only when they have asthma symptoms. In fact, the airways are sensitive all the time and most people with asthma have permanently irritated (inflamed) airways when not taking regular preventer treatment. From time to time, the airways tighten or become constricted so there is less space to breathe through, leading to asthma symptoms.

Asthma causes three main changes to the airways inside the lungs, and all these can happen together:

• the thin layer of muscle within the wall of an airway can contract to make it tighter and narrower – reliever medicines work by relaxing these muscles in the airways
• the inside walls of the airways can become swollen, leaving less space inside – preventer medicines work by reducing the inflammation that causes the swelling
• mucus can block the inside of the airways – preventer medicines also reduce mucus.

Asthma symptoms can be triggered by different things for different people. Common triggers include colds and flu, allergies, and cigarette smoke.

Schools are committed to protecting the wellbeing of children and young people with severe allergies. This commitment is enshrined in the Education Training and Reform Act 2006 and more specifically in the Victorian Government’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL), which outlines requirements for schools in the management of asthma.

Approximately ninety per cent of all Victorian government schools have a child enrolled who is diagnosed with asthma. The keys to prevent an asthma attack are planning, risk minimisation, awareness and education.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapidly progressive allergic reaction that is potentially life threatening. The most common allergens in school-aged children are peanuts, eggs, tree nuts (e.g. cashews), cow’s milk, fish and shellfish, wheat, soy, sesame seeds, latex, certain insect stings and medications.

The keys to prevention of anaphylaxis are planning, risk minimisation, awareness and education

All schools within the Diocese of Sale have an anaphylaxis management policy.

The following guidelines prepared by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (2017) have been developed to assist all Victorian Schools in planning for, and supporting students with severe allergies.