DCG Shows Up With Inhaler....I Don't Administer Meds

[Unregistered]

I have heard and read too many bad things about giving children over the counter medication! I don't administer over the counter medication. Such as Tylenol, Benadryl, cough and cold medicine. Way to many risks. I will however administer medication that a doctor prescribes. But it has to be in its original container, NOT expired, for the current illness and a signed form for the current condition, dosage and frequency. I know I'm pretty strict about it and more than most but I honestly don't want the responsibility of it. Too many things could go wrong! For over the counter, mom could make a mistake and say the child needs 1 tablespoon but really needs 1 teaspoon.

[Familycare71]

hummm makes sense. And there is always that parent that will find a loop hole someplace. I had a parent who wanted me to do breathing treatments for RSV! Yes. RSV. The gmom tried to hide it under an unknown name (she is a nurse). But I googled. Then told them nope. Sorry charlie. And not only would I not do it....bring a dr note to return too. But thinking on my DD who is bee allergic. I don't know what I would do if I wasn't able to send in an epi.

Exactly this! It has actually been helpful in keeping sick kids home where they should be anyway!
I do like that we can do emergency meds-

[Cradle2crayons]

I'm not OP but yes- for me that is the case. And if I did have a kid who needed one with every cold (like my boys when they were little) I would do what I needed to for a case like that(which is jump through tons of red tape- I think that's why NYS taxes are so high- they use tons of red tape! :- but over all I don't do meds.

Yes, I have noticed the cost of red tape has skyrocketed!!

[Blackcat31]

Yes, RSV is contagious. But it's contagious before they ever get symptoms so everyone was exposed before the child ever was diagnosed. And breathing treatments are sometimes done for 10 days after diagnosis. And they can be contagious even without remaining symptoms for up to a MONTH. Not to mention that a lot of times what we think is the common cold in a child or adult is actually RSV but they don't test for it unless they are under a certain age or have certain symptoms. That's one reason I don't exclude based in a diagnosis but in symptoms instead.

I don't exclude for RSV unless the child isn't well enough for daycare because by the time you know, it's too late to prevent. That's why I hand wash etc as if every child is sick every day.

But I do understand everyone's illness policy etc is different

I think 99% of illnesses are contagious BEFORE symptoms appear but I still exclude for the recommended amount of time to reduce exposure to others, which in turn decreases the likelihood of spread.

With adults/children present that have weakened or underdeveloped immune systems, I think it is better to err on the side of caution.

[MCC]

You would think they would make life a little easier. I don't blame you. So if you get the asthma child interested, they can pay to have your trained?! Just crazy. I get the whole over the counter stuff but sometimes there should be a middle ground.

Thanks for explaining.

If I had a family interested in enrolling that needed an inhaler or epi-pen, I would get the training. It just hasn't been an issue up to this point.

[countrymom]

I also will administer meds, but it has to be dr approved. I've had meds that have to be given 4 times a day, there is no way around it. but I will not give meds that are
expired or brought in by a parent because their child was cranky today so I should give them some before they get picked up (yes, I've had one parent who brings in tylenol every couple of months)

[Unregistered]

i would have not accepted her in care if she needed the inhaler, I don't administer meds of any kind at all

[CedarCreek]

I would give the inhaler if it was prescribed recently and came with a note from her doctor.

I would exclude for rsv most definitely! My sons lungs are weak and rsv could kill him. Older kids don't usually get it but he seems to be the exception

[daycarediva]

In NYS we are not allowed to administer meds without being trained and then following a specific plan and having a RN consult. In my opinion the requirements are full of ways to mess up - like: if I give Advil for a child I have to have a dr note with very specific info filled out (I can barely get a properly filled out physical!) and even if Advil was approved for teething pain I would need an entirely new form to Administer it for ear pain
So I choose not to administer meds.
Just recently we were allowed to administer emergency meds such as an inhaler and Epi pen without going through the entire process or getting a waiver.
Yes it does limit who I can take- and I would probably get certified if a current dck developed asthma or something but I would only use it for that specific reason. I actually like that it limits when kids can come- like for a child that isn't asthmatic - if they require an inhaler for an illness they are probably really sick and should be home anyway

I won't get MAT trained either.

I have a child with a bee allergy (epi pen is here, dr's order is here, and I CAN administer it under emergency circumstances without MAT training)

Have a kid with asthma, same thing.

But for any NON EMERGENCY MEDICATION I cannot give it and I WILL NOT get certified to do so. If they are sick enough to need meds (eg. acetaminophen, ibuprofen) they are too sick to be in care.

[LaLa1923]

Breathing treatments are used very commonly for RSV... I'm not understanding what the problem was there??

Ditto! My son had RSV and he had to have treatments around the clock!!

[dingledine]

If I didn't administer meds, I wouldn't have accepted the inhaler, and if the mom thought that was a problem, I wouldn't have accepted the child. If it seemed dangerous, I would not have accepted the child. I do meds, but even things like diaper cream needs a special 90 day permission form, and I have to log it.

[Angelsj]

Ahh I see. I administer meds if all types. Heart medications, meds through feeding tubes etc... By one thing I won't do,,,


>>>>>administer an expired med or one that isn't prescribed for a current condition<<<<

Nope, won't happen.

This. I administer a lot of meds, legally and properly for the right need. Expired or for a random condition not prescribed for?? Um...no

[Angelsj]

Breathing treatments are used very commonly for RSV... I'm not understanding what the problem was there??

I think it was more that the child had RSV..and she did not want the child there at all, more so than the fact that he needed nebs.

[Angelsj]

I have heard and read too many bad things about giving children over the counter medication! I don't administer over the counter medication. Such as Tylenol, Benadryl, cough and cold medicine. Way to many risks. I will however administer medication that a doctor prescribes. But it has to be in its original container, NOT expired, for the current illness and a signed form for the current condition, dosage and frequency. I know I'm pretty strict about it and more than most but I honestly don't want the responsibility of it. Too many things could go wrong! For over the counter, mom could make a mistake and say the child needs 1 tablespoon but really needs 1 teaspoon.

You can do what you want with your business. However, you should be aware enough of the typical dosage of a medication to know if that kind of mistake is being made.

[Unregistered]

Breathing treatments are used very commonly for RSV... I'm not understanding what the problem was there??

I got that she thought that RSV is a reason to exclude + mom tried to hide it