Maricopa County program equips 730 schools with on-site epinephrine, albuterol and naloxone

Maricopa County’s School Stock Medication Program lets participating schools obtain a prescription and training to keep emergency medications such as epinephrine, albuterol and naloxone (Narcan) on site, county and school health officials said.

The program matters because school staff often cannot reach parents during respiratory or allergic emergencies, school nurses said, and having trained staff and stocked medicine can allow faster treatment before emergency medical services arrive.

School nurse Rachel Muth said reaching parents during an acute asthma episode can be difficult. “In the past, if I had somebody that was having an acute episode of asthma, they didn't have an inhaler. I would start calling the parents. It's not easy to get in touch with parents, especially parents that work or they don't have a phone or they can't carry their phone,” Muth said. She told meeting organizers that when an inhaler is not available staff try measures such as warm water and breathing exercises and keep “our fingers crossed that it doesn't progress to the point where you have to call 911.” Muth said she keeps both full‑size and junior epinephrine on hand.

Public health nurse Natalia Rocha described how training and on‑site medication can change an outcome. Rocha said there was “an instance where somebody had a bite. A child was playing on the playground, and so they had a reaction to it, and it turned into [an] anaphylactic reaction. The individual who was trained … was able to grab the epinephrine, administer the medication, and then call 911 per the protocol. So they potentially save[d] some a child's life,” Rocha said.

Rocha and county materials said the program provides dedicated training in administering naloxone (Narcan), epinephrine and albuterol, and that any school staff can take the class. The county said 730 schools have enrolled in the School Stock Medication Program; enrollment allows schools to acquire a standing prescription so rescue medications can be kept on site.

No formal policy change or new funding decision was made in this audio excerpt; the remarks described an existing program and recounted how trained staff used on‑site medication in an emergency. Officials emphasized staff training and legal protocols to call 911 after administering medication.

Officials advising schools said the primary goals are quicker access to lifesaving medication when parents cannot be reached and ensuring staff are trained to follow protocol after administration.

Additional program details, including eligibility, how to enroll and any funding sources for training or medication, were not specified in the excerpt.