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Board hears update to anaphylaxis policy adding nasal‑spray epinephrine and stock medication
Summary
School health staff presented updates to Policy 3420 to include undesignated epinephrine nasal spray in addition to auto-injectors and described who may administer stock medication; district has received nasal spray supplies this week but EpiPen supplies remain on backorder.
District health staff presented updates to Policy 3420 on anaphylaxis prevention and response, highlighting two primary changes: adding nasal‑spray epinephrine to the policy language and clarifying operational administration by nurses and trained staff.
"Now it's going to say epinephrine and nasal spray," Jen said, describing the change from language that previously referenced only epinephrine auto-injectors. She noted a statewide standing order was recently signed that allowed nasal‑spray epinephrine, enabling districts to obtain undesignated nasal sprays. As Jen told the board, "We just received those this week," while adding that EpiPen auto‑injectors ordered through a program remain on back order.
Staff emphasized the nasal spray is not approved for people under 66 pounds at this time, so injections will still be necessary for smaller children. Jen also explained that undesignated stock can permit students to remain in school when families face barriers to obtaining prescribed devices: "When people are not able to get those, we exclude those kids from school... But if we have stock epinephrine on-site... the kids can come as long as we have their note from their doctor."
The policy language shifts some requirements from "will" to "may" maintain stock, reflecting current supply and standing-order constraints and operational discretion. The board received the presentation and discussion but did not record a separate vote on the policy in open session during this meeting.
