Do substitute teachers need medical info about students?

Do substitute teachers need medical information for the individual students?

This question recently became a reality for me as I handled a medical emergency in class while subbing in a 5th-grade math classroom.

Last week, a student had a seizure in my classroom. I was not aware of her seizure disorder and that seizures had been occurring more frequently in school. I would have loved to be more prepared for the possibility of her having a seizure in class.

Am I entitled to that information as a substitute teacher?

As a parent of a student with a seizure disorder, I would be upset if the adults in charge of my kid were not made aware of her potential to have a seizure in class. Her medical information ought to be provided to subs if the potential for it to affect their classroom exists.

I was subbing in a 5th-grade math classroom. During independent practice work time, I was assisting a group of students, and all of a sudden, several students came and got me. A student in my class was having a prolonged absence seizure. Thankfully for that student and me, I have experience with that type of seizure because of my daughter.  I am proud of how her peers knew about her condition, reacted to the situation correctly, and got her help when she needed it. My concern, though, is what if she were with a sub who did not have experience with absence seizures. What if the sub felt she was being defiant or having a fit?

This student was unresponsive, but her eyes were open, and her arms crossed as if she were protesting something. After making her safe and sending students for another classroom teacher to help, we were able to call the nurses and principals down and get her the medical attention that she needed.

Despite my experience with seizures, I was overwhelmed by the experience, and it took me about 30 minutes to calm myself down. Not only was this my first classroom emergency, but I was not aware that this child had a seizure disorder.

I later found out that this student has been having seizures in school more frequently and had two in school the week prior. While I understand privacy requirements, as a substitute teacher in her classroom, this information would have been beneficial for me to keep an eye on this student while she was in my class.

This situation made me wonder about the guidelines for providing substitutes with pertinent medical information about students.

I have been in schools where this information is available in the sub binder regarding individual students with medical and behavioral needs. Teachers don't consistently provide this information to subs. Information regarding a student's seizure disorder was not provided to me as a sub when it was needed. To me, this is a problem.

As parents, how do we make sure our kids' pertinent information is provided to the adults in charge when they need it? 

-Abby, Guest Blogger

Seizure Information for Schools and Teachers

Although I had already published one edition of my schools and teachers book, I kept getting more information...some of it quite encouraging!! Did you know that many states in the USA are now working to adopt laws for schools regarding seizure training? How wonderful! If only that had been done before my son's school "made him" leave.

But now...I unveil for you, as of December 15 2019, Edition 2 of a book I believe ALL U.S. schools, teachers, and parents of school-age epileptics should have:

Paperback Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1885615566

Also available as an e-book/Kindle at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082SZTF2G .

The Layperson's Guide to Epilepsy Series

I am a member of several epilepsy groups in Facebook. It really helps to connect with others in (basically) the same boat. I have learned so much, and cried when a life is extinguished because of a seizure. Recently, it was suggested that I expand the scope of my books even further, so the is what I came up with for this book series: Vol 1: Epilepsy – One Mother’s Perspective Vol 2: What is Epilepsy? Vol 3: So You Have Seizures. What Now? Vol 4: Seizures and SUDEP Vol 5: Seizure Information for Family and Friends Vol 6: Seizure Information for Schools and Teachers Vol 7: Seizure Information for Bosses and Businesses Vol 8: Seizure Logbook: Track Seizures, Medications, Side Effects, Appointments and More Vol 9: Five-Year Seizure Diary (many different covers) Here is a link that I hope will take you to the books that are available this far. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Vikki+Lawrence&i=stripbooks&ref=mw_dp_a_s

Medical Information Sheet

I hate going to each new doctor …whether for epilepsy or some other reason … and having to write down from memory all of our meds and the doses, all the tests done, diagnoses, side effects of meds that you tried, hospitalizations … ALL of it. As time progresses, it gets harder and harder to remember the little details.

I started a file on the computer, noting all of these things, and more. I’d keep it updated, and printed out a copy before we left for any medical appointment. For hospitalizations, I took several copies… for admitting, nurses, surgeons, techs… anyone who provided care for my epileptic son.

As a side note, I have a severe allergy to a chemical found in most soaps, lotions, tape, gels… in almost everything in a hospital. When I went in for my breast cancer surgeries, I even wrote on my arm in permanent marker “see medical sheet for allergies”.

I’m suggesting that you too make a list for you and the other members of your family who have an on-going health crisis. Include the following information in as much detail as possible (my son’s med info sheet is over 3 pages long!!):
-your full name/what you prefer to be called
-anything you are allergic to & what your reaction is
-name & contact info of all your doctors
-name, address & phone number for current pharmacy
-list of ALL current meds, doses, frequencies
-health history (you AND immediate family)
-info about first seizure (when, where, what, how treated, etc)
-timeline for seizures
-meds tried for seizures, why stopped, side effects
-what else tried for your seizures
-surgeries (not just for seizures)
-hospitalizations for any reason

Give as much information as possible that might be relevant to doctors understanding you and your health.

REMINDER: Don’t put social security numbers or birthdates on the sheet. While most people in medical facilities are honest, why make it easy for the non-honest people to steal your identity?

STAY STRONG. Vikki