A student's rescue medication should be administered according to the instructions in their Seizure Action Plan or Seizure Medication Management Order, guided by the following principles:
- Administer rescue medication when the student is exhibiting symptoms described in their individualized seizure plan that warrant it, such as a prolonged seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes or a cluster of seizures without regaining consciousness in between.
- The medication should only be given by trained and authorized school personnel, based on an approval from the prescribing healthcare provider and after the parents or guardians have successfully administered the medication in a non-medically supervised setting previously.
- Rescue medication is typically used to prevent status epilepticus, a medical emergency where a seizure lasts too long (5 minutes or more) or seizures occur closely together, which can cause brain damage.
- Emergency protocols usually include calling 911 if the seizure lasts beyond the initial threshold, if multiple seizures occur in succession, or if the rescue medication does not stop the seizure activity.
- Schools require documentation on the specific medication, dosage, administration instructions, and authorization for administration from healthcare providers and parents, as laid out in seizure action or emergency care plans.
In summary, rescue medication should be administered during a seizure episode when it meets the time or symptom criteria defined in the student’s individualized seizure action plan, primarily if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, occurs in clusters, or other specified conditions that warrant emergency intervention.
