Generic Inhalers for Schools

Previously it was illegal for Generic Inhalers for Schools to be used in the event of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack and  due to many children being without their own inhaler because it was lost, forgotten, broken or had run out, after four years of campaigning, the law changed in October 2014 to help keep children with asthma safe.

Generic Inhalers for Schools can be bought without prescription which applies to Local Authority Maintained Nurseries, Primary and Secondary Schools, Pupil Referral Units, Academies and Independent Schools in England, Scotland and Wales.

Schools should consider keeping more than one emergency asthma kit, especially if covering more than one site, to ensure that all children within the school environment are close to a kit. The experience of some respondents to the 2014 consultation on guidance for asthma inhalers for emergency use suggested a stock of 5 spacers would be adequate for a typical school. An emergency asthma inhaler kit should include: – a salbutamol metered dose inhaler; – at least two single-use plastic spacers compatible with the inhaler; – instructions on using the inhaler and spacer/plastic chamber; – manufacturer’s information; – a checklist of inhalers, identified by their batch number and expiry date, with monthly checks recorded; – a note of the arrangements for replacing the inhaler and spacers (see below); – a list of children permitted to use the emergency inhaler as detailed in their individual medication plans.

Who can administer a generic salbutamol inhaler?

Within Supporting Pupils with Medication Needs there is no contractual responsibility for staff to administer medicines to pupils. Any member of staff may volunteer to take on these responsibilities, but they cannot be required to do so. Staff who volunteer to help administer an emergency inhaler will fall under the term “designated member of staff” and this implies that they have volunteered to help a child use the emergency inhaler, and been trained to do this, and are identified in the school’s asthma policy as someone to whom all members of staff may have recourse in an emergency. Schools should ensure staff have appropriate training and support, relevant to their level of responsibility. Supporting Pupils with Medication Needs recommends that all staff,particularly PE teachers, should have training or be provided with information about asthma once a year.

Who can a generic salbutamol be administered to?

The emergency salbutamol inhaler should only be used by children: – who have been diagnosed with asthma, and prescribed a reliever inhaler; – OR who have been prescribed a reliever inhaler; AND for whom written parental consent for use of the emergency inhaler has been given. This information should be recorded in a child’s medication plan. A child may be prescribed an inhaler for their asthma which contains an alternative reliever medication to salbutamol (such as terbutaline). The salbutamol inhaler should still be used by these children if their own inhaler is not accessible – it will still help to relieve their asthma and could save their life.

Can you use a generic inhaler on someone who is having an attack for the first time but has not been prescribed an inhaler?

Call 999

If spare inhalers are available, mention this to the call handler / emergency medical dispatcher and follow their guidance.

Guidance for Schools for Salbutamol Inhalers

First Aid for Schools Training Courses