If you have a non-verbal or non-speaking child or a child with epilepsy or severe allergies you need to know this. When your child is on an APS bus, the driver and the dispatcher do not have access to medical records.
Last fall, I received a call from the Office of Transportation that my son had a seizure on his bus ride home from school. My son has had seizures almost daily, over many years. This was the first instance of a seizure on the bus. The driver called 911 and the EMTs collected my son from the bus and took him to Virginia Hospital Center. I hurried over to the hospital, worried, but not frantic. His seizures typically resolve quickly and I have been called to the ER before when he has been transported from school. He is always ready for mom to take him home but is none the worse for wear. However, when he seizes at school, an administrator rides with him in the ambulance. The EMTs have the opportunity to speak to his teachers and the school nurse.
I sat in the ER room with my son waiting for discharge. The EMTs who brought him in came back to find me. They wanted me to know that when they received him into their care, they had no information on his health conditions or present medications. They were concerned that this not happen again.
I understand that HIPAA protects us from having private medication information in the public domain and that keeping private medical records on a school bus would be impractical and difficult to ensure confidentiality. It might be possible that the dispatcher could convey this information to EMTs but that is a system that has not been explored.
My solution is this: I have attached a medical ID tag to the frame of my son’s wheelchair. It contains the relevant information and contacts to assist him in case of seizures or other emergencies. This type of band could also be attached to a backpack or a seat belt. Another option could be a RoadID band for an ankle or wrist, or if overly sensitive, the tag can be put on the kids’ shoes. RoadID has a number of very affordable options, including one where you can just call the toll-free number and get access to complete medical records.
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