4.
Health support
planning for students
.
Swimming & Aquatic Consent Forms
Exclusion
Standard Health Support Management
Asthma Management
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4.1
4.1
4.2
4.2
4. 0
HEALTH SUPPORT PLANNING FOR STUDENTS
Refer P48-54 of Swimming & Aquatics Handbook.
Swimming and Aquatic Consent Forms
Each student participating in a swimming or aquatics program must produce a
completed and signed Swimming / Aquatics consent form (available in several
languages on www.decs.sa.gov.au/schoolsport/pages/swimming) before
entering the water.
If a student does not have a consent form on the first day and the teacher can
verify that the form has been sighted, the child may swim that day. A
declaration should be signed by the Teacher and kept on file.
The form must be available on the second day before the student can
swim.
The Instructor in Charge must:

ensure that all medical forms are collected from the school

note any medical conditions

liase with school about any queries.

ensure the instructors sight and record relevant medical information for the
students prior to commencement of lessons

store forms in a readily accessible position at the centre

return the forms to the school on completion of the lessons
These forms are legal documents and must be kept at the Centre at all
times during the program.
Exclusion
The Swimming & Aquatics Handbook gives detailed information on medical
conditions and circumstances requiring exclusion of students with infectious
diseases. (Pages 50 – 54). It may also be necessary for you to discuss
specific exclusion requirements with the Pool Manager
.
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4. 1
Standard Health Support Management
is also important to note the Standard Health Support Management for
Epilepsy, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes (S&A Handbook P53-54) and Open
wounds, bleeding. (S&A Handbook P48.)
NB: All students who have a condition which may cause loss of
consciousness e.g. epilepsy, diabetes, fainting spells etc. must be observed at
all times by a responsible adult.
A teacher or parent should be used to
provide this support.
Asthma management Policy
Please refer to attachment.
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4. 2
DECS Swimming & Aquatics
Asthma Management Policy
Draft – July 2006
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4. 3
CONTENTS
12/02/2016
Details
Asthma First Aid Training ………………………………………
 DECS Requirements
 Where can industry recognised Asthma First Aid
Training be accessed ?
 How frequently is asthma first aid required for DECS
Instructors?
Page
3
Provision of Asthma Emergency Kit (AEK)…………………..
 DECS Requirements
 Aquatic Centres
 How can Asthma Emergency Kits be purchased?
3
Maintenance of Asthma Emergency Kit (AEK)………………
 Expiry Date
 Storage of equipment
o Centre Equipment
o Student Medical equipment, provided by the
family and brought to the program by the
school
 Cleaning of equipment
o Spacer
o Inhaler
o Medication Canister
4
Use of equipment …………………………………………………
 Is it safe to use expired medication?
 Can another student’s, person’s blue/grey reliever
puffer be used?
 What medication can be used to relieve asthma
symptoms in an emergency?
 Is it acceptable to have a blue/grey reliever puffer only
in a first aid kit where storage is a problem, for
example when sailing or windsurfing?
5
Can the student participate?...................................................
 A student’s swimming consent form indicates the
following- can they swim?
 Asthma Management Flow Chart
5
Standard Asthma First Aid Plan ……………………………….
 Asthma First Aid Plan Flow Chart ………………………
6
7
Return to activity policy …………………………………………
Warm up and cool down policy ………………………………..
Recording of incident responsibilities………………………..
School responsibilities for asthma management …………..
8
8
8
8
6
4. 4
DECS SWIMMING & AQUATICS ASTHMA MANAGEMENT POLICY.
The Sport, Swimming & Aquatics Unit has developed the following guidelines for Asthma
Management during a Swimming/Aquatics Program in consultation with Deb Kay, DECS
Manager Interagency Health Care and Nigel Cooper, Clients Services Manager, The Asthma
Foundation of S.A. and Debbie Wright, Training and Development, Swimming & Aquatics.
ASTHMA FIRST AID TRAINING
DECS Requirements:
DECS recommends that all their staff, with students in their care, have basic first aid training
including training in Asthma First Aid.
Swimming Instructors employed by DECS will be required to complete Asthma First Aid
Training before January 2007.
Where can industry recognised Asthma First Aid Training be accessed?
 The Asthma Foundation of S.A. – 1 hour course
 DECS Basic First Aid training currently called Basic Emergency Life Support (BELS)
and provided by Australian Red Cross S.A., St. Johns Ambulance Australia S.A First
Aid and Australian National First Aid Service (ANFAS)
 Royal Life Saving Society Senior First Aid (asthma must be explicitly documented on
the certificate)
 Annual Instructors Conference provided by The Asthma Foundation of S.A.
How frequently is asthma first aid required for DECS Instructors?
All DECS staff with students in their care should receive asthma first aid training at least every
three (3) years.
The Asthma Foundation of S.A. recommends community services consider Asthma First Aid
training every two years, the longer minimum requirement in DECS is in recognition of the fact
that education services have frequent exposure to asthma information and are in a setting
where other staff have also been trained and frequently apply their asthma-related knowledge
and training.
PROVISION OF ASTHMA EMERGENCY KIT (AEK)
DECS Requirements
It is recommended that an Asthma Emergency Kit be available at all DECS Swimming and
Aquatic Sites.
Instructors in Charge are required to ensure that an AEK be included in their standard first aid
kit.
Schools are required to carry an AEK in accordance with the “health support planning”
guidelines and “camps and excursions” guidelines.
Aquatic Centres
It is recommended that an Asthma Emergency Kit be available at all times during aquatic
activities. This will require all instructors, responsible for small groups moving away from the
base, to carry asthma first aid equipment. Where space is a problem, it is recommended that
an “Able Spacer” (designed to have the canister/puffer stored inside it) be used.
How can Asthma Emergency Kits be purchased?
The Asthma Foundation of Australia provides Asthma Emergency Kits to any person who has
completed Asthma First Aid Training.
Currently the cost is $35.00 plus postage for the Bum Bag and a spacer.
A smaller spacer (Able Spacer) can be purchased at an additional cost of $3.80.
If purchasing the Able Spacer as an individual item the cost will be $15.80 plus postage.
An authority card will be provided which will allow you to purchase appropriate reliever
medication from any pharmacy.
Please contact the Asthma Foundation for phone orders or an order form.
The cost of this equipment can be recovered from the centre equipment levy.
MAINTENANCE OF ASTHMA EMERGENCY KIT
Expiry Date
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4. 5




It is the responsibility of the Instructor in Charge to ensure that the medication
included in the Centre AEK never passes its expiry date and all other items are
maintained
It is the responsibility of the School to ensure that the medication included in the
School AEK never passes its expiry date and all other items are maintained
It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to ensure that the medication provided for
their child never passes its expiry date and is provided with the required
documentation.
Life expectancy of the medication is approximately18 months from production (not
necessarily purchase date) but always check the expiry date. This can be affected by
the storing conditions.
Storage of equipment
 Centre Equipment
Kits should be accessible at all times, and stored in a cool place away from maximum
heat and direct sunlight – stored below 30 Degrees C.
Indoor Centres that have an air temperature above 30 degrees C should try to find an
accessible alternative for storage for the kit and other first aid items that require a
cooler temperature for effective storage. Another option is to minimize the time it is
kept in warmer environment e.g. store it in a cooler environment when program is not
in progress. If this is not possible then best practice would be to replace the
medication more frequently.

Student Medical equipment, provided by the family and brought to the program
by the school
It is important that medication is readily available at all times- but stored so that only
those people who need to use the medication can access it.
Best practice requires all medication and other student health-related equipment be
clearly named(in line with DECS “Health support planning” guidelines
www.chess.sa.edu.au > information) and put together in a clearly marked container.
Some medications may require specific management and storage and therefore the
Teacher would need to be present to ensure these requirements are met. Therefore
the management of medication needs to be discussed with the teaching staff and
Instructor in Charge to best suit all situations and ensuring confidentiality as well as
the safety and wellbeing of the student.
Cleaning of equipment
 Spacer
Spacers should be routinely cleaned in hot soapy water and air dried- do not rinse or
towel dry. This would typically occur at the end of each day on which it has been used
(i.e not after each use, but each day)
If blood gets on the spacer it must be discarded.

Inhaler
The inhaler needs to be cleaned if used without a spacer.
Remove the medication canister before washing the blue/grey holder with hot soapy
water and air dry.

Medication canister
The medication canister itself does not require cleaning.
USE OF EQUIPMENT
 Is it safe to use expired medication?
The Asthma Foundation of S.A. advises that expired medication should not be used
as there is no guarantee that it will be effective. However, in an emergency, if the
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4. 6
only available reliever medication is expired, consideration should be given to using it
while waiting for the emergency medical assistance. Advice can be sought from S.A.
Ambulance Service.

Can another student’s, person’s blue/grey reliever puffer be used?
Only blue/grey reliever puffers are effective for asthma first aid.
If reliever medication is not available in the Asthma Emergency Kit (for example it has
been lost/run out) then another person’s blue/grey reliever puffer can be borrowed to
provide standard asthma first aid to manage the EMERGENCY.

What medication can be used to relieve asthma symptoms in an emergency?
The only medication to be used in an emergency is in a blue/grey container – a
reliever.
Other asthma medications will not be effective or appropriate.

Is it acceptable to have a blue/grey reliever puffer only in a first aid kit where
storage is a problem, for example when sailing or windsurfing?
The Asthma Foundation of S.A. advises that a spacer is always required in an
Asthma Emergency Kit.
A student who brings their own medication may not have a spacer (i.e not required as
part of their care plan). The absence of a personal spacer should not result in a
student being excluded from participation.
If storage is a problem, the “Able Spacer” may be a better option.
Refer to “how can Asthma Emergency Kits be purchased?”
CAN THE STUDENT PARTICIPATE?
A student’s swimming consent form indicates the following – can they swim?

Asthma identified, no school care plan, no medication provided
o YES they can swim
First Aid:
You/the teacher can give asthma reliever medication from the Asthma Emergency Kit
if needed, following the 4 x 4 x 4 procedure.

Asthma identified, school care plan, care plan does not require medication before
swimming, no medication provided
o YES they can swim
First Aid:
You/the teacher can give asthma reliever medication from the Asthma Emergency Kit
if needed, following the 4 x 4 x 4 procedure.

Asthma identified, care plan requires medication before swimming, medication is
provided.
o YES they can swim
Asthma First Aid:
Use student’s medication as directed in care plan.

Asthma identified, care plan requires medication before swimming, no medication
provided.
o NO they cannot swim
(Refer to Asthma Management Flow Chart on next page)
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4. 7
ASTHMA MANAGEMENT FLOW CHART
Asthma is identified on consent form
No
Is medication
provided ?
Is a care plan
provided ?
yes
Does the care plan
require medication
to be taken before
swimming ?
No
No
YES Student can swim,
First Aid: use asthma
reliever from Asthma
Emergency Kit
yes
yes
YES Student can
swim
First Aid: use
Student medication
as directed in care
plan
Is medication
provided?
No
NO student cannot
swim
STANDARD ASTHMA FIRST AID PLAN
Four puffs of reliever medication, one puff at a time, with four breaths after each puff
Wait four minutes.
If no relief, repeat procedure.
If still no relief, CALL AN AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY
Continue with asthma first aid until help arrives.
(refer to flow chart on next page)
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4. 8
Updated 25/2/08
4. 9
Asthma care plan
for education, child/care and community support services*
CONFIDENTIAL
To be completed by the DOCTOR and the PARENT/GUARDIAN and/or ADULT STUDENT/CLIENT.
This information is confidential and will be available only to supervising staff and emergency medical personnel.
Name of child/student/client
Date of birth
Family name (please print)
First name (please print)
MedicAlert Number (if relevant)
Date for next review
Description of the condition
Signs and symptoms:
Frequency and severity:
Difficulty breathing
Wheeze
Tightness of chest
Cough
Frequently (more than 5 x per year)
Occasionally (less than 5 x per year)
Daily/most days
Other (please specify)
Triggers (eg exercise, chalk dust, animals, food pollens, chemicals, weather, grasses, lawn mowing)
Curriculum considerations (eg physical activity, camps, excursions, kitchen, laboratory or workshop activities, interrupted attendance)
Additional information attached to this care plan
Medication plan
Individual first and plan (if different to standard first aid—see model over page)
General Information about this person’s condition
Other (please specify)
This plan has been developed for the following services/settings: *
School/education
Child/care
Respite/accommodation
Transport
Outings/camps/holidays/aquatics
Work
Home
Other (please specify)
AUTHORISATION AND RELEASE
Authorised prescriber
Professional role
Address
Telephone
Signature
Date
I have read, understood and agreed with this plan and any attachments indicated above.
I approve the release of this information to supervising staff and emergency medical personnel.
Parent/guardian
or adult student/client
Signature
Family name (please print)
Updated 25/2/08
Date
First name (please print)
4. 10
RETURN TO ACTIVITY POLICY
If the student requires medication during an activity and symptoms are relieved either by
following the 4x4x4 protocol or their own asthma care plan, the student may return to the
activity.
If the student requires medication for the second time during the activity, administer
medication as required, the student may not return to the activity even if symptoms are
relieved.
WARM UP AND COOL DOWN POLICY
It is common for children to take reliever medication prior to activity, as part of the warm up
protocol, to prevent Exercise Induced Asthma. If a student requires medication prior to
activity, this should be documented on their asthma care plan. Reliever medication should be
taken 15 – 10 minutes prior to the activity for the warm up to be effective.
RECORDING OF INCIDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the responsibility of the Instructor in Charge to record all accidents and incidents using a
Centre Hazard/incident/near miss report sheet/book. (refer OHSW Training Program Forms
section 6)
The supervising Teacher is responsible for completing an individual student incident report at
the school.
SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ASTHMA MANAGEMENT











Provide a signed Swimming/Aquatics Consent form for every student
Read all swimming/aquatic consent forms and investigate any specific requirements
Provide a summary of all students health support requirements
Ensure that all medication and health support plans required are present at all times
Ensure that an Asthma Emergency Kit is included in their school first aid equipment
and brought to the program/centre
Ensure that all Supervising teachers have received Asthma First Aid training that
includes acceptable first aid training (as per DECS policy)
Negotiate with the Instructor in Charge for best management of medication and other
health support requirements, ensuring confidentiality is protected and availability
when needed.
Supervise any students that have been excluded from the activity due to incomplete
asthma management requirements- as well as fulfilling their routine supervision for
safety role.
Must not leave the site
Must maintain a supervision for safety role
Supervise students before and after the session, including changing.
4. 11