Ensuring DC students have access to life-saving medications at school
Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, the Access to Emergency Medications Amendment Act of 2023 requires all DC public and public charter schools to stock emergency medications – albuterol, epinephrine (EpiPens), and glucagon - at no cost to schools. Building on the existing EpiPens in Schools Program, this amendment expands access to life-saving medications and provides training for school staff. The new Undesignated Emergency Medications program will be jointly managed by DC Health and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). program will be jointly managed by DC Health and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
Program Requirements:
Schools must:
- Develop and submit an annual school-specific plan for Undesignated Emergency Medications to OSSE.
- Identify at least two (2) trained staff members to serve as Administrators of Medication (AOM).
- Have undesignated albuterol available for students with asthma symptoms.
- Have undesignated glucagon available if there is a student with a known diabetes diagnosis attending the school.
- Have undesignated Epinephrine (Epipens) available for students with severe allergy's.
- Report use of Undesignated Emergency Medication to DC Health within 1 business day, on the incident report portal.
DC Health will:
- Distribute and replace albuterol, epinephrine, and glucagon at no cost to public and public charter schools.
- Offer training to school staff on Administration of Medications (AOM).
- Offer technical support to help schools implement and manage the Undesignated Emergency Medications program.
- Monitor and observe compliance
- Process Incident Reports
OSSE will:
- Annually collect, review and approve of schools submitted UEMA Plans
- Monitor and observe compliance
- Review incident reports
- Implement corrective actions when needed
- Offer resources and technical assistance
Important Definitions-
Designated Medications:
- Prescribed by a physician specifically for a student.
- Provided to the school by the student's family.
- Stored in a health suite or carried by the student (if authorized).
- Intended for use only to treat designated students.
Undesignated Medications
- Stocked by the school for use in emergency situations.
- Used only when a student's prescribed medication is unavailable, expired, or an emergency where a student does not have a documented diagnosis of Asthma or Anaphylaxis filed at school.
- Glucagon may only be administered to students with a documented Diabetes diagnosis who do not have their own medication available.
- Not a substitute for prescribed medications.
Undesignated Emergency Medications:
Below are brief descriptions of each emergency medication included in the Undesignated Emergency Medications program:
Albuterol - relieves symptoms related to asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or other lung conditions.
Glucagon - treats severe low blood sugar caused by diabetes.
Epinephrine - treats severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Epinephrine is already stocked in DC schools under the existing EpiPens in Schools Program.
To prepare your school or learn more about the Undesignated Emergency Medications Program, please contact [email protected].