B.C. defends policy on seizure medication at schools, some families worried kids being put at risk

The province is defending a policy regarding administering seizure medication in schools which some parents feel is putting their children at risk.

The province is defending a policy regarding administering seizure medication in schools which some parents feel is putting their children at risk.

Some families in the B.C. have been notified their children will no longer be given rescue medicine by school staff in the case of a prolonged seizure, instead, a parent or 911 will be called.

The government said the policy is not new and is based on expert advice, but some families are hoping the approach will be reconsidered.

Parent Nadine MacKay lives in Lake Country, and said they’d have to wait 20 minutes for appropriate medical support if her eight-year-old son couldn’t be given the medicine at school if needed.

“They need to be given in a five-minute window. Twenty minutes, we’re looking at permanent brain damage and very dangerous territory,” she said.

“Our personal neurologist is not on board with this, our doctor is not on board with this.”

On Monday, Health Minister Adrian Dix said the policy has nothing to do with saving resources or money in any way, and added the policy is not new.