D202 To Use Undesignated Asthma Medicine In Emergencies

PLAINFIELD, IL — If a Plainfield School District 202 student suffers an asthma emergency while on campus, staff have been authorized to use an undesignated medicine, officials said.

The district implemented the Resources for Every School Confronting Unexpected Emergencies, or RESCUE for short, program that is intended to provide timely and life-saving help to students, staff or visitors who experience any sudden respiratory distress.

Trained personnel or a school nurse are allowed to administer the medication when someone is in respiratory distress in school or during school-sponsored activities.

Undesignated asthma medication refers to emergency inhalers that are not prescribed to a specific individual. The medicine is available in strategic locations within schools, including the nurse's office, with athletic trainers or in other areas, according to a news release.

"District 202 remains steadfast in its mission to create a healthy and nurturing learning environment for all students," Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Mina Griffith said in a statement. "The implementation of undesignated asthma medication in schools reflects our unwavering dedication to the well-being of the students, staff, and community we serve."

The program is funded using a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services.