Advocacy

Oklahoma

Overall, meets nine of 23 core policy standards and two of 13 extra credit indicators. Below are the standards that Oklahoma meets.

The 2019 State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools ranks the states with the best public policies for people with asthma, food allergies, anaphylaxis and related allergic diseases in U.S. elementary, middle and high schools.

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Medication and Treatment Policies

Meets five of 12 core policy standards in this category:

1. State requires physician’s written instructions to be on file to dispense prescription medication to students.checkmark
2. State policy ensures students’ right to self-carry and self-administer prescribed asthma medication.checkmark
3. State policy ensures students’ right to self-carry and self-administer prescribed anaphylaxis medication.checkmark
4. State policies or procedures shield school personnel from liability for unintended injuries.x
5. State requires local school districts to create asthma and anaphylaxis medication policy and provides resources, guidelines and parameters.checkmark
6. State policy mandates schools to identify and maintain records for students with chronic conditions including asthma and anaphylaxis.x
7. State requires a procedure updating health records periodically.checkmark
8. State requires that schools maintain asthma/allergy incident reports for reactions, attacks and medications administered.x
9. State requires a student health history form that includes asthma/allergy information to be maintained for each student.x
10. State requires schools to have emergency protocols for asthma.x
11. State requires schools to have emergency protocols for anaphylaxis.x
12. Nurse-to-student ratio is 1:750 or better.x

Meets one of six extra credit indicators in this category:

A. State requires anaphylaxis medicine – epinephrine – stocking and authority to administer in schools.x
B. State allows and/or requires asthma quick-relief medicine – albuterol – stocking and authority to administer in schools.x
C. State has or is preparing an explicit asthma program with policies, procedures and resources for schools to manage students with asthma.x
D. State has or is preparing an explicit anaphylaxis program with policies, procedures and resources for schools to manage students with allergies.checkmark
E. State has adopted policy that each school will have one full-time nurse.x
F. State has adopted policy that school districts provide case management for students with chronic health conditions such as asthma.x
Awareness Policies

Meets both core policy standards in this category:

13. State recognizes problem of asthma in schools and has begun to address it.checkmark
14. State recognizes problem of allergy in schools and has begun to address it.checkmark

Meets zero of two extra credit indicators in this category:

G. State sponsors or provides funding for staff training in asthma awareness covering school asthma program/policy and procedures.x
H. State sponsors or provides funding for staff training in food allergies.x
School Environment Policies

Meets two of nine core policy standards in this category:

15. State has mandated that all schools must have indoor air quality (IAQ) management policies.x
16. State has adopted a policy requiring that districts and schools conduct periodic inspections of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system & other items important in asthma/allergy management.x
17. State has IAQ policies that include specific components important in asthma/allergy management (HVAC, HEPA, carpeting, pesticide use).x
18. State recommends/requires that districts or schools use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques OR ban use of pesticides inside school.x
19. State requires schools to notify parents of upcoming pesticide applications.x
20. State limits school bus idling time and establishes proximity restrictions.x
21. All smoking is prohibited in school buildings and on school grounds.checkmark
22. All smoking is prohibited on school buses and at school-related functions.checkmark
23. Tobacco-use prevention is required in health education curriculum.x

Meets one of five extra credit indicators in this category:

I. State makes funding or resources available for technical IAQ assistance to schools.x
J. State recommends standards and programs to promote environmentally preferable materials for school construction, maintenance and cleaning.x
K. State requires school facility design standards that include low emission construction materials, pollutant source controls, durable and easy to clean surfaces and floors, moisture/mold controls.x
L. State has implemented or actively promotes diesel school bus engine retrofitting program.checkmark
M. State requires districts or schools to provide tobacco-use-cessation services to students.x
Policy Gaps
Identification and Reporting; Emergency Management; Nurse-to-Student Ratio
Noteworthy
Epinephrine in Schools: State law allows Oklahoma schools to stock epinephrine auto-injectors. The law further requires school districts that elect to stock epinephrine auto-injectors to notify parents that a school nurse or other trained school employee may administer epinephrine auto-injectors to students who appear to be having an anaphylactic reaction, keep a parent’s written10 liability waiver on file, designate a school employee to be responsible for obtaining the devices (at least 2 per school to be maintained in a secure location), directing school employees who administer the medication to contact 911, and directing the state board of education to develop a model policy for use by school districts.