Label medicine and asthma inhaler for preschool

How to label medicine for preschool

Asthma medication at preschool is rarely just one thing. It consists of a box, a spray, a spacer, often a mask, and a bag or case containing everything. The parts are taken apart every time the child takes their dose, and that is precisely when they can get mixed up with another child's. Staff must be able to see that it is the right child and the right medication, so the name needs to be on every part, not just the box.

The pharmacy label with the child's name and dosage is usually only on the packaging. Once unpacked, the spray and spacer have no name on them. That's where a self-adhesive name label does the job: it sticks to plastic, metal, and glass and requires no ironing.

Part	Label	Where it goes
Inhaler (spray)	Small name label	On the smooth side of the plastic casing, not over the dose counter or text
Spacer	Standard name label	On the straight part of the container, some distance from the valve and mouthpiece
Mask	Small name label	On the hard connector, never on the soft edge against the face
Box or bottle	Standard name label	On a clear surface next to the pharmacy label
Adrenaline pen	Small name label	On the cover or tube it is stored in, not on the pen where the instructions are printed
Medicine bag or case	Large name label	On a hard surface or a plastic label on the outside, so it is visible in the cabinet

Region Örebro County's procedure for self-care in preschools and schools says that medicines must be marked with the child's name and personal identity number. Other municipalities do not state this as explicitly, so ask your preschool what they require. You can read more about the personal identity number below.

Where the label should not go

Staff must be able to read everything written on the medicine. A name label placed incorrectly can do more harm than no label at all.

• Not over the pharmacy label. It shows the child's name, the medication, and the dosage. That is what staff compare with the form.
• Do not cover the expiry date. You are responsible for ensuring that the medicine has not expired, and the preschool must be able to see this without removing anything.
• Do not cover the dose counter. Many inhalers show how many doses remain. If you cover it, no one will know when the spray is empty.
• Do not cover the mouthpiece or the inside of the mask. Anything the child breathes through or that touches their face must remain unobstructed.
• Do not cover the instructions on an adrenaline pen. They must be readable by anyone who needs to use the pen in an emergency.

This is required before the preschool may administer the medicine

Labeling the medicine is not enough for staff to be allowed to administer it. According to Skolverket, self-care is a healthcare measure that healthcare professionals responsible for the treatment have assessed that a patient can carry out independently or with someone else's help, such as preschool staff. It is regulated by the Self-Care Act. As a parent, you cannot make this assessment yourself.

1. Ask the healthcare provider for a self-care assessment. The doctor or nurse treating the child assesses whether the measure can be carried out as self-care at preschool. It may take time to obtain the certificate, so start well in advance.
2. Submit the certificate to the preschool. It goes to the principal or preschool director, who is responsible for ensuring that the staff can administer the medicine safely.
3. Fill in the preschool's form. It has different names in different municipalities: self-care form, self-care agreement, or medication during school hours. It specifies the medicine, dose, time, storage, and who to contact. The staff sign to confirm that they accept the task.
4. Show the staff how it is done. Several municipalities state that the parent must inform and train the staff, and do so again when new staff members start.
5. Update it whenever anything changes. A new dose, new medicine, or new department means a new form. Some municipalities require a new application every school year.

When the child is at preschool, the preschool's principal is responsible for supervision and therefore for ensuring that the child receives help with self-care. The school nurse and student health services are not responsible for carrying out the self-care. If the principal determines that the staff cannot administer the medicine safely, the healthcare provider and the preschool must agree on another solution.

Storage and outings

Medicines must be stored so that children cannot access them. Örebro's policy says they should essentially be locked away, but emergency medication, such as an asthma inhaler during an attack or an adrenaline pen, must be quick and easy to reach. Agree with the preschool where it will be kept.

This is where labeling is genuinely useful. In a shared medicine cabinet, several children's inhalers and spacers are often stored, and they are often identical. A clear, large name label on the outside of the case makes it immediately clear which case is the right one, while small labels on the parts ensure they are returned to the correct case. Include on the form how the medicine is taken on outings: a separate labeled bag that staff take with them is simpler than loose parts in a backpack.

Personal identity number on the name label?

If the preschool wants a personal identity number on the medicine, write it by hand with a waterproof pen on the box or on the form included. Do not order a whole set of name labels with a personal identity number. All labels in a set have the same text, and most of them end up on clothes, boots, and backpacks where anyone can read them.

The child's name is enough on the name labels. If you want to add something, a telephone number on the second line is better: then whoever finds a lost bag can call you.

When the label does not hold

Problem	Cause	Do this instead
The label on the spacer comes off after cleaning	The container was washed at a temperature above 60°C or boiled	Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. If they require more than 60°C, put the name on the case instead.
The label comes off immediately	The surface was greasy, damp, or cold from the refrigerator	Wipe the surface and let the part reach room temperature and dry before applying the label.
The edges lift	The label was not pressed on firmly enough	Press firmly for approximately ten seconds, especially at the corners.
The label comes off during the first wash	The adhesive had not cured	Wait approximately one day before washing or rinsing the part.
The label does not stick to the medicine bag	Soft fabric without a care label	Put the label on the care label if the bag has one; otherwise, on a plastic tag or a hard case.

Which name label for what

Lappu sells self-adhesive name labels in three sizes. All are dishwasher-safe and washable at up to 60°C, adhere to plastic, metal, and glass, and attach to fabric via the care label.

• Small name labels (SEK 129): for the inhaler, the mask connector, and the adrenaline pen case, where a standard label will not fit. Keep the sheet out of reach of children under 3, as small loose parts are a choking hazard. Apply the labels yourself.
• Standard name labels (124 labels from SEK 139): for the spacer and the box. The same set is enough for clothes, shoes, and lunch boxes; see name labels for preschool.
• Large name labels (30 for SEK 139): for the medicine box or bag that needs to be visible in the cubby.

Checklist for the first day

• Self-care assessment or certificate from the child's doctor or nurse
• The preschool's form, completed and signed by you and the staff
• Medication in its original packaging with the pharmacy label visible
• Expiration date checked, with a reminder set on your phone before it expires
• Name label on the inhaler, spacer, mask, and box
• Labeled box or bag that everything fits in, including on trips
• Phone number where staff can reach you during the day
• An agreement that the preschool will let you know when the medication is running low

You can read about how the labels hold up on other items at what the name labels can withstand.

Frequently asked questions

Can preschool give antibiotics?

Only if there is an agreement on self-care, just as with any other medication. Växjö Municipality states that medication should primarily be taken at home, so ask the doctor whether the doses can be scheduled for morning and evening. If not, the preschool needs the form and, in many municipalities, documentation from healthcare services.

Which medications can be considered self-care?

There is no general answer. The treating doctor or nurse assesses each case based on the child and whether the staff can administer the medication safely at preschool. For over-the-counter medicines, some municipalities, such as Mörbylånga, only require a form from the parent.

How does self-care work at preschool?

Healthcare services assess that the medication can be administered as self-care, you submit the certificate and fill in the preschool's form, and the staff sign to confirm that they take on the task. The medication is stored at the preschool according to what you have agreed. You are responsible for ensuring that it is available, labeled, and not expired.

Who should write a self-care certificate?

A licensed healthcare professional treating the child, usually the doctor or nurse at the clinic. As a parent, you cannot write it yourself. The certificate is submitted to the principal or preschool director.

How should medication be stored at preschool?

Out of children's reach, usually locked away. Emergency medication such as asthma inhalers and adrenaline pens should still be quick to access. Agree on a location with the staff and write it on the form.

Design your name labelsOur quality guarantee