Hi need some help. Collected grandson from school yesterday his mum said need to go to reception for glucose meter. Receptionist said oh its here somewhere few min later presented a metal box locked. Asked her to open box so I could get meter. You have to take it to mum. Mum was unavailable so I explained he was coming with me for weekend 80 miles away a locked box no use need meter. I have to speak to assistant head teacher and off she went. ten min later comes back with box opened. I cannot for the life of me work out why they would lock his meter away. and what happens if he needs this in an emergency
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blood glucose meter
- Thread starter granny222
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Sally71
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
How old is your grandson? I presume primary school age? Can he manage his diabetes himself, or does he still need an adult to help him?
They are probably locking the meter away because they are frightened that it will get lost or fall into the wrong hands, however as you say that's not much use in an emergency. He should have a care plan set up explaining how his diabetes should be dealt with while in school, it should also say that his test meter and hypo treatments should be kept on the classroom so that they can be found quickly in an emergency. Schools these days have to have a member of staff willing to be trained to do whatever is necessary to help a child with a medical condition (although this does not necessarily have to be the class teacher).
You and his mum need to get together and decide how you would like his diabetes to be dealt with st school and then arrange a meeting with his teacher / head / deputy head or whoever is appropriate, and try to make it clear that locking away emergency medical equipment just isn't acceptable, and explain why. If the school has any concerns, listen to them and try to come to an agreement - although having said that, they need to understand that he MUST have all his equipment within easy reach and be allowed to use them whenever and wherever necessary, and absolutely cannot be expected to go wandering around the school looking for his kit if he might be hypo! He also should not be expected to leave the room or in fact move very far at all when dealing with any diabetes issues. If you don't have any luck getting the message across then maybe his diabetes nurse can help? Ours are really good at dealing with school staff who don't understand!
My daughter has always been allowed to keep her meters and hypo treatments in the classroom and use them whenever necessary, and nobody had ever had an issue with it, although when she was at primary school, I did used to have a meeting with every new teacher each year to make absolutely sure they understood. Now she's at secondary school it's in her care plan that she must be allowed to keep her bag with her at all times (or within very easy reach for lessons such as PE) and apart from a couple of teething troubles with certain teachers who insist that all bags are left outside the classroom, and didn't seem to realise that my daughter was the one they had all been told about who is allowed to break certain rules, it's all worked really well. (Said teething troubles were all sorted out very quickly I'm pleased to say)
Hope you can get a better system sorted with your son's school, good luck 🙂
They are probably locking the meter away because they are frightened that it will get lost or fall into the wrong hands, however as you say that's not much use in an emergency. He should have a care plan set up explaining how his diabetes should be dealt with while in school, it should also say that his test meter and hypo treatments should be kept on the classroom so that they can be found quickly in an emergency. Schools these days have to have a member of staff willing to be trained to do whatever is necessary to help a child with a medical condition (although this does not necessarily have to be the class teacher).
You and his mum need to get together and decide how you would like his diabetes to be dealt with st school and then arrange a meeting with his teacher / head / deputy head or whoever is appropriate, and try to make it clear that locking away emergency medical equipment just isn't acceptable, and explain why. If the school has any concerns, listen to them and try to come to an agreement - although having said that, they need to understand that he MUST have all his equipment within easy reach and be allowed to use them whenever and wherever necessary, and absolutely cannot be expected to go wandering around the school looking for his kit if he might be hypo! He also should not be expected to leave the room or in fact move very far at all when dealing with any diabetes issues. If you don't have any luck getting the message across then maybe his diabetes nurse can help? Ours are really good at dealing with school staff who don't understand!
My daughter has always been allowed to keep her meters and hypo treatments in the classroom and use them whenever necessary, and nobody had ever had an issue with it, although when she was at primary school, I did used to have a meeting with every new teacher each year to make absolutely sure they understood. Now she's at secondary school it's in her care plan that she must be allowed to keep her bag with her at all times (or within very easy reach for lessons such as PE) and apart from a couple of teething troubles with certain teachers who insist that all bags are left outside the classroom, and didn't seem to realise that my daughter was the one they had all been told about who is allowed to break certain rules, it's all worked really well. (Said teething troubles were all sorted out very quickly I'm pleased to say)
Hope you can get a better system sorted with your son's school, good luck 🙂
Ralph-YK
Much missed Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
From the discription, sounds like the staff was carrying the box around. The box could go missing, with the meter in it, just as easily as the meter on it's own. I've know admin people who have never been able to find items in a desk, despite emptying it. They went no where near the small box that they were in.
I've done admin in a shop, where the public could just walk in. You put things in an unlocked draw that's in an area where only staff go. Most times there's no need to be locking things up, or using "special boxes".
I've done admin in a shop, where the public could just walk in. You put things in an unlocked draw that's in an area where only staff go. Most times there's no need to be locking things up, or using "special boxes".
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