How many AAIs should a pupil have at school?

The MHRA recommends that those prescribed AAIs should have TWO devices available, at all times.

Ideally, pupils – particularly those in secondary schools – should be encouraged to be independent and keep their own prescribed AAIs with them at all times. This is also achievable with many primary school-aged children, although for the youngest children, AAIs should either be kept in the cIassroom, or in a safe and suitably central and accessible location nearby. AAIs should not be located more than 5 minutes away from where they may be needed.

Schools may find it easier to request AAIs are kept on school premises in term time, as pupils/families can forget to send the AAI(s) into school. However, children at risk of anaphylaxis should always have access to AAI(s), so parents/guardians need to ensure AAI(s) are available on the journey to/from school.

Healthcare professionals may therefore need to prescribe more than 2 AAIs to school-aged children: one or two AAIs to be kept near/with the pupil at all times, and a further device held centrally on the school premises, where this is requested by the school.