Emma, a nine-year-old student from Utah, was let down by her school’s staff after they confiscated her inhaler during a traumatic coughing attack.
The young girl had been prescribed the inhaler after a similar coughing fit had led to a trip to the emergency room, and she was advised by doctors to use the medication if she experienced the same problems again.
That was exactly what Emma tried to do recently, after stepping outside of her classroom during a coughing fit. However, when she attempted to ease her symptoms with the inhaler, she was sent to the principal’s office and the medication was confiscated.
Despite the fact that Emma threw up on herself as a result of the coughing fit, school staff made their harsh decision based on the fact that Emma’s name was not written on the inhaler and they had not been informed of her need for it.
Despite receiving widespread criticism for their actions, the school has stuck by its original decision.
“There could be all sorts of problems if children were just allowed to take any medication and we didn’t have that verification. Again, this is for the student’s safety,” said a school district spokesman.
Emma’s mother, Britney Badger, however, thinks that the school staff could have done more to help her daughter.
“When a child is puking all over themselves and they can’t breathe, you know you kind of have to take action right then and there,” she said.
Emma’s parents have now decided to keep her out of school for the time being.
