A Puslinch father ran into an unexpected roadblock preventing his little boy from having access to his diabetes medicine – something he calls a matter of life and death.

Kevin Hayden’s son, seven-year-old Charlie, has juvenile diabetes. When his blood sugar drops, he can get sick.

“I feel like a little bit shaky or a little bit dizzy,” Charlie said.

But the danger from low blood sugar is a lot more serious than feeling a little off.

“If a child has extremely low blood sugar, there is a possibility they could go unconscious, go into seizure, and die,” said Hayden.

There is a solution – a life-saving injection of the hormone glucagon.

But this week Hayden was shocked to learn staff at Aberfoyle Public School would not be permitted to administer the medicine, with the board citing liability issues.

“I said to the superintendent that I would be willing to sign a waiver drawn up by  my lawyer that would state that if they tried to save my child’s life I wouldn’t sue  anybody,” said Hayden. “But they said they had to draw the line somewhere.”

That’s when Hayden went on the offensive. He inundated the Upper Grand District School Board with calls. He phoned every trustee he could and even called his member of provincial parliament.

The school board soon agreed to change course.

“When Mr. Hayden’s situation came to the board this week it became very clear that our policy on medical procedures was outdated,” said Heather Loney, communications officer with the UGDSB. “The board has decided they will be updating the policy.”

In life-threatening situations, staff who have volunteered and been trained by a medical professional will now be permitted to administer medicine.

That policy will come into effect Friday.

Hayden is thankful for the resolution.

“I know now my little boy can go to school now and he’ll be safe,” he said.

With reporting by Tyler Calver