For children with allergies, starting school takes an extra degree of planning.
| 10 point allergy action plan for starting school |
| 1. Notify the school about your child's allergy as early as possible. Be clear about which foods or other allergens may trigger an anaphylactic reaction. |
| 2. Provide the school with a written diagnosis and an individual management plan from your treating doctor. This should include details of prescribed medications such as adrenaline or antihistamines. |
| 3. Supply necessary medication and ensure it is clearly labelled, stored correctly and kept up to date. Anaphylaxis Australia Inc recommends an EpiPen® [adrenaline auto-injector] travels with the child at all times between home and the classroom, while a second, back-up unit is stored permanently in the school office. |
| 4. Visit the school and enquire about any other potential risks. For example, are children exposed to food allergens during cooking and craft lessons? What can the school do to reduce the risk of insect stings? |
5. Ensure teachers and other staff are aware of prevention strategies and ensure they are implemented. Especially plan ahead for special events such as excursions, sports days and parties.
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| 6. Work with the school to develop an emergency action plan. Ensure appropriate staff members are trained and confident to administer medications. |
7. Teach your child from a young age not to accept food from others. Provide a lunchbox that is clearly labelled and remind them not to trade food with friends.
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8. Be creative in providing safe food treats for your child. Ask the school to store some of your cupcakes in the canteen freezer so your child can join in with birthday celebrations.
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9. Encourage your child to become independent. Remind them to always take their medication to school. It can be kept in an insulated lunch bag, together with a copy of the emergency action plan.
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| 10. Record and check expiry dates of EpiPens® used at school and at home and ensure each unit is replaced prior to expiry. |
© Anaphylaxis Australia Inc, 2004.
More tips for starting school
- Discuss the possibility of attending the school with your child, until you and staff are comfortable with care. This provides support for the teacher while he/she is settling into a new school year with 30 children.
- Revise emergency care plan and management if there has been:
-a change in the child's condition
-an at-risk situation
-an anaphylactic reaction, or
-annually.
- Ensure child/teacher carry emergency kit on school excursions/sports days and special days.
- Remind teacher/carer of importance of having a mobile phone for emergency contact if required when away from school.
- A medical information bracelet or chain is recommended. This is important as the child becomes more independent.
- The school may decide to set up a care system to help with support of children as they get used to school life.
- When using water bowsers or bubblers allow water to run over bubbler before drinking from it. Encourage children not to put their mouth directly on the bubbler.
- Place photo of child on canteen wall with notice to inform workers on canteen duty that your child should not be given food. This decision may change, as the child gets older, with permission from parents.
Identification
Some parents are concerned about all teachers knowing the identity of their child with severe allergy while at school. While it is important for the child not to feel isolated, some parents opt for a different coloured hat in the first year or two of schooling, ie. until the child is more able to communicate and teachers are more aware of his/her needs.
Medical information card
- Make up a medical information card that specifies the child's name, which foods cause anaphylaxis, medication required, etc. Have the card laminated and kept in child's wallet/bus pass holder. This is especially useful for High School students.
Update information
- It is very important to update school information sheets at least yearly. This will ensure that teachers and carers have all the necessary up-to-date information they require to care for your child.
Educating casual or relief teaching staff
- Ask your child's permanent teacher to place a note or information in the roll book that will alert casual staff to your child's allergy. Consider supplying a laminated copy of your child's requirements, details of the emergency action plan and a recent photograph of the child (dressed in school uniform) to the teacher so this information can be placed where casual staff will notice it! Provide a copy of the same information to all staff members and find a suitable place in the staffroom and canteen to display it.
Sharing a pencil is risky
- Some children have the habit of sucking or chewing the ends of pencils and pens; this poses a risk to the anaphylactic child. Ensure your child has his/her own pens/pencils and does not share them.
School support
- Teachers can support food allergic children by asking the other children in their care NOT to offer any food to your child. When dealing with young children a simple explanation using the key phrases… "she/he gets very sick" and "has to go to hospital" if she/he eats someone else's food….have a big impact on little children and helps them understand how important it is not to share food with your child.
Playgroup
- Gently inform parents and carers of your child's anaphylaxis. Suggest safe foods for morning tea, ie. fruit. Discuss possibilities with them and come to a joint agreement of management in this environment. You may educate with literature, videos and advise people to visit the Anaphylaxis Australia Inc website for further information.
Babysitters
- Remind babysitter/grandparent, etc. who will be minding your child, not to eat or handle the food allergen before arrival.
Inform medical workers
- Always inform doctors/dentists, etc that your child has anaphylaxis. The knowledge your child is highly sensitive is extremely important to doctors when prescribing drugs, and in their medical treatment of your child.
Related topics
See also: Anaphylaxis Action Plan
Original material provided by Anaphylaxis Australia Inc. Edited by everybody, December 2007.
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