Health Centre News

Anaphylaxis in Schools                                   

Whether you have a child with anaphylaxis or not, we all need to be aware of the risks regarding food allergies and how we can make our school environment a safe place for our children. We ask that all parents / guardians read through the Anaphylaxis Policy on our school website. 

Here are some of the strategies we have in place to avoid allergic reactions to others:

At school we encourage children not to share food. This is discussed with all the students and it reduces the risk of being exposed to foods which your child may react to.

We ask parents to be thoughtful and diligent when considering bringing in food  for class parties or children’s birthdays. Always chat with your classroom teacher prior to bringing in food for a party or celebration.

If your child has a food allergy or anaphylaxis, please ensure you provide a treat box for them for use in the classroom. This ensures your child is always included in unexpected classroom parties for such things as another child’s birthday. Your classroom teacher will ensure that your child has only food provided from home in situations like this and a treat box is a safe option.

Please remember  that you may have a child who may have food allergies in your child’s class. If a child in your classroom has anaphylaxis a letter was sent home to parents at the beginning of the year and it advised you what the child was allergic to. 

We do not say we are a nut free school, as this causes complacency and does not teach children how to manage living with allergies, and how to live around children with allergies. 

This approach also teaches children a better understanding of risks and how to avoid exposure to others so they can learn to become more independent with managing their allergy or anaphylaxis.

Remind children that if they do eat something prior to coming to school (which may cause a reaction to someone else) that they should wash their hands after eating to remove all traces of the food.

It is reassuring to know that staff are trained annually in first aid which includes training in anaphylaxis management. 

Also, just a reminder that children with allergies don't want to feel different or a nuisance. They don't like it either! So your support with this is truly appreciated.  

Please let me know if you have any concerns,

Kind regards,

Nurse Cecile