Keeping our Kids Safe and Healthy

Meet the First Aid Team

Pictured below is our ENPS First Aid Team. If your child is unwell, you will receive a call from Kiera, Stacey, Kathryn, Emma, or Teresa.

Anaphylaxis – Risk Minimisation Strategies

Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapidly progressive allergic reaction that is potentially life threatening. At Essendon North Primary School (ENPS) we take our commitment to being an 'Anaphylaxis Aware school' school seriously and support our growing community to develop an understanding of the importance in minimising risks for our students who are anaphylactic and/or have allergies.

In every year level at ENPS we have children who are anaphylactic. For those children, anaphylaxis is a life threatening situation. At ENPS we believe the safety and wellbeing of students who are at risk of anaphylaxis is a community wide responsibility. It is a joint obligation of the school and parents/carers to minimise an anaphylactic incident. 

We have over twenty students at ENPS who are anaphylactic to a variety of foods and we ask that we all work together to minimise risks. Following the Department of Education Anaphylaxis Guidelines set out under the Education and Training Reform Act (2006) and Ministerial Order 706, at ENPS we do not ban food products, however, instead encourage responsible eating and food allergy awareness. Allergens include eggs, sesame, kiwi fruit, nuts (including but not limited to: peanuts, pine nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, coconut, pecans, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, macadamias, brazil nuts and other tree nuts), prawns, fish, shellfish, salmon, legumes, seafood, cow's milk, dairy and even animal hair. We strongly recommend and encourage avoiding these food products where possible to limit any risk and ask that your remind your child about these important points, and to re-enforce the message from their class teacher:

All classrooms have this poster on display and all staff receive training in anaphylaxis management, and actively promote anaphylaxis and food allergy awareness across our school. It is our expectation that by reminding students of these important points, the risk to the affected student is minimised and that by working together we can ensure the safety of all students. 

Please note that this also includes bringing any homemade items or party bags to school. At ENPS, while we appreciate and celebrate birthdays, we do not have birthday cakes in classes and actively discourage children bringing cakes, homemade items, treats or party bags to school to share with other children due to the potential for anaphylactic/allergic reactions. Please keep these for at home or at parties. 

To minimise the possibility of a student suffering from an anaphylactic reaction at school, Essendon North Primary School have put in place the following strategies:

• notify families of specific allergies in their child/children’s classroom 
• students will eat outside of the classrooms and learning spaces where practically possible 
• staff and students are reminded and encouraged to wash their hands before and after eating 
• students will not be permitted to share food at any time 
• specific dietary requirements will be outlined on excursion, incursion, special events and camp forms where applicable 
• garbage bins at school are to remain covered with lids to reduce the risk of attracting insects 
• gloves will be worn when picking up paper or rubbish in the playground 
• a general use EpiPen will be stored in the first aid room 
• planning for off-site activities will include risk minimisation strategies for students at risk of anaphylaxis including supervision requirements, appropriate number of trained staff, emergency response procedures and other risk controls appropriate to the activity and students attending.

A reminder that if your child has anaphylaxis or allergies, they must have a current medical (ascia) plan (note: a current Asthma Australia Asthma Action Plan is required if your child has asthma). All plans must be updated annually. Parents must provide medications to be administered in the event of an emergency.

If you have any questions please review the ENPS' Anaphylaxis Policy on our website, or contact our School Nurse, Kiera Heasly or Principal, Kate Barletta.

We thank you in advance for your co-operation.

Storing Medicine at ENPS and Administration to Your Child 

At ENPS, we understand that there will be times when your child will require medicine while at school. Medicines can only be administered at school under the supervision of our First Aid staff and when medical authorisation is provided by a parent. This is convenient in situations where your child is suffering from a mild illness (for example, a headache requiring Panadol or hayfever symptoms requiring Zyrtec). Where your child has been ill and is on a course of prescribed antibiotics, these may be left with our First Aid staff for administration. All medicine is to be stored in our first aid room, not in your child's bag or classroom. Medication must not be kept with the student. 

ALL MEDICINES MUST BE ACCOMPANIED WITH CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS FROM PARENTS/CARERS OUTLINED ON THE ENPS MEDICAL AUTHORITY FORM.

*As per our school's Asthma Policy, it is noted that students between Years Four to Six may keep their asthma medication with them, as required.

Infectious Diseases Cases - Exclusion from School

Staff at Essendon North Primary School are governed by Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (regulation 111). If your child is unwell, Victorian primary schools and children’s services have a responsibility under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 to exclude certain children for periods as specified in the regulations. We are mandated to follow the minimum period of exclusion from primary schools and children’s services. 

For your information, the school exclusion table and minimum periods for exclusion may be viewed here. 

We thank parents and carers for attending school to collect their child (if advised to do so) in the event of illness and for adhering to our Respect for School Staff policy in conjunction with these mandatory guidelines.

Healthy Food Options – Brain Food

At ENPS, we encourage children to have healthy food options for their brain food, morning tea and lunch during the school day. 

The purpose of brain food is to provide a mid-morning snack prior to recess to help keep children focused when learning. We ask that brain food be a very quick, easy and mess free snack that children can have while they work. Brain food should be a fruit or vegetable snack where possible and one that doesn't create more distraction that necessary, mess or require cleaning up. Other snacks can be had at recess. Some great ideas for brain food include cherry tomatoes, veggie sticks, grapes, strawberries, an apple or banana. We ask that yoghurt or fruit cups (and things alike) are saved for recess time. 

Student Self-care

We encourage students to be mindful of the hotter weather conditions. Students are encouraged to participate in weather appropriate activities and not over-exert themselves in the yard. Students are encouraged to attend our first aid office, promptly and as required.

Thank you,

ENPS First Aid Team