Anaphylaxis 101

Schools
• Always find out if there are any medical conditions you need to know about when a new student arrives at your school, whether it's in junior kindergarten or by transfer.
• Ensure all staff are aware of any students with life-threatening allergies.
• Teachers should try to meet one-on-one with the parents of allergic students in order to work together on strategies to reduce the risk of a reaction.
• Teachers should know how to use the EpiPen® and where it is stored (this information should also be available in a day book for substitute teachers).
• For really young children there needs to be closer supervision when food-related activities are taking place.
• Notify other parents that there are students with life-threatening allergies attending the school and alert them to specific allergens. Also, make them aware of the risks of cross-contamination, such as a child getting peanut butter on their hands and then playing with an allergic child.

It's important for parents of anaphylactic children to make sure they do not place all of the responsibility for their child's safety solely on the school, their child should be properly educated, as well. Harada suggests that parents who do not have an allergic child may not be as aware of the risks as those who do. "If you don't have a food-allergic child then you are not going to read food labels in the same way," Harada says, "...it's better that they (parents of allergic children) teach their children to follow very strict and very simple food rules."

Anaphylactic children
• NEVER share food or eat unapproved food. "The most important thing that kids need to be taught is not to share food," says Dr. Zave Chad, allergist and clinical immunologist and president of the allergy section of the Canadian Pediatric Society. Children should also never eat food with unknown ingredients.
• Know what the symptoms of anaphylaxis are so that you will know if you are having an allergic reaction.
• Never go off alone if you start to feel sick but instead alert someone immediately.

The good news about anaphylaxis is that it can be managed and tragic fatalities can be prevented. If all parents, staff and students take proper precautions to reduce the risk of allergen contact they just may be saving children's lives.

For more information on anaphylaxis visit:
Anaphylaxis Canada
The Canadian Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Foundation
Anaphylaxis- A Hand Book for School Boards
Bill 3 (Sabrina's Law)