Managing Food Allergies in the School Setting

Food Allergy Safety Information: Management of Students with Severe Food Allergies
South Burlington School District: Elementary Schools
There are a number of students with life threatening food allergies. The SBSD’s health services goals are to provide a safe and nurturing school environment for all of our students. It is important that school personnel and parents/families work together to address and meet the needs of students with severe food allergies.

PARENTS/CAREGIVERS OF STUDENTS, WHO HAVE A CLASSMATE WITH A FOOD ALLERGY, ARE ENCOURAGED TO:
♦ Educate your student to not offer and share snacks, especially with peers who have a food allergy.
♦ Prepare or monitor your student’s snack to be certain it does not contain allergens*, if you have been notified (by a letter) that those allergens are to be avoided in your student’s classroom. *Foods that may contain an allergen, are allowed (i.e. granola bars that have on their label “may contain” peanuts).
♦ Review with your student, the importance of washing their hands before and after eating (as well as many other times during the day).
♦ Discuss what could be supportive, compassionate behaviors and safety measures towards peers who have a food allergy; and talk with your student about the detrimental effects of teasing.

PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH A FOOD ALLERGY ARE ENCOURAGED TO:
♦ Notify the school nurse of your student’s allergy prior to the first day of school.
♦ Discuss your student’s specific health needs with the classroom teacher and the school nurse.
♦ Provide at least one (two is ideal) Epinephrine auto-injector (i.e. EpiPen) and an antihistamine (i.e. Benadryl), along with a completed health care provider's order, to the school PRIOR to the start of the school year.
♦ Sign the medication order to give permission for school personnel to administer the emergency medication to your student.
♦ Ensure that the school has up-to-date emergency contacts and phone numbers.
♦ Educate your student in self-management of their food allergy, by:
** Helping to identify the risks of consuming unknown foods.
** Identifying strategies to help your student avoid offending food products.
** Encouraging good hand washing before and after eating.
** Discussing the early signs of anaphylaxis and recognizing child-specific reactions.
** Determining who to tell when your student thinks he/she might be having a reaction.
** Role-playing different food and allergy-related scenarios with your student.
♦ Encourage your student to only eat food brought in from your home or eat food provided by the SBSD or Farm to School (see next bullet).
♦ Contact the SBSD food service director with specific questions about cafeteria food provided by the district.
♦ Be aware of farm to school emails and communicate about whether the ingredients are safe for your student.
♦ Understand that the risk of accidental exposure to foods can be greatly decreased in school, but cannot be completely eliminated.

SBSD and HEALTH SERVICES PERSONNEL/NURSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO:
♦ Promote food allergy awareness and education to school personnel, including trainings to recognize signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and the necessary response to an exposure, including instructing and delegating  administration of an automatic injection device (i.e. EpiPen) and other medication.
♦ Share a Student Emergency Action Plan which outlines the steps needed in response to an allergen exposure.
♦ Inform “need to know” school staff members of the student’s allergy (classroom teachers, support staff and teachers,  cafeteria personnel, etc.). Inform nutritional services of the student’s allergy.
♦ Communicate with the farm-to-school coordinator and parents.
♦ Ensure that medication is easily accessible throughout the school day and on field trips.
♦ Encourage hand washing and the importance of not sharing foods due to food allergy.

CLASSROOM TEACHERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO:
♦ Reinforce the importance of NOT sharing food and of hand washing.
♦ Clean classroom surfaces that have been exposed to food, at the conclusion of the activity.
♦ Review classroom activities and plan non-food classroom celebrations.
♦ Have awareness of the snacks being eaten in the classroom for signs of an obvious allergen.
♦ Educate students with food allergies and inform parents/caregivers that their students shall not eat foods brought into school from outside (of SBSD) sources, due to possible allergens and cross-contamination.
♦ Remind parents/caregivers that shared birthday (food) treats are not allowed in the classroom.
♦ Communicate with parents about classroom activities involving food and personally communicate with parents of students who have a food allergy. Notify parents and health services in advance of parties, field trips or other special events.
♦ Recognize the signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.
♦ Be aware of and implement the student’s emergency plan if the need arises.
♦ Inform guest and substitute teachers of any student with a severe food allergy.

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Kara Cassani, RN, MEd.

Orchard School Nurse

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