School Anaphylaxis Kit - Was Only A Matter Of Time
This story courtesy of here BgoNews
Schools better equipped for food allergy cases
Friday, February 23, 2007
Victorian school children at risk of severe allergic reactions will be safer thanks to a new food allergy resource kit launched today by the Minister for Education Services Jacinta Allan.Australian Medical Association president Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, who has a child with anaphylaxis, joined Ms Allan at Strathmore Primary School to launch the kit, which will be sent to all government, Catholic and independent schools. More than 2300 schools will get the kits free of charge.
The easy-to-understand, plain English Anaphylaxis Guidelines will complement efforts to train Victorian school teachers, kindergarten teachers and child-care workers in the care and support of students with severe allergies and raise awareness of the condition.
“Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life threatening condition and we want to ensure that students at risk of the condition are safe at school,†Ms Allan said.
Dr Haikerwal congratulated the Victorian Government on the initiative.
“This kit will not only help teachers and promote a greater understanding of anaphylaxis and other food allergies – it will save lives,†Dr Haikerwal said.
It is estimated that 0.43 per cent of children are at risk of anaphylaxis, with about 17 per cent of episodes occurring at school or pre-school. Peanut allergy affects about one in 100 children and the rate has more than doubled in the past 30 years.
The resource package includes:
· a canteen checklist for managing food allergies
· awareness raising posters
· booklets offering clear and practical information on prevention and response to allergic reactions
· anaphylaxis fact sheets, including detailed information for staff
· a trainer EpiPen to learn how to administer adrenalineMs Allan said allergic reactions to food were sudden, severe and potentially fatal.
“A simple adrenalin injection can save a child’s life,†Ms Allan said.
“We are giving schools the information they need to not only recognise and respond to the symptoms of an allergic reaction but also implement strategies to prevent food reactions occurring.â€
“All schools have a duty of care to students and the key to managing this condition is awareness, knowledge and planning.â€
Since November 2005, more 8100 staff have attended anaphylaxis management training run by Ambulance Victoria First Aid.
In October last year the Bracks Government announced it would mandate training for child-care workers, kindergarten and school teachers to treat children with life-theatening allergies.
$2.1 million over five years will be provided to fund state-wide training for teachers and children’s services workers. The Government will legislate to require training for all staff in early childhood services and the majority of staff in schools.
In 2005, the Victorian Government commissioned Swinburne University of Technology’s Centre for Health and Wellbeing to conduct a comprehensive research project into the incidence and causes of anaphylaxis in Victorian government schools.
That research examined national and international best practice in managing anaphylaxis at school and was used in preparing the guidelines.
The guidelines were developed in consultation with Anaphylaxis Australia, the Australasian Society of Critical Immunology and Allergy, the Royal Children’s Hospital Department of Allergy and Immunology, the Department of Human Services parent groups and school staff.
I commend the Bracks government for the anaphylaxis initiative.
There are however some grey areas and some schools will find the document indecisive.
Such is the case with my daughter’s school. She has not been at school for 3 weeks now for these reasons: she feels school is not safe after being threatened with a tree nut and this year they asked kids to bring in nuts for brain food break.
She is extremely traumatized after already having 2 anaphylactic episodes and 1 near death experience.
Because the guidelines say it is up to each individual school to decide what is best for the child and community some schools won’t discourage nuts and nut based products at school, like our school. The pricnipal won’t discourage these products because it is not legislated to do so.
What becomes of those kids who feel really unsafe at school, refuse to go and then need the services of a child psychologist to try to normalize their fear. The fear is not irrational, it is very real.
There is not enough being done to cater for these kids emotional wellbeing and there is enormous ignorance about anaphykaxis. My daughter has about a 3 minute window from bronchospasm to collapse, Iv’e held her in my arms unresponsive and struggling to breathe despite an injection of adrenaline twice now, waiting for the ambulance, the 2nd time she needed much more adrenaline and other drugs to bring her back, I hope she never has to go through that again.
So I have her at home until the psychologist either helps the school to realize the severity of anaphylaxis or she tells me to home school her or find a school that is allergy friendly.
The government needs to do a lot more to legislate changes than some wishy washy response that leaves the decision of safety up to each individual school. The goverment are discouraging fast food at school and this will be phased in over the next 2 years with lots of work being done in the classroom about healthy eating.
Are life threatening allergies not as important? There needs to be more education in schools legislated as part of the curriculum or more kids will be at risk and some may even die-don’t you think this is as important as the obesity epidemic-you can’t die from eating a packet of chips.
Hi Lou
Thanks for sharing that with us all. What a very sad story for your daughter. Melanie and my hearts go out her and your family.
What grade is your daughter in? and is she anaphylactic to peanuts only or other foods as well.?
If she was even jokingly threatened with a nut, then that is bullying of the worst kind, because it could end in death.
The school where our kids go, would deal with that very harshly indeed, because they understand the severity of the situation.
We interviewed several schools until we found one that we felt would be suitable and look after our kids. Government schools in our local area were hopeless with a capital H, so we were forced to go for a private school. But our kids lives was more important than the money it costs us.
Declan is in grade 2 and anaphylactic to dairy and nuts, and since dairy is in just about everything going to school for him and playing in the playground with all the other kids at lunch breaks etc, is a minefield with every step. It’s a rough road.
Have you looked for and interviewed other alternative schools around you? We’ve thought about home schooling, but since we found a fabulous school, we’ve got the kids going there.
Each school deals with it differently, so it’s really up to the admin staff and teachers to make it work.
For most it’s just to hard to deal with the kids condition because it could end in death on any given day, it’s just not like catering for wheelchair students, or any other disability that schools cater for.
Would love for you to keep us up to date with your story.
Let us know how you go.
Thanks
Aaron
Lou,
Your anecdote is my living nightmare as I face the prospect of choosing a school for my child Nicholas (2 years) who is also nut allergic. My heart goes out to you as you live through this reality. Nicholas isn’t due to start school until 2010, but my first child starts next year and obviously the school I choose now will be for the entire family.
After interviewing several schools I am yet to have much confidence instilled in me about their ability to prevent an anaphylactc reaction. One pricipal was unable to tell me if her school prepared or served nut products in the canteen. I was very surprised given she had been forewarned that I was coming to speak with her about anaphylaxis.
While I feel that most schools are somewhat well equipped to manage a life threatening reaction, I strongly believe that the emphasis should be on prevention.
I understand that there has been a move in recent times away from child care services and schools being labeled as “Nut free” and, to a degree, I understand the rationale. I can not say I agree with it however. In terms of ‘risk-management’ surely the less of the allergen in an environment the better (while ever being mindful that it could always be present)? Surely our teachers are astute enough not to become complacent as is often quoted as the reason for moving away from such policies.
I understand (and I am extremely empathetic) that this would never be possible with dairy products when confronted with a life threatening allergy to milk protein. But given the severity of reactions to nut (most anaphylactic deaths occur from peanut as I am sure you are aware), coupled with the fact that it is hardly a staple or essential food group, why expose our children to this risk? I am sure legal advisors for schools are adept enough to come up with some kind of policy wording to indemnify their client in the tragic event of a food related incident.
Aaron, can you outline the some of the practices and procedures that the school you have chosen for your children implements to manage the risk of anaphylaxis?
As a final thought, I wonder what it will take before Government step up and introduce measures to protect our kids? The Bracks Government should be applauded that anaphylaxis is at least on their agenda.
Kerrin
This is a similar incident to what Laura Duke went through with her son Brentson in Tennessee, USA. She got a law passed over it, but the school still hasn’t changed and she’s homeschooling. I wish there were greater compassion in the world for all children, regardless of medical differences.
Hi Kerrin
Like I said, if the school is worthy you will know within about 2 minutes of speaking with the admin staff.
It doesn’t matter about the buildings, just the people, the staff.
We find that the children look after Declan more than the teachers do because they are on the front line with him. Teachers can’t be everywhere at once, the children go and find a teacher when anything happens. They are very switched on, much more than I can say for their parents.
Here’s a link where I did a podcast about school selection, it might not be what you are after. I’m sure we’ve covered the topic of what our school does but if not then I’ll post a new article about it.
http://allergysmart.net/blog/99/anaphylaxis_in_schools_podcast/
The http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/ (AAI) here in Australia has been in the goverments face about it for a long time now, and things are obviously starting to happen.
Thanks
Aaron
Hi Leslea
Didn’t you do a podcast with Laura about this very topic. Can you post a link to it.
Thanks
Aaron
Kerrin
As for teachers becoming complacent. I guarantee you that it is a given that they will get complacent, it’s human nature. We’ve seen it in every case including the kindy that is part of our current school.
The kindy in our school has a supposed nut ban, and supervised hand washing as the kids come in for the morning doesn’t take place (as it does for Declans grade 2 class), and it’s an all round shambles. This comes down to the teacher and staff. No one else.
Bianca is in that kindy class and since she has fortunately outgrown her food allergies, we let it slide. Otherwise we would be all over them to tighten up and lose the nut ban since it doesn’t teach any of the kids or parents anything, and DOES breed complacency.
The parents of the child in that class that is always covered in hives and has peanut anaphylaxis should be up in arms but they aren’t. We’ve seen this before in another pre-school. It’s hard to imagine but some parents don’t seem to worry as much about it. I think they haven’t been to the hospital watching their children close to death.
I disagree with you on your statement about peanut anaphylaxis being more severe than any other food. It’s more common not more severe.
Let me state that if you have anaphylaxis you hsve anaphylaxis, it doesn’t matter if it’s peanuts, milk, or latex, the end result is still the same. You can’t get more dead from peanut.
Thanks
Aaron
Lou,
Thanks for sharing your story with the rest of us out here trying to manage with Anaphylactic children. My son is only 12 months old and he is Anaphylactic to Dairy. What everyone assumes is the best food for toddlers; cheese, yoghurt, etc terrify me.
He had been attending a local daycare centre 3 days a week, however once we discovered he had anaphylaxis I pulled him out. This was about 6 weeks ago, and the daycare centre still have not gotten back to me on how they plan to ensure my son’s safety. I’m not sure if it is taking so long because they don’t want to know about it, or if they are giving it careful consideration? I’ll keep you all posted.
Unfortunately we can’t make any of the environments that our children are exposed to allergen free, but we can (and have to) work on making them allergen aware.
I’m finding in my quest to educate those around me, that there are some that “get it” and some that never will. Training and eduction can only do so much. I’m now working on surrounding my son with people who understand and care enough to learn more about what anaphylaxis means for him and them.
You don’t mention how old your daughter is, but she is obviously old enough to understand and remember her previous anaphylactic episodes. From speaking with other parents I have learnt that our special allergic children are very aware of the dangers around them and instinctively know when the people caring for them don’t “get it.” They are also amzingly able to cope when they are with people who do “get it”.(From a surprisingly early age too)
I think you are right to take her concerns seriously. Trust your daughters instincts here. Have her directly involved in any decision to change schools, she is probably the best judge of who will be the ones to keep her safe. Have her take “ownership” of her Anaphylaxis Action Plan, and let her teach anyone / and everyone what to do. Her school friends are probably the most important to educate, as they would be the ones around if anything was to go wrong, rather than a teacher at the other end of the playground.
You’re right that life threatening allergies should be higher on the government’s radar. Unfortunately for government’s to change laws quickly there is usually a major incident (eg. Sabina’s Law in Canada). I don’t want this to happen to any of our kids, so small steps like the Vicotrian Government’s approach is at least moving us in the right direction.
All the best to you and your family
Toni
This story touches my heart, my husband and I have always been aware that our children are allergic to nuts. Recently our daughter, aged 6, was perscribed the Epi-pen, and our two boys aged 7 and 2 are still going through testing to determine if they need them, or in our eldest sons case, because he hasn’t had any nuts for around 7 years, if he has grown out of it. I am so pleased that the Victorian Government is helping all the schools, I would love the informatin, and the Western Australian Government to be able to do something like this.
We have trained our children not to touch any food that they are not sure about, especially at school and birthday parties, but we recently discovered that our school canteen was using Nuttella as an icing on the cakes the are selling. I only found out because one of the parents was worried about our kids. Thank goodness they did.
Here is a quote that is meant for all families that have Anaphylaxic Kids
“They are only give to those parents who can cope!!!!!”
All the best
Rachael
Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to thank you all for the great support. we have felt very isolated up until now and after hearing all your stories, it has made me even more determined to take this further with the government.Maddie is getting enormous support from her psychologist and GP, who will work directly with the school to hopefully ease her gently back if the environment is safe to do so. It will be a long process as a lot of education and training needs to take place before this and they don’t want to rush it. Maddie unfortunately is suffering from severe separation anxiety and post traumatic stress, so I will keep you all updated on her progress and that of the school. I have enlisted the help of Marie Said who is working with the government to mandate changes and who will also help with our situation. To all of you who are looking at schools, it is vitally important to have a compassionate principal, it comes from the top and spreads throughout. Go with your gut feeling, question them on all of their policies and see them in action before you commit, your child’s life depends on it.
Thankyou all once again for your support.
Lou Novak
I was sickened once again to hear that a child has had an anaphylactic
reaction. Thank God everyone worked quickly and she is now OK.
My son is about to start school when we return to Australia, as we are
currently living in Sweden,and I am very very
nervous because of the areas where he will be unsupervised. We did ask
the school about peanuts in the school and the principal assured us that
they were banned and they were aware of anaphylaxis as they already have
children at the school with various allergies. However we need to do
further investigation prior to Lucas commencing school.
Lucas is currently at an International Preschool, and can I tell you it
has been a nightmare. The Director of the school told me in a telephone
conversation, when I called the school whilst Lucas was out on his first
outing, to check if they took his medical bag. Her response was “Lidia
it is becoming a real drag about Lucas´ allergy and that you and Paul
keep on checking up on us and giving us further information about his
allergy. If you do not start to trust us I have no other option but to
dismiss Lucas from the school”. Mind you we had to train the teachers
and principal, who had no idea of the severity of peanut allergy and
anaphylaxis nor how to use an Epipen. We were sickened by this and
felt so sorry for Lucas.
As time has passed and just when we felt that we could start to trust the
school just a little, his teacher and the Director of the school
decide to pick three children from Lucas´ classroom and go to the
supermarket to buy milk and flour for their baking class. Of all the
children in the classroom they chose Lucas and took him without us
knowing nor asking us.
We were furious when Lucas told us that night. Although he could not
understand why we were so upset. He thought he did something wrong
because he was chosen to go.
The next day we approached the school and their response was “we didn´t
think that it was dangerous”. So once again we are counting the days
for us to return to Australia hoping that the school system will be much
more educated, trained and understanding to children with allergies and
their parents.