Mother calls for ban on Peanuts
The following is an article that was printed in our local Australian - Queensland publication - The Sunday Mail on 20 Nov 2005 by Jeessica Lawrence.
This got my wifes back up so much that she emailed the mother (whom we left her email address out) to express our views on the topic. I’ll add it to the blog shortly.
A letter to the editor was also sent but no response from The Sunday Mail has been forthcoming as yet. I’ll keep you all posted.
Aaron
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A Brisbane mother whose son could die if exposed to peanuts wants them banned from schools.
Rachael Munro said children who had anaphylaxis - potentially fatal allergic reaction to nuts - were at risk of dying within minutes if exposed to even a minute amount.
Ms Munro, whose son Jordan, 3, has an acute allergy, said teachers and staff needed training to save a child who asphyxiated.
Jordan must carry an Epi-pen on him at all times. It must be stabbed into his leg if he shows signs of swelling or asphyxiation.
“If teachers or staff can’t find that pen within five minutes he would die” said Ms Munro, from Wishart.
Peanut allergy has become one of the fastest growing allergic afflictions in Australia, with one in 100 people at risk - double the rate 10 years ago.
Several Queensland schools, including Holand Park State in Brisbane, already have banned them from canteens and ask parents not to include nuts or peanut butter in lunch boxes.
“Parents have been very understanding. We’ve had 100 percent support”, principle Tony Gribbin said.
More than 200 people signed a petition started by Ms Munro (munrocreative@bsccp.com) and she plans to take her campain to Premier Peter Beattie.
Medical Advisory Board for Anaphylaxis Australia chairman Dr John Ruhno said a shift toward roasting peanuts was thought to be responsible for the rise in allergies because it increase the amount of allergen.
But he stopped short for calling for nuts to be banned from schools.
“A voluntary ban would be a good thing but as soon as you start legislating you need to have the peanut police,” he said.
“We need to have a progam in place to actually teach the teachers to regonise what anaphylaxis is and to use adrenalin.”
A spokesman for Education Queensland said schools managed students with allergies on an individual basis, on the advice of the student’s doctor.
The spokesman said medical experts had not recommended a blanket ban.