Tyler & Madden’s Food Fight is back with another resourceful segment on vital food allergy discussions. We asked our readers to send us questions and we got a great one from Danielle Petito; a Pharmaceutical Representative and mother of two. The Smithtown native asked us what laws and regulations are enforced; if any, on school districts to assure the safety of children suffering from Food Allergens. With labor day approaching, the timing to answer a question like this, couldn’t be more essential.
For most parents, getting your children ready for the school year is a joyful time. But for parents of kids with food allergies, this time of year can be dreaded. Hidden ingredients in school lunches, contact between foods or just the fear of allergens left on lunch tables would cause concern for any caring parent. Thanks to organizations like New York Statewide School Health Services Center, New York State Department of Health and the State Education Department, every school district is required to take necessary measures to protect and prevent allergic reactions in children.
Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2007* Requires an anaphylactic policy for school districts. Guidelines and procedures include an action and treatment plan, defining duties for in-school nurses or other suitable personnel, to both prevent and respond to anaphylaxis. *Enacted in 6/30/2008. The New York State Department of Health and the New York State Education Department outline that every school district’s anaphylactic policy should contain a procedure and treatment plan, a personnel training course, develop individualized emergency healthcare plan, a strategy to minimize risk and exposure as well as communication between the school nurse and relevant staff, parent/guardian and health care provider.
The Caring for Students with Life-Threatening Allergies Manual is an in-depth how-to guide, collaborated by the New York State Department of Health, New York State Education Department and the New York Statewide School Health Services Center. Essentially, this manual was intended to assist School Districts in creating their own procedures and guidelines which both Public and Charter Schools are required to do. The manual contains a vast range of information for both parent/guardian and school personnel alike and is worth a read, especially if this year is your child’s first in school.
Tips for Parents: Food Allergies At School
- Does the cafeteria have a Food Allergy Management Team in place?
- Is there a method of identifying students with food allergies that does not violate the child’s privacy or single them out?
- Ask the school what the protocol in place is, in the event of anaphylaxis or relative emergency incident.
- Give the cafeteria manager a photo of your child listing his/her allergies on the back. This will aid the faculty in protecting your child from ingesting the wrong choices.
- Present the school nurse with a health history as early in the school year as possible. The breakdown should include:
- Name of allergen
- Necessary medications
- The name and phone number of the primary health care provider
- How old your child was at time of diagnosis
- Usual symptoms experienced by student
- Number, frequency and date of medical interventions or allergic reactions
- History of hospitalizations
- The Child’s awareness of symptoms
Did You Know?
According to the New York Statewide School Health Services Center, five to six percent of the pediatric population has had an occurrence of a food allergy, with eight foods accounting for 90% of allergic reactions:
- Peanuts
- Shellfish
- Fish
- Tree nuts (i.e. walnuts, cashews, pecans, etc.)
- Eggs
- Milk
- Soy
- Wheat