Avoidance of a specific allergen is the cornerstone of management in preventing anaphylaxis. To do so, planning and education are the keys to successful management of life-threatening allergies.
The goal of the board’s administrative procedures is to provide a safe environment for children with life-threatening allergies, but it is not possible to reduce the risk to zero. However, a list of suggestions Practical Strategies for Avoidance: Minimizing the Risk at School (p. 26) will allow the anaphylactic child to attend school with relative confidence. Policies and procedures need to be flexible enough to allow schools and classrooms to adapt to the needs of individual children and the allergens which trigger reactions, as well as the organizational and physical environments in different schools. It should also be noted that precautions may vary depending on the properties of the allergen. It is impractical to achieve complete avoidance of all allergenic foods, as there can be many hidden or accidentally introduced
sources. However it is definitely possible to reduce children’s exposure to allergenic foods within the school setting.
All of the following recommendations should be considered in the context of the anaphylactic child’s age and maturity. As children mature, they should be expected to take increasing personal responsibility for avoidance of their specific allergens. This being said, an anaphylactic individual at any age, should never be expected to self-inject. Innovative ways to minimize the risk of exposure without depriving the anaphylactic child of normal peer interactions or placing unreasonable restrictions on the activities of other children in the school may be found. Please see Practical Strategies for Avoidance: Minimizing the Risk at School.
Ensuring the safety of anaphylactic children in a school setting depends on the co-operation of the entire school community. To minimize risk of exposure, and to ensure a rapid response to an emergency, parents, students and school personnel must all understand and fulfill their responsibilities. |
Board Documents