|
|
Reducing risks: School Board's Anaphylaxis Policy
By law, each school board is required to have an Anaphylaxis Policy which must include the following:
Flow chart: Action Steps for Anaphylaxis Management (PDF)
|
|
Strategies that reduce the risk of exposure
- School boards may wish to consider requiring schools to develop a school anaphylaxis plan. Safety should be put first. A school should continuously strive to create an “allergy-safe” vs. “allergy-free” (e.g. peanut-free) environment. No guarantee should be given, explicitly or implicitly, that there will be zero risk.
Tips and suggested strategies:
- Make a voluntary appeal to the community to avoid sending specific allergens in lunches or as snacks.
- Do not circulate lists of “safe foods,” which can change or become outdated.
- Designate areas for eating (e.g., “safe zones” for pupils with food allergy), and keep food/drinks out of common areas (e.g. library, computer labs).
- Supervise younger children while they are eating. They should only eat food approved by their parents.
- Reduce allergens in vending machines.
- Consider non-food items for celebrations and rewards.
- Wash hands before and after eating. Liquid or bar soap or antibacterial wipes are more effective than anti-bacterial hand sanitizers for removing peanut butter residue.
- Clean surfaces before and after eating, with common household cleaners, sanitizing wipes or bleach containing cleaners.
- Require a “No Eating” rule during daily travel on school buses.
- For school trips
- Advise adult supervisors about pupils with severe allergies.
- Ensure that each pupil with life-threatening allergies has an extra epinephrine auto-injector.
- Have a cell phone available.
- Know location of and route to nearest medical facility.
- For insect sting allergy
- Remove hives or nests of stinging insects from school property.
- Avoid areas where stinging insects gather.
- Make sure garbage containers are covered or moved away from play areas.
- Drink from cups rather than beverage cans or bottles, or use a straw.
|
|
|
|
|
