Peanut Allergies: How to Safeguard Your Child at School

Not long ago, via a FB forum, individuals adamantly expressed their opposition to my stance on the necessity of protecting peanut allergic children in school settings. They expressed contempt regarding the infringement that instituting peanut free safeguards at school posed to their own children by preventing said children from eating their favorite peanut foods/snacks during school hours. Additionally, they felt that the severity of a peanut induced allergic reaction was nothing more than "hype" and not as serious as peanut allergic parents attempt to convey. Tragically, this past Monday, a 7 year old girl from VA died as a result of a peanut induced anaphylactic reaction. I remain optimistic that ignorance such as was expressed by the aforementioned individuals (and others who share similar vantage points) regarding this life threatening issue will one day be replaced with knowledge and compassion.

I am a peanut-safe school advocate. My daughter suffers from a life threatening peanut allergy and can experience an anaphylactic reaction not only from ingesting peanuts, but from coming in contact with peanut residue via cross contamination. Her reaction is not merely a tummy ache or hives that can be easily remedied; conversely it is a whole body reaction which causes hypo-tension, respiratory distress, and shock within 10 seconds of allergen contact. Being that she also suffers from asthma (commonly allergies and asthma exist co-morbidly) her compromised lungs place her at an increased risk of suffering from a deadly reaction. When your child can die without taking certain and specific precautions, there is no such thing as being overly precautionary.

Having a food allergic child is not easy. It requires a certain level of obsessiveness in which you are required to carry medication at all times, read food labels incessantly and constantly peruse your surroundings for (not necessarily visible) danger. It comes as no surprise then when schools baulk at instituting new policies and procedures that involve the work and dedication of the entire school community for one child. Keeping allergic children safe might seem an overwhelming task for schools to undertake however, Monday's unnecessary death tragically reminds us of the alternative.

It is likely that this tragedy could have been prevented with the implementation of some important peanut safeguards at this young girl's school. I assisted in the development of a plan at my daughter's school to ensure that she remains as safe as possible while in the school environment. We also constantly educate her about her allergy so that she is aware of the precautions necessary to keep herself safe when adults are not in her presence.

Below are the accommodations that can be employed at your peanut allergic child's school to help ensure that another young life is not lost unnecessarily. Your child should be eligible for a 504 plan because their allergy "interferes with a major life function" (breathing!). This plan obliges the school by law to adhere to said accommodations.

1. (Child) and/or staff pass a medication pack amongst each other as she transitions from one school learning environment to the other. The pack contains: (list required meds here). The school nurse will also be provided with the above medications for emergency or back up use with (Child). SCHOOL NURSE SHOULD BE CALLED IMMEDIATELY FOR ANY LEVEL OF ALLERGIC REACTION.

2. (Child) will be placed in a classroom that is designated as a "peanut restricted" classroom. A sign will be placed outside the door designating her classroom as peanut restricted.

3. Communication from the school principal and or school/nurse will go home to all parents in the classroom explaining the peanut restricted classroom environment.

4. If a student accidentally brings in a peanut containing item into the classroom, that student will be sent to another classroom to eat the snack. A generic reminder letter written by the principal will be sent home by the the teacher to that parent.

5. All students, staff, and visitors will wash their hands and mouth with soap and water when entering the classroom.

6. A soap and water solution will be used to wash (Child's) desk and any table she may use in the classroom, special classrooms, workrooms, etc. Any staff who needs this cleaning solution should contact the custodian to obtain it. Commonly available cleaning wipes may not provide an adequate level of safety.

7. All teachers and staff who work with (Child) must keep (Child's) Food Allergy Action/Alert Plan (which includes her picture) in their substitute folder/plans. (This plan states specific symptoms of an allergic reaction, accompanying medical interventions and picture). Each staff member must provide an additional page which explains the specific classroom environmental accommodations that are necessary in their specific teaching area when (Child) and her class enter the room.

8. (Child's) parents will be notified prior to a special event such as a party any time food products will be brought into the classroom from outside of school.

9. At the start of the school year, parents will provide an updated Allergy Action Alert Plan with updated color picture. Case manager will distribute it to all staff who have contact with (Child).

10. As required by law, a copy of (Child's) plan will be distributed to all staff who work with (Child).

11. Within the first couple days of school all staff who work with and or support (Child) will be educated/trained on her condition. This will include recognizing anaphylactic symptoms and Epi-pen administration, Accommodations relating to her allergy will be discussed and reviewed. Required staff includes: classroom teacher, any special teachers, support staff, associates, lunch duty aides, recess duty aides, kitchen workers, nursing staff, lead custodian and bus driver.

12. (Child) will sit at a designated peanut-free table in the lunchroom with one or two friends who have brought peanut-free lunches.

13. One of (Child's) parents will be offered the opportunity to attend field trips with her. Classroom teacher will actively review aspects of the field trip ahead of time to minimize level of risk. If any precautions are needed that are different than in the typical school day than alternate plans should be discussed with her parents ahead of time.

14. (Child) does not currently take the bus however, should she ever begin to take the bus, the following will be provided: preferential seating, a copy of her Alert/Action Plan, and bus driver allergy training.

Prior to my daughter starting full day K, we had to fight for all of the necessary accommodations that she is afforded now. Even the school nurse was resistant and felt the safeguards (minimal) that the school already employed were sufficient to keep allergic children safe. As a parent and advocate, be strong and fight for what your child requires to remain as safe as possible!! I often remind others that "There are no room for mistakes when a child's life is at risk!"