Emergency Planning Tips
Last year my children's school sent home a note detailing emergency lockdown and dismissal procedures, noting that students can be cared for there for extended periods of time. My immediate thought was meals. While FAAST has always advised parents to have an emergency lunch on-hand during the school day, the need for such measures is now more evident.
If you have not provided your child's school with a back-up meal or two, please do so. My son is allergic to peanuts, nuts, tuna, and various legumes so I simply put a pop-top can of meat, applesauce (with plastic utensils), crackers and fruit snacks in a paper bag marked with my son's name. The bag remains with his emergency meds at school.
Something else to consider is making sure your child carries a snack with him/her while away from home, at sports events or wherever. Better to be safe than hungry!
We all pray that such measures are just precautionary but in today's world we must be prepared for anything. Peace to you all.
Jennifer Redmond
FAAST Founder
Decision Making
- Can you recognize symptoms of anaphylaxis?
- Do you know when to administer epinephrine?
- Does your child know the food allergens to avoid by name and by visual recognition?
- Can your child self administer epinephrine?
- How do you feel about educating the staff and others about your child's condition?
- Does your child know what to do if they feel sick?
Back to School Homework for Parents
Prior to the first day of school, Parents should:
- Request a copy of school medication forms
- Review emergency action plan with physician and have all medication orders signed by M.D.
- Provide a physicians diagnosis/documentation of the food allergy
- Fill current prescriptions, check expiration dates. Make sure all medications sent to school have the pharmacy label attached
- Develop individualized food allergy management plan
- Find out the level of EMS response in your community
- Find out if the school has a nurse, and if so, how many days she is available
- Schedule a meeting with: school principal, school nurse, teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria manager
- In this meeting, discuss emergency action plan, food allergy management plan
- If your child attends a before or after school program, include those leaders in the meeting, or schedule a separate meeting
- Train staff how to use the EpiPen or Twinject
- Decide where epinephrine will be stored, and decide if the student will carry the epinephrine with him/her during the day
Ohio Senate Bill 164 section 3313.718. > Effective 3-23-07 Protects the right of the student to possess and administer an epinephrine auto injector. For details, visit www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_SB_164
- Have your child meet the school nurse as soon as possible
- Emergency contact information should be updated with all possible ways to reach the parents, including: home, work, cell phone and pager numbers
- Make sure emergency medication is available the FIRST day of school
Emergency Action Plan
- Plan designed by parent and child's physician
- Consider using FAAN's Food Allergy Action Plan (www.foodallergy.org)
- Plan provides documentation of child's food allergy
- Lists symptoms of anaphylaxis
- Gives clear orders about emergency medication administration
- Lists emergency contact phone numbers
- Directive to call 911 and transport to hospital
- Parent and M.D. signature
- Lists staff members trained in how to administer epinephrine
Avoidance Strategies for School
- Strict avoidance of the food allergen is part of the standard of care in managing food allergies
- Elimination diet(s)
- Label reading
- List of food to avoid
- "Safe lists" are dangerous
- Food from home for lunch, snacks, planned and unplanned parties
Staff training to check ingredients of:
- Hand soap, lotions
- Pet food, bedding
- Beanbags
- Arts and crafts supplies, ex., handmade play dough
Food in the classroom
- Enforce a no "food sharing" policy
- All children should wash their hands with liquid or bar soap and running water or use commercial hand wipes after eating (before and after eating for the food allergic child)
- Hand sanitizers are not effective in removing food allergens
- Tabletops need to be cleaned with common household cleaning agents, ex. Formula 409, Lysol sanitizing wipes, dishwashing liquid not effective
Teach your child to:
- Not accept food from another parent or student
- Always read the label of prepackaged food
- Do not eat the food if the ingredients are not listed
- Immediately tell the teacher if he or she feels sick
Food Allergy Management Plan
- Written plan describes avoidance strategies specific to your child
- Will include child's name, food allergy, symptoms of a reaction, location of EpiPens, avoidance strategies, emergency phone numbers
- Parent and physician signature
- Copy for the school nurse, teachers, substitute teachers, coaches, scout leaders
Management Plan should also include Special Events
- Field trips
- Class parties
- Awards and incentives
- Lesson plans
- Holiday celebrations
- Religious ceremonies
- Cooking/science experiences
Example of an Avoidance Plan
- May not eat peanuts or tree nuts
- May not eat any food brought to school by any teacher, parent or student
- Must eat food sent from home in the case of a class party
- May never eat bakery food
- Must wash hands before and after meals
- No eating on bus
- Driver trained in medication administration
- EpiPen on bus
- Cell phone
- Seating arrangements in cafeteria and classroom during snacks
Ohio Senate Bill 164 section 3313.718.
- Effective 3-23-07
- protects the right of the student to possess and administer an epinephrine auto injector
The student has the written approval of the prescriber of the autoinjector and, if the student is a minor, the written approval of the parent, guardian, or other person having care or charge of the student. The prescriber's written approval shall include at least all of the following information:
- Acknowledgment that the prescriber has determined that the student is capable of possessing and using the autoinjector appropriately and has provided the student with training in the proper use of the autoinjector;
- Circumstances in which the autoinjector should be used;
- Written instructions that outline procedures school employees should follow in the event that the student is unable to administer the anaphylaxis medication or the medication does not produce the expected relief from the student's anaphylaxis;
- Any severe adverse reactions that may occur to the child using the autoinjector that should be reported to the prescriber;
- Any severe adverse reactions that may occur to another child, for whom the autoinjector is not prescribed, should such a child receive a dose of the medication;
- The school principal or, if a school nurse is assigned to the student's school building, the school nurse has received a backup dose of the anaphylaxis medication from the parent, guardian, or other person having care or charge of the student or, if the student is not a minor, from the student.
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