File: JIHCA
WEST SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
FOOD ALLERGIES & LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES
The West Springfield Public Schools is dedicated to providing a healthy, safe environment for its students. Students identified with life threatening allergies (i.e. food, bees) will be provided for as necessary in the school environment. This policy guides the district in reducing exposure to allergens to the best of their ability and to establish procedures to treat allergic reactions. The district will provide training to educate staff in the management of life threatening allergies.
A student identified as having a life threatening allergy must have a written statement clearly documenting the allergy from his/her physician.
The student who has an allergy and who is making effective educational progress in the regular educational program does not need a special education evaluation, an IEP, or accommodations for his/her disability under section 504.
Each child diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy will have an individual health care plan that addresses the management of anaphylaxis. Communication of the child’s needs should be with the nurse, parent, student (if appropriate), classroom teacher, foodservice manager, and other personnel as determined by the student’s needs.
The West Springfield Public Schools will be prepared to manage an anaphylactic emergency by:
a. Having responsible school personnel designated and trained to respond (Section V of the MA regulations governing the administration of epinephrine by auto injector to students with diagnosed life-threatening allergic conditions).
b. Clearly identifying the student’s needs by an individual health care plan
c. Having a physician’s order for epinephrine on file
d. Maintain a current supply of epinephrine by auto-injector in the nurse’s office (unlocked on top of the medication cabinet), or carried by the student (if appropriate).
e. Emergency personnel (911) will be called to respond if epinephrine is given in the school setting and if anaphylaxis occurs.
f. Notifying parents/guardians.
g. School nurse to assess individuals with unknown allergies that are life threatening and may administer epinephrine and benadryl as prescribed by the school physician for anaphylaxis.
A child with a severe allergy to any substance (ie. food, bees, etc.) will have a plan identifying the extent to which they need their environment to be as free from the identified substance as possible. The following items may need to be included in their plan depending on the severity of the allergy:
· Specific allergen (ie. Peanut butter, egg, milk, etc.)-safe table option in school cafeteria for severe allergies.
· Children may bring from home, peanut butter and any other known allergen of children within the school.
· Recommend: known allergen safe food preparation area in school kitchen.
· Clearly labeled foods from school kitchens that have peanut products or other food allergens which children in the school may be allergic to.
Parents/Guardians
General for all types of allergies
· Notify the school nurse of the child’s allergy prior to the opening of school (or as soon as possible after a diagnosis).
· Participate in developing and updating an Allergy Action Plan with the school nurse annually or as needed.
· Participate in team meetings to develop a plan accommodating needs in the classroom, cafeteria, after school programs and on the school bus, if appropriate.
· Provide written instructions from the licensed medical provider.
· Provide the school with up-to-date EpiPen auto-injectors.
· Provide the nurse with at least annual updates on the child’s allergies.
· Provide the school with a way to contact the parent.
· Be willing to go on their child’s field trips if possible and if requested.
· Educate their child in the self-management of his/her allergy.
· For any known, severe allergy- supply the school with an EpiPen 2 pack so that one can be kept in the nurse office and one in the kitchen area.
Specific to food allergies:
· Provide a list of foods and ingredients to avoid.
· Be willing to provide safe foods for your child as well as the class for special occasions.
· Leave a bag of “safe snacks” in your child’s classroom so there is always something your child can choose from during an unplanned special event.
General for all types of allergies:
· Be part of a core team that includes at least the school nurse, teacher, and food service staff that is knowledgeable about children with specific allergies, allergic reaction symptoms and action plans.
· Assist in creating specific areas that will be allergen safe if possible.
· Work with the school nurse in addressing specific needs of children.
General for all types of allergies:
· Preferably before entry to school in September (or in the case of a new diagnosis or transfer), the nurse will meet with or communicate with the parent to develop an Allergy Action Plan for that child.
· Arrange meetings as necessary to review effectiveness of the plan, and make changes if indicated.
· Communicate details of allergy action plan with appropriate staff.
· Coordinate trainings and education of staff as needed regarding: specific children’s allergies, emergency procedures, and administration of epinephrine auto-injector in an emergency.
· Ensure that teachers who have children with severe allergies receive a copy of the emergency plan.
· Train appropriate school staff in EpiPen administration.
· Train all teachers, paras, and cafeteria staff in Awareness & Education of food allergies & reaction symptoms.
· With the student and parent’s permission, may plan with the classroom teacher to provide a lesson about allergies (i.e. food/bees) for the class and discuss anaphylaxis at an age appropriate level.
· Ensure that there is a group of staff in the building who receives appropriate EpiPen administration training. Post list of trained staff on medicine cabinet in nurse’s office and provide Principal with the list.
· All EpiPens will be located, unlocked, on top of the nurse’s medicine cabinet. For known, severe allergies nurses will request from parents an EpiPen 2 pack so that there will be one located in the nurse’s office as well as the kitchen area.
Specific to food allergies:
· Coordinate special training as needed for food service personnel regarding allergic symptoms and emergency plans for students with food allergies.
· Participate in team meeting to develop emergency plans for student with life-threatening allergies. (Teachers at MS and HS can be informed by School nurse)
· Keep accessible students Allergy Action plan with photo in lesson plan.
· Be sure volunteers, aids, specialists, substitute teachers are informed of the student’s allergies and necessary safeguards.
· With the students and parent’s permission, may coordinate with the nurse and the parent to provide a lesson about allergies for the class and discuss anaphylaxis in age appropriate terms.
· Participate in training regarding:
1. Allergens that cause life-threatening allergies
2. Steps to take to prevent life-threatening reactions and accidental exposures to allergens.
3. How to recognize symptoms of the student’s life-threatening allergic reaction.
4. Steps to manage an emergency.
5. May be trained in EpiPen administration, or call identified trained staff.
Specific to food allergies:
· Inform parents of any special occasions/parties in the classroom as a reminder to send appropriate food.
Snacks/Lunchtime
· Prohibit students from sharing or trading snacks
· Encourage parent/guardian to send in “safe” snacks for their child.
· Reinforce hand washing before and after eating.
Classroom Activities
· Prohibit use of known allergen for classroom activities (i.e. arts and crafts, counting, science projects, etc.)
· Use stickers, pencils or other non-food items as rewards instead of food.
· May need to prohibit use of peanut/nut products in cooking classes at the MS and HS, if children in classes are allergic.
Field Trips
· Collaborate with the school nurse when planning the details of a field trip.
· Ensure that the EpiPen and Allergy Action Plan are taken on all field trips.
· Invite parents of a student at risk for anaphylaxis to accompany child on trip.
· Ensure that child with allergy is with a person trained in use of EpiPen administration.
· Consider ways to wash hands before and after eating.
Specific to food allergies:
· May attend the team meeting to discuss the Allergy Action Plan as scheduled by the nurse.
· Post the student’s Allergy Action Plan in the kitchen, with consent of parents.
· Attend training’s offered related to Food allergies, recognizing allergic symptoms, and cross contamination in the kitchen and cafeteria.
· May need to clean cafeteria tables before any child with food allergies eats.
· Read all food labels and recheck routinely for presence of food allergens (of children in the building).
· Label snacks at schools: Potentially contains peanuts or specific allergens, can use symbols at EC-elementary schools.
· Train all foodservice staff and their substitutes to read product food labels and recognize food allergens of their students.
· Maintain contact information for distributors of food products.
· Provide advance copies of the menu as able and as requested to parents/guardians and nurse.
· Take all complaints seriously from any student with a life-threatening allergy.
· Be prepared to take emergency action- contact nurse, call 911, someone to administer EpiPen.
· Use non-latex gloves when handling food.
· In elementary schools, thoroughly clean all peanut free tables prior to first lunch, using specific bleach solution and /or disinfectant.
· Pay particular attention to where the child with an allergic condition is sitting as well as where children with peanut products in their boxed lunches are sitting.
· Ensure that allergen safe areas or tables are labeled, if necessary and as requested by a parent.
Coaches and other on-site persons in charge of conducting after school activities
· Nurse to provide copy of Allergy Action Plan of any child with life-threatening allergies.
· Participate in training related to recognizing allergy symptoms and initiating Allergy Action Plan.
· If possible, be trained in EpiPen administration.
· Make certain that a communication device is present and available to use for emergencies.
· Coaches: ensure that student athletes are aware that they are responsible for having EpiPen with them for all sporting events.
· After school activities: access to nurse’s office or cafeteria for EpiPen and phone in an emergency.
Legal Ref: M.G.L. c. 71, § 37
Misc. Note: March 3, 2011/DESE/all districts implement a “detailed” written policy
1st Reading: March 28, 2011 (Policy subcommittee meeting)
2nd Reading: April 5, 2011
Approval: April 5, 2011