Extra Curricular &

On the Bus

Field Trips

N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.6 requires a nurse or delegate to be available during school and school sponsored functions in the event of anaphylaxis. Students with food allergies should participate in all school activities and must not be excluded based on their condition.

Communicate (with parent/guardian permission) relevant aspects of the Individualized Emergency Healthcare Plan to staff, as appropriate, for field trips and school-sponsored functions.
Encourage long-term planning of field trips in order to ensure that food-allergic students receive needed services while away from school.
Evaluate appropriateness of trips when considering the needs of students e.g., a trip to a dairy farm should not be scheduled for a class with a milk-allergic student.
Encourage, but do not require, parents/guardians of food-allergic students to accompany their child on school trips.
Establish district- or school-wide procedures for the emergency administration of medications.
Assess procedure for emergency staff communications on field trips.
Inform parents, when possible, of school events at which food will be served or used.

School-Sponsored Functions

The principal and school staff will work closely with volunteers when planning school sponsored events involving students. In addition to the risk reduction measures referenced elsewhere in these guidelines, the school will

Discourage trading of food and sharing of utensils.
Promote and monitor good hand washing practices.
Discourage the use of foods that are known allergens.
Train before- and after school coordinators in allergy awareness.
Train before- and after school coordinators in basic food handling procedures.

Athletics

Students are required to identify any allergies through the FamilyID registration process and they must carry an epipen (if necessary) at all times in accordance with Policy 5330. This includes all team events, meetings, workouts, practices, etc., both in season and out of season.

The Athletic Trainer/Coaches will be trained epipen delegates and they are required to check daily that their student-athletes have their epipen. This includes all team events, meetings, workouts, practices, etc., both in season and out of season.

Booster Clubs will be required to adhere to the information provided below in the "Parent Groups" section of this resources. All athletic volunteer groups will work directly with the coaches to ensure that all of the necessary risk reduction procedures are being followed.

Parent Groups

It is essential that principals, teachers, and school nurses communicate with parent groups and volunteers to takes measures to ensure a safe environment for students when food is served and consumed. In addition to the risk reduction strategies outlined for cafeterias and classrooms, parent groups are advised to:

Discourage the use of foods that are known to contain allergens.
Provide allergy free / safe food alternatives for students with life threatening allergies.
Prohibit trading of food and sharing of utensils.
Promote and monitor good hand washing practices.
Train before- and after school parent volunteers in allergy awareness.

Promote allergy awareness through the online resource guide and compliance with procedures outlined for outside community members and organizations authorized to use school facilities.

Bus Transportation

The district considers the needs of students with life-threatening allergies while being transported to and from school and to school-sponsored activities.

Prohibit the consumption of food on buses to and from school and on field trips.
Advise bus drivers food allergy awareness, symptoms associated with food allergic reactions, and how to respond appropriately.
Assess the emergency communications systems on buses.
Consider assigned bus seating i.e., students with food allergies can sit at the front of the bus or can be paired with a “bus buddy.”
Assess existing policies regarding food on buses.