If your child has a food allergy, it's normal to feel a little nervous about sending them to school. "What if my child has a food allergy?" you may be wondering, but don't worry . By being organized, prepared, and working with the school, you can keep your child safe. Let's take a look at how to do this.
Should we prepare before school starts? (Spring and Summer)
This is like practicing before a cricket match. If you plan ahead, you won't have to worry later.
Let's start in spring!
Now is the best time to make an appointment to see your child's allergist during the summer holidays. You can then meet with the doctor during the holidays and discuss the details. Also, make an appointment to meet with the school principal, the school nurse, and your child's class teacher as soon as the summer holidays are over. This is a very important first step.
These are the things you should definitely do during your summer vacation.
Since I'm a little more relaxed during the holidays, it's easier to get these things done in order.
- Allergist appointment and emergency plan: Meet with the doctor and update your child's Food Allergy Emergency Plan . This should clearly list what foods your child is allergic to, what symptoms they will have if they have an allergy, what medications to give at that time, and how much to give. Include a recent photo of your child on this plan, and clearly list your and your doctor's current phone numbers . Make a few copies of this and bring them to the school. Check to see if you have enough medications, especially epinephrine, to send to school, and if they have expired. Get a prescription from the doctor for any needed medications.
- Consider a Medical Alert Bracelet: If possible, get your child a Medical Alert Bracelet . This is a small band worn on the wrist. It can take a few weeks to arrive, so order it in advance. It should clearly state the child's name, any allergies they have, and include a note that epinephrine should be given in case of a severe allergic reaction, as well as your emergency contact number.
- School Meeting: During the meeting with the principal, nurse, and teachers, clearly state that if your child has a severe allergic reaction, give them epinephrine immediately and then call 911 (or the nearest hospital if in Sri Lanka) . Also, make plans for how you will ensure your child's safety at different times of the day, such as snack time, lunch time, class parties, and field trips. Find out where the school nurse's office is and how far it is from classrooms, the lunchroom, and play areas.
Be careful about how your child eats at school.
In most cases, children with allergies can eat at the same table as other children if the necessary safety measures are taken. However, if the school has an "Allergen-Aware Table," plan to have your child eat safe food with their friends. This way, your child won't feel alone.
It is very important to learn these things from school.
When you talk to school officials, being clear about these points will greatly help your child's safety.
- Where should the foods to which the child is allergic (e.g. peanuts, milk, eggs) be stored separately and safely from other foods?
- Where does your child eat?
- Who cleans the dining table? What kind of liquid is used?
- Who will take care of the children during lunch and snack times?
- Who is responsible for washing hands before and after meals?
- Who trains substitute teachers and special-subject teachers to recognize and treat allergic reactions?
- Where is the epinephrine kept? Who has the authority to give it to the child if necessary? Are they trained to do so?
Don't forget to ask for these things from school.
Never hesitate to make these requests for your child.
- Inform staff: Young children may describe an allergic reaction differently. They may say things like "the food feels spicy," "the tongue feels hot," "the mouth and tongue feel itchy/tingly," or "the lips feel tight." Ask them to inform school staff about this.
- Discourage sharing food: Tell everyone to avoid sharing their food with others. This is important for all children.
- Handwashing: Encourage all children to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after eating. Remember that hand sanitizer gels do not remove allergens .
- Cleaning the dining table: Instead of using a sponge to wipe the dining table, ask them to use a disposable disinfecting wipe. This can spread allergens from sponges to other surfaces. This should be done by an adult, not a child.
- Stop giving food as gifts: Ask teachers to stop giving food as gifts to children in class. Also, if there are any food-related events, such as birthday parties, ask them to let you know a few days in advance.
- Be aware of non-food items: Things like art supplies, supplies for class projects, and animals raised in the classroom and their food can also contain allergens. Ask them to look into those as well.
Imagine your child is allergic to peanuts. Now, if you touch a toy with the same hand that you used to touch a piece of bread with peanut butter on it that another child brought, the allergen can be transferred to your child. This is what we call cross-contamination . You need to be very careful about this.
When school reopens, consider these things too
Along with pencils and book bags, you also need to prepare your child's medical supplies.
- Double-check that all of your child's medications are in order . If possible, give the school any medications that won't expire until the end of the school year. If not, put them on your calendar now and get new ones before they expire.
- If your child does not always have an Epinephrine Auto-Injector with them, make sure it is in the nurse's office, classroom, and other places where your child may be (e.g., after-school care). Clearly label the Epinephrine container with your child's name, photo, and your emergency contact number. Also, give your child's teacher hand wipes and some safe snacks for your child to eat.
Should we write a letter to the other parents too?
Consider writing a letter to the parents of other children in your child's class. Explain what your child's allergy is, what it means, and how severe a reaction can be. Explain the concept of cross-contamination simply, and be clear about how they can help keep your child safe. Be reasonable (don't ask for unnecessary things) and honest (don't make things worse than they are). If possible, offer to help make the food served at the birthday party safer for your child.
It's also a good idea to send a handout explaining how others can help people with food allergies. For example, you can get handouts like this from organizations like the Food Allergy Research and Education network (FARE).
Stay focused like this throughout the school term.
You need to keep your focus even after school starts.
- When school starts, talk to other parents at a time when you first meet them, like "Back to School night." When you meet in person, it's easier to get support from others to keep your child safe.
- Talk to the teacher regularly and see how things are going. If you have any questions or need to talk about ways to keep things safe and inclusive for your child, ask the teacher, principal, or nurse to talk to you.
- If you are preparing food in class, provide recipes and ingredients for safe food . Consider providing separate dishes, utensils, and utensils for your child's class to avoid cross-contamination from other classes' food that your child is allergic to.
- Tell the teacher that you can call at any time if you need to check the ingredients. Always check the ingredients of any snacks provided by school, and keep safe snacks in the classroom. To ensure your child's safety, it is best to send your child's snacks and lunches from home whenever possible.
The most important thing is to educate the child throughout the year!
No matter how cooperative your child's school and teachers are, the most important preparation you can do is educate your son or daughter about this . Over time, as your child learns about this, he or she will be able to take more responsibility for his or her own safety.
- Talk to your child and remind them what they are allergic to, what foods are good to eat, and what foods are not good to eat .
- Remind your child not to take food from anyone else in class and never eat it unless you are sure it is safe . This means that most of the time, they will only eat food that you have prepared at home or that you have approved.
- Teach your child to wash their hands before and after eating, and after playing outside.
- Teach your child to watch for signs of an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, facial swelling, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and vomiting , and to tell someone immediately if they feel unwell .
Finally, the most important things to remember
So, you can see that this is a bit of a chore. But, all of this is for the safety of your child.
Don't panic, be patient, and work with a plan. Maintain a good relationship with the school. Get your child used to this. Then your child will be able to go to school happily and safely like other children.
Remember, you are not alone. There are doctors, teachers, and school staff to help you. Join them on this journey. You will win!
` Food allergies, school safety, epinephrine, allergy plan, children's health, cross-contamination, school nurse
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න