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A Guide for Parents/Students
with Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis - an allergic
reaction that can cause death - is on the increase. Young children
with anaphylaxis are now in Canadian schools, and they are children
with unique and special needs. Both the parents of such children,
and the schools those children attend, have a responsibility to
ensure that the schools provide a safe environment for these children.
Parents must give their children basic knowledge about anaphylaxis;
and they must provide the school with sufficient information to
help ensure the child's safety. Schools must recognize the genuine
seriousness of anaphylaxis, and must take appropriate steps.
A partial checklist of
responsibilities and actions are provided below. Implemented conscientiously,
these suggestions will help make the school experience safe and
positive for both the child and the school.
- Parents should teach
their child with anaphylaxis that anaphylaxis is life-threatening
and let the child know which allergens need to be avoided. In
addition, the child must be prepared for an anaphylactic reaction
and must know how to use either an EpiPen® .
- Avoidance is the
key to prevention. Children with anaphylaxis must be taught not
to take or exchange food with other children.
- Parents should provide
the child's school with a letter from the doctor (or allergist),
if possible, confirming that the child has anaphylaxis.
- At the start of each
school year, parents should inform school authorities, both verbally
and in writing, (through use of the Anaphylaxis form, attached)
of their child's medical needs.
- Parents should provide
the school with emergency plans indicating what is necessary to
the provision of a safe environment for their child.
- Parents should provide
two EpiPens®, if possible, (three in rural communities)
to be used in case of a medical emergency. (This needs to be assessed
on an individual basis).
- It is the responsibility
of the parent to provide a safe carrying case for the EpiPen®
to be worn on the child's person, such as a waist
pouch.
- Parents must ensure
that any medication intended for the child has not reached its
"best before" or expiry date.
- Parents should visit
the child's classroom, meet with the teacher and identify any
health hazards in the classroom.
- Parents and/or school
staff should arrange to have a representative of the Allergy
Asthma Information Association (AAIA) or the Public Health
Nurse conduct an education inservice for all school employees,
including support staff and bus drivers.
- Parents and/or school
authorities should ensure that all cafeteria employees are aware
of the names of the allergic students and the allergens they are
anaphylactic to educate cafeteria staff to the danger of cross-contamination,
complete ingredient information should be available on request.
Prepared by:
Mrs.
Lilly Byrtus
Regional Co-ordinator, Prairies/NWT
16531 - 114 Street
Edmonton, AB T5X 3V6
Phone (780) 456-6651
Email: prairies@aaia.ca
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J.
Wolters, Founder, Anaphylactic Support Group of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
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Dr.
Vincent M. Osundwa M.B.ChB MPH F.R.C.P.(C)
Allergist and Clinical Immunologist
Suite, 1230, 10665 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 3S9
Phone (780) 425-3400 |
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Also for
more information:
Allergy/ Asthma Information
Association
Box
100, Toronto, Ontario M9W 5K9
Phone (416) 679-9521 or 1-800-611-7011 Fax: (416) 679-9524
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of Use: The information
on this site does not constitute medical advice and is for your
general information only. We cannot be held responsible for anything
you could possibly do or say because of information on this site.
Consult your family physician or allergist for specific questions
or concerns.
This article courtesy of the Allergy/Asthma
Information Association at www.aaia.ca and the Calgary Allergy Network
web site at www.calgaryallergy.ca. May be reproduced for educational,
non-profit purposes with proper attribution.
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