Growing Together Principal: Mr Paul Andrijich Deputy Principal: Mr Paul Westcott Registrar: Mrs Kerry Vine 65 Coast Road West Swan WA 6055 Telephone: 9250 2711 Mobile: 0434734390 Fax: 9250 2416 EDUCATE EXCITE - EXCEL Anaphylaxis Policy
ANAPHYLAXIS POLICY Definition: Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden reaction. It occurs when a person is exposed to an allergen (such as a food or an insect bite). Reactions usually begin within minutes of exposure and can progress rapidly over a period of up to two or more hours. It is possible for skin contact or food odours to trigger an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is potentially life threatening and always requires an emergency response. Fortunately anaphylactic reactions are uncommon and usually preventable. Rationale: There is a growing presence of children in school who have been identified by a medical practitioner as being at risk of an anaphylactic reaction (severe allergic reaction). It is important therefore that parents, staff and children recognise the risk and understand the steps taken to minimise the exposure to specific triggers of an anaphylactic reaction. In an emergency, all staff have a duty of care. Planning to assist staff to deal with unexpected situations forms part of the school s responsibility. In the case of students at risk of anaphylaxis, the principal has a responsibility to ensure staff are trained to respond. Purpose Caversham Primary School supports the endeavours of children to reach their full potential in the areas of academic, social, cultural and physical growth. The purpose of Caversham Primary School s Anaphylaxis Policy is to establish school practices which ensure the safety and well being of all students at risk of anaphylaxis. Guidelines: Parent s Responsibility. It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the school that their child is at risk of an anaphylactic reaction either at the time of enrolment, or if the student is enrolled, as soon after diagnosis as possible. The parent also needs to update any health care details at the beginning of each academic year or more frequently if the medical condition of the child changes. The parents of any student who may suffer from a serious allergic reaction shall provide an individual health care plan endorsed by a medical practitioner explaining the allergens, expected symptoms and recommended action in the event of accidental exposure to an allergen. Parents are required to provide, where the individual health care plan requires, adrenalin in the form of an auto-injector device (EpiPen) which shall be kept in the child s classroom and/or in the school office for emergency use during school. The EpiPen will also accompany the student on all off site activities and excursions. Parents are responsible for providing the EpiPens to the school at the commencement of every school year and will need to replace them before they expire. School s Responsibility. The school owes a duty of care to all students and as such foreseeable risks need to be minimised. As part of this risk minimisation, nut products will not be sold through the school canteen. In addition, parents will regularly be provided with information regarding how to assist this risk minimisation process. As with other health conditions, the school will provide support to assist the parent in the management of their child s health. To be effective it is important that: The parent and the school share information and clarify expectations. Every reasonable effort is made to minimise the exposure of students at risk to an allergic reaction to a known allergen within the school environment. An Emergency Response Plan is developed and implemented.
MANAGEMENT OF RISK PROCEDURES 1. The school will seek information from parent/carers about allergies as part of health information at enrolment or as part of the annual student information updates and at other times during the course of a student s time at the school e.g. parental consent forms for camps/excursions. 2. Where information from the parent/carer indicates that their child has a severe allergy and/or anaphylaxis, provide a copy of Form 4- Severe Allergy/Anaphylaxis Management and Emergency Response Plan to be completed at time of enrolment or when initially advised. 3. A Case Conference will be arranged by the school administration to discuss the Emergency Response Plan completed by the parents/carers and the actions the school will undertake to ensure the student s health and safety. This meeting may involve inviting affected individuals on staff e.g. classroom teacher, Education assistants etc to participate in the discussion. During this meeting the parents will be provided with: a. an Information for Parents and Carers sheet. b. a copy of the school s Anaphylaxis Policy. At this meeting parents/carers will be advised that they are responsible for providing the required information for the development of the Emergency Response Plan and advised that they are responsible for updating the plan at the commencement of the school year or at other times if the health status of the student changes. 4. Staff will be provided with information about the individual student's severe allergy as agreed with the parent. 5. If required, an interim plan will be developed, which in rare cases, may include delaying the student s enrolment until consultations have occurred with staff and satisfactory support arrangements have been agreed to. 6. The school will conduct an assessment of potential exposure to allergens in the student s routine and of issues to be addressed in implementing the Emergency Response Plan. The following areas will be considered: routine classroom activities, including lessons in other locations around the school non-routine classroom activities, e.g. excursions/incursions non-routine school activities before school, recess, lunchtime, other break or play times sport or other programmed out-of-school activities 7. Develop an implementation strategy that addresses the training needs of staff, including relief teachers, and communication strategies for relevant aspects of the Emergency Response Plan, including with other parents and students, where relevant. UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE PARENT/CARER It is the role of the parent/carer to: 1. Inform the principal of the health needs of the child(ren) upon enrolment and when the health needs of the child(ren) change. 2. When requested by the principal, negotiate an Emergency Response Plan to ensure student health and well being.
3. Provide written requests for the school to administer prescribed medications 4. Provide the equipment and consumables for carrying out health care support procedures as specified in the student's Emergency Response Plan, including where relevant, the appropriate EpiPen. 5. Replace the EpiPen when it expires or after it has been used.
Growing Together Principal: Mr Paul Andrijich Deputy Principal: Mr Paul Westcott Registrar: Mrs Kerry Vine 65 Coast Road West Swan WA 6055 Telephone: 9250 2711 Mobile: 0434734390 Fax: 9250 2416 EDUCATE EXCITE - EXCEL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/CARERS You have identified your child of being at risk of a severe allergic reaction. Thank you for sharing this information. While the main role of Caversham Primary School is to provide education, we want your child to be relaxed and happy while at school and for you to feel confident that your child is being well looked after at school. The school will work with you to take the necessary steps to give your child appropriate support. In some circumstances we may need additional support from other relevant school authorities to determine the best way for your child s support needs to be met. If you are seeking enrolment for your child there may be a slight delay while support arrangements are worked out. STEP 1: Preparation of an individual health care plan This plan will include: details of your child's severe allergy/allergies* a photograph of your child an Emergency Response Plan your contact details in case of an emergency and those of another person in the event you are unavailable an arrangement for a photograph and information about your child s needs to be placed in agreed positions around the school i.e. in the staff room and on the class teacher s desk. your signature to indicate details have been read and that you and your child have been consulted in the development of the plan. *NOTE: It is a requirement of the Department of Education and Training for the parents/carers to provide information from your child s medical practitioner about the history, signs and symptoms and treatment of your child's severe allergy. Furthermore, any Emergency Response Plan which is developed needs to be authorised and endorsed (signed) by your child s medical practitioner. STEP 2: Documentation and supply of prescribed treatment. Any treatment required by your child will require a written request to the principal including instructions for administration. You will need to provide the appropriately labelled medication(s) to the school (e.g. EpiPen, antihistamine). Thank you Principal- Caversham Primary School
Growing Together Principal: Mr Paul Andrijich Deputy Principal: Mr Paul Westcott Registrar: Mrs Kerry Vine 65 Coast Road West Swan WA 6055 Telephone: 9250 2711 Mobile: 0434734390 Fax: 9250 2416 EDUCATE EXCITE - EXCEL INFORMATION FOR STAFF What is anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction. It occurs when a person is exposed to an allergen (such as a food or insect bite). Although death is rare, an anaphylactic reaction always requires an emergency response. Prompt treatment with injected adrenaline is required to halt progression and can be life saving. Fortunately anaphylactic reactions are usually preventable by implementing strategies for avoiding allergens. Common allergens for anaphylaxis are: foods (e.g. peanuts and nuts, shellfish and fish; and in pre-school age children, milk and egg) insect bites (e.g. bee, wasp, jumper ants) medications (e.g. antibiotics, aspirin) latex (e.g. rubber gloves, balloons, swimming caps). The severity of an anaphylactic reaction can be influenced by a number of factors including exercise, hot weather and in the case of food allergens, the amount eaten. In the case of severe food allergies, an anaphylactic reaction is usually triggered by ingestion of the food, however, although rare, it is possible for skin contact or food odours to trigger an anaphylactic reaction. The school can help by assisting the student in the avoidance of allergens and ensuring that an emergency response plan is in place for all activities. The early recognition of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis may save lives by allowing the earlier administration of first aid and contact of the appropriate emergency medical services. Who is at risk of anaphylaxis? Children who are highly allergic to any of the above allergens are at risk of anaphylaxis if exposed. Those who have had a previous anaphylactic reaction are at increased risk. How can you recognise an anaphylactic reaction? Reactions usually begin within minutes of exposure and can progress rapidly at any time over a period of two hours. A student at risk of anaphylaxis may often recognise the early symptoms of an allergic reaction before any other signs are observable. Common symptoms are: flushing and/or swelling of the face itching and/or swelling of the lips, tongue or mouth itching and/or a sense of tightness in the throat, hoarseness, difficulty breathing and/or swallowing hives, itchy rash and/or swelling about the face, body or extremities nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting shortness of breath, repetitive coughing and/or wheezing
faint, rapid pulse, low blood pressure light headedness, feeling faint, collapse distress, anxiety and a sense of dread. Staff responsibility in an emergency In an emergency, all staff have a duty of care. Staff are to use common sense which dictates that in an emergency, while they should not act beyond their capabilities and qualifications, they are expected to do what they can to take appropriate action. What should I do? The student s Emergency Response Plan, which is located in the Medical Room and the child s classroom, will indicate what needs to be done if an allergic reaction should occur. The student s EpiPen will be kept in the overhead cupboard of the Medical Room. It will be stored in a container with the student s name clearly marked on it. In the event that the student is away from the main school site, e.g. Kindy/Pre primary, the Emergency Response Plan and EpiPen will be located at the classroom itself. Early recognition of symptoms and immediate treatment could save a child's life. Relief teachers are to report to the office at the beginning of each day to collect keys and a relief teacher s file. This file will contain the evacuation policy, duty rosters and Emergency Response Plans (including a photo), for those children in the class with severe allergies. New relief teachers to the school will receive an information booklet, which contains more detailed information on our Anaphylaxis Policy. Training in the management of anaphylaxis All staff will be informed of children at risk of anaphylaxis advising all of the relevant details of the individual student s severe allergy. Training will be arranged in the use of an EpiPen for all staff by the school nurse or other medically qualified person. Camps and Excursions On school camps or excursions where there are children with an Emergency Response Plan it will be requested that foods containing the prescribed allergens are not taken or supplied. A copy of the Emergency Response Plan, as well as an Epipen, must be carried by the teacher at all times while on camps or excursions. FOOD POLICY MEASURES IN THE SCHOOL There should be no trading or sharing of food, food utensils or food containers. It is ideal that children with severe food allergies should only eat lunches and snacks that have been prepared at home. Bottles, other drinks and lunch boxes provided by the parents for their children should be clearly labelled with the name of the child for whom they are intended. The use of food in crafts, cooking and science experiments may need to be restricted depending on the allergies of particular children. A risk minimisation policy for the school canteen will be implemented. This involves removal of items with peanuts or tree nuts as an ingredient, but does not apply to those foods labelled "may contain traces of nuts". Parents will be requested not to send to school peanut and tree nut products or other allergens known to put children at risk.
Growing Together Principal: Mr Paul Andrijich Deputy Principal: Mr Paul Westcott Registrar: Mrs Kerry Vine 65 Coast Road West Swan WA 6055 Telephone: 9250 2711 Mobile: 0434734390 Fax: 9250 2416 EDUCATE EXCITE EXCEL Dear Parents/carers STUDENT AT RISK OF ANAPHYLAXIS A student in your child s classroom has been diagnosed by a medical practitioner as being at risk of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction. It occurs when a person is exposed to an allergen (such as a food or insect bite). Although death is rare, an anaphylactic reaction always requires an emergency response. Prompt treatment with injected adrenaline (EpiPen) is required to halt progression and can be life saving. Fortunately anaphylactic reactions are usually preventable by implementing strategies for avoiding allergens. Common allergens for anaphylaxis are: foods (e.g. peanuts and nuts, shellfish and fish; and in pre-school age children, milk and egg) insect bites (e.g. bee, wasp, jumper ants) medications (e.g. antibiotics, aspirin) latex (e.g. rubber gloves, balloons, swimming caps). The severity of an anaphylactic reaction can be influenced by a number of factors including exercise, hot weather and in the case of food allergens, the amount eaten. In the case of severe food allergies, an anaphylactic reaction is usually triggered by ingestion of the food, however, although rare, it is possible for skin contact or food odours to trigger an anaphylactic reaction. It is important therefore that parents, staff and children recognise the risk and understand the steps taken to minimise the exposure to specific triggers of an anaphylactic reaction. In order to assist the school manage the needs of the student, I am requesting that parents/carers please minimise the risk of exposure to the student by taking the following steps: Please ensure that your son/daughter wash their hands before coming to school, particularly if they have handled food or utensils that have come into contact with any of the allergens listed below. Please do not send to school food products which contain any of the allergens listed below. The known allergens include: Please see me if you would like further clarification. Thank you for your support and understanding. Yours sincerely, Paul Andrijich Principal Caversham Primary School