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» Allergy Policy
Allergy Policy
- Message to the Parent(s) or Caregiver(s)
Lanigan Elementary School is a "Nut Alert" and "Scent Alert" school, as we have students in attendance who have potentially life-threatening peanut and/or nut allergies, and students in attendance who have fragrance sensitivities. As such, we ask for your cooperation in making the school as Peanut-Free, Nut-Free and Scent-Free as possible. Specifically, you can help minimize the risk to these students by not sending peanut-butter sandwiches, or other products containing peanuts and/or nuts, to school, and by not using perfume, cologne and other similar fragrances. Additionally, for our students' safety, we ask that you review our Allergy Policy set out below.
- Policy Statement
The purpose of this Policy is to minimize the risk of exposure of students with severe allergies to potentially life-threatening allergens, without depriving the student with severe allergies of normal peer interactions or placing unreasonable restrictions on the activities of other students in attendance at school. To this end, this Policy defines standards and procedures required for the management of students at risk of severe allergic reactions while they are the responsibility of the school, recognizing that this responsibility is shared among the student, Parent(s), Guardian(s), the school system and health care providers.
- Definitions
- Allergy: a medical condition in which the body has an exaggerated response, or is hypersensitive, to an allergen.
- Allergen: a normally harmless substance or condition (e.g. food or drug) that triggers an allergic reaction in the immune system of a susceptible and/or hypersensitive person.
- Anaphylaxis: anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, is a sudden, severe, and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to substances or conditions, including, but not limited to foods, insect stings and bites, exposure to overly strong scents, and medicines.
- Auto-Injector: an injection-style medical device containing a pre-measured dose of the synthetic form of adrenaline, which is ready for immediate inter-muscular administration, in the event that a person begins to experience anaphylaxis.
- Identifying Individuals at Risk
The Principal will ensure that, upon registration, the Parent(s) or Caregiver(s) of a student will be asked to supply all information pertaining the student's life-threatening allergy by completing and submitting an Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan, as attached to this Policy as Schedule "A". All Anaphylaxis Emergency Plans will be kept in a binder in the school's main office. Each teacher will also have a copy of all the Anaphylaxis Emergency Plans.
It is the responsibility of the Parent(s) or Caregiver(s) of the student at risk to ensure that he or she wears an allergy alert bracelet and carries an Auto-Injector at all times. Further, the Parent(s) or Caregiver(s) of the student should provide the school with at least one in-date Auto-Injector to be stored at the school and used in the event of an anaphylactic reaction.
- Communication Strategies
The Principal will ensure:
- that all teaching staff, school-based non-teaching staff and food-service supervisors receive training annually, or more frequently if required, in the recognition of a severe allergic reaction and the use of Auto-Injectors and the emergency response protocol, as set out in the Anaphylaxis Emergency Plans;
- that substitute teachers and student teachers are notified of a student's life-threatening allergy, and volunteers and off-site service providers are notified when necessary and reasonably possible;
- with the consent of the Parent(s) or Caregiver(s), the Principal and the classroom teacher, must ensure that the student's classmates are provided with information on severe allergies generally, in a manner that is appropriate for the age and maturity level of the students, and that strategies to reduce teasing and bullying are incorporated in the method in which the information is provided;
- that Peanut-Alert, Nut-Alert and Scent-Alert warning signs will be placed at all entrances to the school, as well as at high-traffic areas of the school;
- that this Policy will be placed in the student handbook, the school website, the first newsletter of the school-year.
- a written reminder that the school is a Peanut-Alert and Nut-Alert school will be placed in snack and food notes that are sent home with the students;
- that this Policy's Peanut-Alert, Nut-Alert and Scent-Alert logo will be placed in the footer of the school's letterhead, with respect to letters being sent to Parents or Caregivers of the students; and
- a copy of the general emergency response protocol, as set out in the Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan, is kept in all classrooms.
When an Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan is completed and submitted for a particular student, the Principal will:
- ensure that the student's life-threatening allergy is red-flagged in the computerized student information system; and
- review the Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan with, and provide appropriate information about the student and the student's life-threatening allergy to, the student's teaching staff and school-based non-teaching staff, as well as to the food-service supervisors, who may be required to assess the student's need for administration of the Auto-Injector and administer the Auto-Injector.
The Parent(s) or Caregiver(s) of a student will ensure:
- that upon registration, all information pertaining to the student's life-threatening allergy is supplied to the school by completing and submitting an Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan;
- that, if the student rides the bus to school, the bus driver is provided with appropriate information about the student and his or her life-threatening allergy
- Allergy Avoidance Strategies
The following Allergy Avoidance Strategies will be implemented:
The Principal will:
- ensure that students will be supervised by teaching staff or school-based non-teaching staff while eating;
- work closely with the food-service staff to ensure that the food being served during lunch and/or snack programs is appropriate;
- ensure that teaching staff and school-based non-teaching staff encourage hand-washing before and after eating;
- work closely with school-based non-teaching staff to ensure the diligent management of insect nests on school grounds; and
- work closely with school-based non-teaching staff to ensure that, when required, garbage cans are covered with tightly fitted lids in outdoor play areas.
The Parent(s) or Caregiver(s) will:
- instruct the student not to trade or share food, food utensils or food containers with other students at school.
- Approval and Review of Policy
This Policy was approved on December 9th, 2014, was last reviewed and updated on August 25, 2022, and will be reviewed and updated as required next on the first staff meeting of each school year.
In the event that a life-threatening allergic reaction should occur, the events surrounding the allergic reaction will be investigated, and this Policy will be reviewed and updated as required, so at to attempt to avoid a similar occurrence in the future.
