Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy

ANAPHYLAXIS AND FOOD ALLERGY

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe allergic reaction. The most dangerous symptoms include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock. Common examples of potentially life threatening allergies are those to foods or stinging insects. Other allergic reactions may also occur to medications, latex or while exercising. The emergency treatment is epinephrine, which is usually supplied in epinephrine auto-injectors (example: EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® or TWINJECT®). La Feria ISD has developed guidelines to manage students with these life threatening allergies, so that they may safely participate in the educational process. Students who are at risk for developing anaphylaxis are entitled to carry and self-administer their anaphylaxis medications (epinephrine auto-injectors) while at school or a school event, if they have met the legal requirements below: The medication and the self-administration must be authorized by a physician or licensed health care provider. The student must demonstrate to the physician, other health care provider and to the school nurse, if available, the skill level necessary to self-administer the medication, including the use of any device required to administer. The self-administration is done in compliance with the prescription or written instructions from the student’s physician or other healthcare provider, and the parent/guardian provides to the school written authorization signed by the parent for the student to self-administer the prescribed medicine while on school property or at a school-related event or activity, and a written statement, signed by the student’s physician or other healthcare provider that states: The student has anaphylaxis and capable of self-administering medicine, the name and purpose of the medicine, the prescribed dosage for the medicine, the time at which or circumstances under which the medicine may be administered, and, the period for which the medicine is prescribed. La Feria ISD has developed an Allergy Action Plan that has the components of the legal requirements included within it. Please contact your school nurse before enrollment or at the start of the new school year, to obtain all the proper paper work needed that will help ensure the safety of your student with an allergy.

Food Allergy (including, but not limited to, peanut allergy)

La Feria ISD food allergy management plans will be individualized to all students who have food allergies. Once notified of the student's allergy, a working partnership with students, parents, student's physician, school nurse and other La Feria ISD personnel, as appropriate, begins the foundation for the development of an individual health plan (IHP). Upon receipt of signed medical plans and parental consent, the IHP is developed if indicated. The first to be addressed is the emergency response. This ensures that designated staff members, are trained to recognize an allergic reaction and have the rescue drugs readily available and quickly treat the student. This will include training of these staff members, at least annually, or more frequently, as the school nurse deems. In the case of severe life threatening allergies, the school principal will collaborate with the school nurse to send letters to other parents of the class requesting parents to voluntarily refrain from sending the allergen food in their child's belongings during school or for after-school activities, celebrations or parties. Depending on physical constraints within the school, the principal may designate a food-allergy friendly area or lunch table. The Child Nutrition Department in collaboration with the parents and school nurse will follow their policy for medical documentation for meal substitution, when applicable. Also, site-based Food Service Managers will flag the child's account. Hand washing guidelines to staff and students are enforced. The custodial department will be instructed to use commercial wipes and cleaners that remove the allergen from the hard surfaces. Non-food items will be adapted in curriculum for those classes who have students with food allergies. The transportation department will also be notified, and trained to recognize the specific reactions to life threatening allergies, if applicable. While La Feria ISD cannot guarantee an allergy-free environment at school, the district is committed to doing everything possible to ensure the safety of every child who has allergies.