Living School is an Allergy Aware school.

Students diagnosed with Anaphylaxis are required to provide Living School with a current Health Plan completed by their doctor.  Parents are asked to supply an ‘EpiPen’ which is kept in the classroom or the relevant Learning Neighbourhood’s School Office for quick access.

Anaphylaxis is a dramatic, often immediate, potentially life-threatening reaction to allergens. The most common causes of anaphylaxis in childhood are: nuts, dairy produce, eggs, seafood and sesame seeds.  The smell of, or contact with, these allergens is enough to cause hives, stomach aches and diarrhoea and can potentially lead to an anaphylactic reaction. 

As well, insect stings (e.g. bees and wasps) can induce a severe allergic reaction, too.

There are a number of students at Living School with food and insect allergies that can lead to an anaphylactic reaction.  These students are flagged on our Classter system – and are considered on any excursion and/or camp.

Children who have anaphylaxis will have an action plan. EpiPens are kept in a safe with the child’s name on it. There are also EpiPens located in general first aid kits which are to be taken on excursions.  We have spare EpiPens in sick bay.  All staff undergo training in administering an EpiPen and Anapen. All children with anaphylaxis have an action plan and a personal plan. If your child has anaphylaxis or allergies we ask that you request a meeting at the beginning of the year to establish an understanding of the allergens and what the child’s symptoms may be like if they are having a reaction. 

There are a few things that the teachers, parents and students can do:

• Limit sending nuts, as well as any nut products to school eg. Nutella.
• Encourage understanding and educate our students about the importance of not sharing their food and keeping it away from students that are impacted by these foods.
• Students are not permitted to share food at school.
• Encourage students to wash their hands and face prior to and after eating.
• Give advance warning about birthday cakes so that suitable alternatives can be arranged for affected students (e.g. egg allergies).