In 2009 our teachers all participated in Anaphylaxis Awareness Training which has been conducted in all schools in N.S.W. as a result of a coronial enquiry. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction which may result in death. As part of our training it was agreed that teachers would follow up awareness by talking to their own class students, who will have questions and understandings at different levels.
They spoke to students about the need to respect student differences and to be aware of the danger that some products can pose to students with anaphylaxis. Whilst peanut butter is a common trigger and is therefore not available in our school canteen, many snack bars and other products contain peanuts and therefore to ban all such products in school is neither possible nor enforceable. We do however seek your support in, as far as possible, not sending peanut products as part of school lunches.
The most common allergens are
- food (nuts, shellfish, fish, milk and egg)
- insects (bees wasps, jack jumper ants)
- medication (antibiotics, aspirin)
- latex (rubber gloves, balloons, swimming caps).
Messages to students will include
- Never share your food. Take home what you don’t eat. This has a double benefit of helping parents know how hungry children are during the day, which varies as they grow and change.
- Never take someone else’s medicine.
- Bring all medication to the office with written instructions for administration.
- Avoid use of party balloons and contact with swimming caps and latex gloves.
|
The Canteen is a service available to the pupils and teachers at AHPS. It is a volunteer run enterprise and is managed by the Canteen Committee, a sub-committee of the P&C Association.
