ANAPHYLAXIS IN SCHOOLS

Background

The District recognizes that it has a duty of care to students who are at risk from anaphylaxis while under school supervision.

The purpose of this Administrative Procedure is to minimize the risk to students with severe allergies to potentially life-threatening allergens without depriving the severely allergic student of normal peer interactions or placing unreasonable restrictions on the activities of other students in the school. 

This Administrative Procedure is designed to ensure that students at risk of anaphylaxis are identified, strategies are in place to minimize the potential of accidental exposure, and staff and key volunteers are trained to respond in an emergency situation.

Anaphylaxis is a sudden and severe allergic reaction, which can be fatal.  Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate emergency treatment with a single dose Epinephrine auto-injector such as EpiPen.

All children including those at risk of life-threatening allergic reactions have the right to access public education within a safe, healthy learning environment.

The primary goal of implementing a comprehensive anaphylaxis Administrative Procedure in the District is to reduce preventable, serious reactions and death due to anaphylaxis.  The District cannot guarantee an “allergy free” environment, however, it is expected that school staff, parents and students will take reasonable steps to establish an “allergy aware” environment which minimizes the risk of potential anaphylaxis. Principals must take realistic and practical actions that will encourage the support of everyone involved.

Procedures

1. All facilities within the District are to appropriately display emergency information regarding anaphylaxis.
2. Every employee has a duty to render assistance to a student in emergency situations to the extent that it is reasonable for persons without medical training.
3. Every effort is to be made to minimize the risk of exposure for students at risk of anaphylaxis allergens, without depriving the student at risk of normal peer relations or placing unreasonable restrictions on other students.
4. Anaphylaxis related training is to occur annually for all staff.
5. All District facilities which register students are required to record on their respective registration forms information from parents related to life-threatening conditions.
6. Parents are responsible for notifying the Principal when a child is at risk of anaphylaxis and to provide the school with updated medical details, should there be a significant change. Parents will be provided with an Anaphylaxis Action Plan (Form 317-1) and Medication Administration Card (Form 316-1) to be returned to the school.
7. A plan will be developed in conjunction with the student’s parents for each child registered in the District who is at risk of life-threatening allergies. The Medication Administration Card must be approved by a qualified physician.
8. Parents of anaphylactic children are expected to provide two single dose Epinephrine auto-injectors such as EpiPen.
9. All students who may experience a serious allergic reaction will be encouraged to wear identifying information (e.g., MedicAlert identification necklet, bracelet).
10. All principals in the District must have a school emergency protocol in place to ensure responders know what to do in an allergic reaction emergency.
    1. All principals shall create an allergy awareness environment at their sites.  While it is impossible to eliminate all potential allergens from the school environment, principals are to create an allergy awareness environment in response to the most common triggers for anaphylaxis: food allergens and insect stings.
11. The Principal of each school is responsible for developing and maintaining an allergy aware school environment. This includes ensuring parents, students, teachers and other school staff are aware of and comply with this Administrative Procedure.
12. The Principal of each school is to ensure that all staff who supervise students are aware of the school's emergency protocols related to anaphylaxis.
13. Principals are to arrange for training, at least annually, for staff to appropriately respond to anaphylactic situations.
14. Each Principal is to clearly display in the school’s medical room the emergency procedures to be followed, should a student experience anaphylaxis.
15. School student registration forms are to include a section for parents to record any life-threatening conditions.
16. Principals are to ensure that appropriate staff are aware of students within their school population who are potentially at risk of anaphylaxis.
17. The Principal is responsible for keeping accurate records for each student at risk of life-threatening allergies. The record shall include the Medication Administration Card (Form 316-1), Anaphylaxis Action Plan (Form 317-1) and Anaphylaxis Action Form (Form 317-2).This record is to be updated annually. The student’s name and documentation that they have Anaphylaxis is to be recorded on both the student’s electronic file and Medical Alert List.
18. The Principal is to ensure that an Anaphylaxis Action Plan (Form 317-1) and Anaphylaxis Action Form (Form 317-2) have been developed for each medically at risk student in collaboration with the parent and approved by an appropriate medical person. The Medication Administration Card (Form 316-1) is to be completed by the parent and by the child’s physician.
19. The Principal must ensure when necessary that adequate procedures are in place for storage and administering of medications.
20. Principals are to inform parents and students that only single-use single dose auto injections (such as EpiPen) will be administered in the event of anaphylaxis.
21. Principals are to recommend to parents that their child wear MedicAlert identification.
22. Principals are to notify the Superintendent when an incident related to Anaphylaxis occurs.
23. Whenever a school experiences an incident related to anaphylaxis, the Principal is to arrange for an appropriately timed debriefing session. Consideration is to be given to including the following parties in such a follow-up:
    1. Student’s parent
    2. The student, when appropriate
    3. Relevant District personnel
    4. The public health nurse