Back to School Tips for Parents of Food Allergic Children

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For the parents of the 2 million children with a food allergy, back to school time cannot only be stressful, but also filled with trepidation. However, pre-planning, education and teamwork can help alleviate parents' concerns. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) has developed a guide to help parents work with teachers and other school staff such as school nurses, cafeteria workers, and extended day personnel to ensure the safety of their food allergic child.

Food allergies involve the body's immune system, which misinterprets the presence of certain proteins in food as toxins, triggering a severe immune system reaction. Symptoms include hives, difficulty breathing, and, in particularly severe cases, death. It is estimated that 150 - 200 children and adults die from allergic reactions to specific foods each year. The most common foods that cause allergic reactions are milk, peanuts, tree nuts (e.g. walnuts, pecans, etc), wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and eggs. Currently, there is no cure for food allergies. Avoiding foods that contain the allergens is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction. Fortunately, there is medication (epinephrine) to help the food allergic individual during a reaction.

"Parents, teachers and children can all work together to make the school year as safe as possible. Until there's a cure, education is the key. Although accidents are bound to happen, clear communication is essential to minimize that risk. Also, make sure that an emergency plan is in place and understood," said Anne Munoz-Furlong, Founder and CEO of FAAN.

FAAN's parent guide, Off to School with Food Allergies, suggests the following tips to help parents increase awareness and understanding of food allergies, minimize accidents, and increase safety.

• Visit your doctor and get written instructions of the foods your child must avoid and what medications are needed for reactions.
• Arrange for a meeting with school staff and create a team BEFORE school begins.
• Review precautions or concerns with school staff that should be considered for lunchtime.
• Demonstrate the use of an epinephrine auto injector such as the EpiPen(R) if your child's doctor has prescribed one.
• Provide a list of the names of at least three emergency contact people and their phone numbers to all team members.
• Review where the medications are kept in school. Be sure they will not be affected by extreme heat or cold. Let your child know to whom to go for help and where the medications are kept.
• Discuss field trips and picnic plans. Be sure the teachers know the epinephrine kit must be taken on all field trips -- no exceptions.
• Ask about upcoming school activities, including school fairs and parties.
• Remind your child what foods can cause a reaction and the importance of avoiding them.
• Review the emergency procedure you created at school with your child.
• Develop a code word that your child can use to signal school staff that a reaction is happening. Review the signal with your child and the staff.

For some lunch suggestions and other information on food allergies, visit FAAN's web site at http://www.foodallergy.org.

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network is a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of, providing education about, and advancing scientific research on food allergies and anaphylaxis. FAAN has more than 23,000 members. Educational information can be obtained by calling 1-800-929-4040.

CONTACT: Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network

Date: Aug. 22, 2001