Some students at Our Lady of Fatima
School have life threatening peanut and nut allergies. If these students
eat or even come in contact with these foods in any form they may
experience a severe reaction within seconds. We have “red flagged” these
students in our medical records binder and they are known to our staff.
As well, all teachers receive an annual training in the use of EpiPens
from our public health nurse and the school has established the
following emergency procedures in response to an anaphylactic attack:
- Immediately use the student’s
EpiPen as per instructions and training.
- Notify the office by runner or
classroom telephone and call 911 for an ambulance. Advise the
dispatcher that a child is having an anaphylactic reaction.
- Have the office telephone the
child’s parents to inform them of the reaction.
- If an ambulance has not arrived in
10-15 minutes give a second EpiPen. The second EpiPen is kept in the
school office. (A junior and a regular)
- Even if symptoms go away entirely
the child should be taken to the hospital immediately. A parent or
staff member should accompany the child to the hospital. Ambulance
attendants may not be able to give the EpiPen.
We urge all parents not to send any
foods with peanut products to the school with your children. Although
peanut or nut butter is the most obvious product to avoid, many snack
packs, bars and cookies may contain peanut and nut ingredients. Since
the school is used by other groups after school and in the evenings
trace foods on the surfaces of the desks and chairs may possibly serve
as a trigger to set off a severe reaction. We do wash student desks on a
regular basis to guard against this possibility. As well, teachers are
training students to wash their hands before and after meals.
We are fortunate that we have not yet experienced a severe anaphylactic
episode and we pray that we will not in the future. All staff members
recognize the seriousness of life threatening allergies and are
committed to making our school environment as safe as possible for all
our students. We ask that all parents join us in this commitment.
  More information on Peanut Allergy
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