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Allergies and intolerances

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Another nut allergy rant

42 replies

Podmog · 16/09/2005 08:22

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tatt · 21/09/2005 12:10

oops, cross posting. However many letters he's sent out in the past it sounds like he needs to send another one out now.

Podmog · 21/09/2005 12:15

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tatt · 21/09/2005 12:24

Think it was in the anaphylaxis newslteer that someone said "tell me what I can do, not what I can't" Was the problem a peanut butter sarnie again or something for which you could suggest a substitute? Parents don't generally welcome being told about sarnie substitutes but they don't usually mind being told about substitutes for cholate bars/ biscuits.

Podmog · 21/09/2005 13:04

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tatt · 21/09/2005 14:32

you've obviously got a pretty big problem then. I'm afraid I think the only thing that might work is a personal appeal either from the head or you to the parents of each child. Reminders on each newsletter get ignored after a time, they just become background. If the head writes its better for you to waive confidentiality and let him say that (podmog's child) has had a reaction to food brought into school by your child, that they were ill and that another reaction could be fatal. Maybe ask the head if he could arrange a meeting with the other child's parents so you could ask why they are doing this and make sure they realise what it does to your child?

Only consolation I can offer is that I find dd's friends are often better than their parents. As the children get older hopefully they will tell their parents they can't take peanut butter.

I'd still keep your child away until the school have had their epipen training.

What is actually happening when she has a reaction? Do the school call you/ does she come home? Is the child who has caused it told what has happened and sent to wash the peanut off? However much you like this school if your child isn't going to be safe there you have to pretty strong reasons for keeping her there.

alison222 · 21/09/2005 14:51

I haven't read all this in detail - just scanned through, but I am shocked that the school doesn't already have procedures in place.
My DS has egg nut sesame and fish allergies. So far he has not had an anaphalactic reaction, but we have been precribed epi-pens.
There is one in the classroom and one in the office just next to the lunch hall. There are photos of all children with allergies in the office and each child's classroom , and all visitors to the class are made aware of the allergies. the lunch staff are also aware - although to be honest I'm not sure if they have had epipen training, but they sure know which kids to watch.
DS has only had packed lunch at school 3 days so far so its too early to say how it will go, but the school re very concerned about him only eating his food, and not touching anyone elses.

You know I don't think its a nut free environment, but I know other local schools that are.

To incite you further I had an argument with a stroppy parent at another school on Monday which is supposed to be nut free who sends her child in with peanut butter sandwiches, and refuses to beleive she cold be endangering someone else. She says that if a child has a reaction so bad they should be home educated. I gave up in the end before I got so mad I wanted to scream at her.

bobbybob · 21/09/2005 19:23

A woman a playcentre said "but it's all they'll eat". She was the Health and Safety officer!

I told her that I obviously missed the bit where I was supposed to feel sorry for her.

tatt · 22/09/2005 06:33

I can understand the problem for people whose kids won't eat much else but they should be home educated, shouldn't they It is possible to train a child to eat foods other than peanut butter, it isn't possible to stop a food allergy.

foxinsocks · 22/09/2005 14:22

podmog 'peanut butter sarnie and a salad with a peanut dressing' - I'm sorry but that is really taking the micky. If it's the same person as last time, I'd be tempted to ask their class teacher to have a word with the child's parents because really, that is just dreadful.

Podmog · 22/09/2005 15:55

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tatt · 23/09/2005 07:33

Hope the police didn't keep you waiting too long. There's always victim support if you feel terrible.

What are the school doing immediately after your child's reaction? If you're determined to keep her there looks like you may have to face her having quite a few reactions so you'll have to try and work on making your child less distressed when they happen. Do these so called "friends" come round to your house where you can show them a video?

Podmog · 23/09/2005 08:18

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tatt · 23/09/2005 09:03

Part of the official guidance on this is that it is good practise to have a protocol agreed between parents, school and school nurse. We did this when dd was first diagnosed and it was helpful. We all knew exactly what was meant to happen. Part of the protocol was that the parent would be telephoned after each reaction, as soon as the medical treatment had been dealt with. Another part was that an ambulance must be called for each reaction. The nurse sent me a suggested protocol so that was standard across the whole LEA area. If they'd called out an ambulance twice in one week you can bet the NHS would put pressure on them to manage nuts better.

Fortunately that school was good about banning nuts and my child isn't as sensitive as yours, so I never had to test it worked. If she'd had a reaction I would have expected to go in then and there - or at least at the next break time - to make sure she was OK if she hadn't been taken to hospital. I know its more difficult for you with a baby but if the reaction's lunch time and she's still at school in the afternoon she's going to be harder to comfort.

Sadly I know now that not all authorities are so strict, but our new LEA still has a protocol and it still includes contacting parents. I can't remember what it said about ambulances, I'll check. If you think a copy of our protocol(s) would help put pressure on your LEA/nurse send me your address and I'll post it/them.

Your problem is more with the parents than the head/governors. The school could be more pro-active by saying that any child found with peanut in their lunch will have it removed and not have any lunch. Or they could set aside an area in which nuts could be eaten and supervise it so that any child there had to wash thoroughly afterwards. They can write to the parents of the children concerned explaining exactly what has happened. There isn't a lot else they can do.

I would get the kids round to your house, show them a video and get them to practise with an out of date epipen.

tatt · 23/09/2005 09:13

Just checked our new protocol and it doesn't mention telephoning parents unless the epipen is used, the old one included a call after any reaction. They are due to issue an updated one soon, think I'll send one from the old LEA to them as I think its better Also see I'm supposed to provide all their food and I'm not doing that now. I wish I could but at this age they want to do what their friends do. We've decided to risk it as the school canteen bans nuts.

Strange that where a teacher is affected they do more - one of my friends children used to be in a school with a severely allergic teacher.

tatt · 23/09/2005 09:16

oops, forgot. They call an ambulance only if they use an epipen in this LEA and having rechecked the old one I see it was also the case there.

Podmog · 27/09/2005 20:02

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tatt · 29/09/2005 06:56

Any of the governors told you what it was they didn't like? Maybe you could meet them and sort out some acceptable wording? Maybe ask if a member of the anaphylaxis campaign could address their next meeting and show them the video. The school may have copies but that doesn't mean the governors have seen it? Also if you haven't yet got the guidance for schools getting an extra copy for their health and safety governor might be worthwhile.

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