how do primary schools deal with allergic reactions?

[mintyneb]

my 3.9 yo DD who is allergic to CMP is due to start reception in Sept 2011.

We recently had a scare where she accidentally put her fingertip in some icecream and whilst I wiped it clean as soon as it happened we think that a tiny amount was left under her nail. Within 5 minutes she was rubbing her eye and when I took a look she had hives all the way across one cheek, eye lid and onto her forehead. Her lower eyelid was also swelling and it took two doses of piriton over a 5 hour period for all the swelling to go down.

I am a SAHM and am able to control her diet so accidents like this are extremely rare. However, I am of course concerned about what will happen at school particularly as at the xmas party at her pre-school (separate school) they were happy to get her to decorate a biscuit to take home which was specifically described on the packet as being 'unsuitable for dairy allergy sufferers'

she doesn't have an epi pen so we would be relying on piriton but would the school be able to keep some in their office for her to take in an emergency or would I be expected to go in and give it to her? Obviously we will talk to the school once we know she has a place but just wondered what the general experience was for other people?

Depends on the school. At our place we would put a big photo of her on the medical board in the staffroom (one of about 8 kids) with details of her symptoms, what to watch out for and what action to take. Piriton would probably be kept in the office, or maybe the classroom (epipens are kept in boxes in classroom cupboards, so we may make the decision to keep it there). Find out the individual school's medical policy and ask them directly how they would deal with that situation.

I've been having similar worries too about my DS. AFAIK schools have to be geared up to treat allergic reactions. They could hardly expect you to come in to administer Piriton if she was poorly, you could be miles away.

Our consultant said all schools in our area keep epi-pens (although they never needed to use them) so I'd assume the same was for Piriton.

You will have to talk to the school about their procedures for keeping medicines and administration policies. For severe allergic reactions, time is of the essence and if delay (eg waiting for parent) could compromise outcome then a foolproof means of staff administration simply has to be found.

You might want to consult your doctor about whether you should have an epipen at school.

I suggest you make some laminated sheets with your DD's phtograph, list of known allergens, worrying symptoms and intervention required for staffroom, medical room, classroom and lunch supervisors. Go and see all relevant staff as soon as your DD starts to impress on them her needs.

Also, ask that at lunchtimes, she is seated at the end if a table, and that where she sits is wiped down immediately before with a fresh paper towel (not a communal cloth), and that any plates/cutlery are free from cross contamination. This is of course a PITA (and poor you, as your whole life must be like this!) but the consequences of not doing it are so much worse, then you have good grounds to insist.

Also check that she can have a water bottle that will never be left anywhere that risks cross contamination from another child's lips swigging from it.

thanks all for your replies. Fortunately, my DD only has the one allergy (that we know of for now!) so giving the school details of what to look out for should be relatively easy i hope.

with her being my first DC the day to day details of school life are all a bit unknown at the moment so I hadn't thought about dining tables, water bottles etc!

I will definitely make sure I know exactly what the school can/will do for DD before she starts

sorry for not getting back to the thread, I've had a break from the pc over the new year! cat, that's really useful advise and gives me some confidence that the school will be able to deal with DDs allergy. Now i just have to wait until April when I know that she's definitely got into our 1st choice school.....

We had some health issues with DS when he was starting school, which thankfully have now stopped.

It wasn't an allergy but could be quite serious, DH had to give him the kiss-of-life once.

The school were very, very good about it. All the staff had training and there was a photo of him in his class and in the staff room with how to deal with him if it happened.

Most schools should be really good when they are in the class. I would discuss what happens at playtime and mealtimes though. You don't want another child smearing their fingers covered in dairylea on her.

ds1 has a peanut allergy. his epi pen is kept in the classroom. he gives it to the duty teacher for lunch time. they also have photos around the school for children with allergies or other health problems( one in reception, cateeen, staff room and libary).
they also suggest leaving a bag of sweets in classroom for when birthday cakes are brought in so if the cake contains peanuts he still gets something nice

Most schools are brilliant - I'll try to get my backside into gear and get the food allergy mums document 'managing allergies in schools' onto the website.
Interestingly I've heard that Hampshire LEA have now had it agreed that each school holds a central reserve of emergency treatments (inhalers, epi-pens) so they can treat in an emergency. Do you remember the boy who died as there was no inhaler 'with his name on it' at a bucks school? Unbelievable. the Hampshire thing seems brilliantly simply - anyone fancy campaigning to get it to go nation-wide?

Seems like it - I don't know enough - another one of the things I want to do ... it's a pretty long list at the moment!

Ask for an epipen from the doc- they save lives and do no harm if administered when not needed.