Overnight school trip for anaphylactic 6yo

[Weta]

I posted a while back about trying to decide whether to send my son on an overnight school trip. He is anaphylactic to dairy (5ml will send him to hospital, but the reaction does take 15-30 minutes to kick in).

We have decided he should go, but I need to work out what to say to the teacher accompanying them (unfortunately not his normal teacher, but apparently a very kind and competent woman).

There will also be 3 parent helpers for the class of 26 (we had hoped DH could go but apparently we asked too late and there is not enough room for him). A nurse will accompany the group (of several classes) and there is also a doctor on site.

Can you read through my list and tell me if yyou think it sounds reasonable or if there is anything I should add:

• all food except fruit to be provided by parents (I have 3 vacuum-packed meals that just need heating, and will provide salad, bread, jam, soy yoghurt and snacks)
• teacher or nurse to supervise preparation of food (suspect this is unreasonable but am reluctant to trust staff at the place they're staying, especially as I'm not even there to explain to them the importance of avoiding contamination)
• teacher or parent helper to sit at his table for all meals, basically so that he has someone easily available in case of a problem (DH thinks this is a bit OTT)
• opportunity to explain to teacher (and parent helpers?) what his symptoms are (I'm assuming I don't need to explain the medication since that will be the nurse's responsibility?)
• opportunity to talk to nurse about her role and make her aware of his presence (and maybe introduce him to her so she knows what he looks like)

Any comments welcome - I fully appreciate that I may be being OTT but am finding it really hard to let him go, plus I know my thinking is coloured by being a bit annoyed that they haven't made more effort to cater for him by allowing DH to accompany the class (though am much reassured to discover there will be a nurse and doctor there).

Thanks!

Hmm - they should have factored in his allergy to their risk assessment and you should ask to see a copy, ie, what plans are in place for his diet, what would they do if something happened and how they could prevent something happening. It is your right to see it and it should have been signed off by the LEA before they go.

How old is your DS?

I know of a child with special needs (not sure what) but he and his mother stayed in a travelodge when the others went to bed. I know this kind of defeats the purpose of him being on the trip but if you are worried, then that's perhaps an option?

sorry - just read that he's 6yrs old. Very young to be going overnight. My dd (8) is in yr 3 and her yr is going away for 2 nights in may but she's not going (long story).
Firstly I'm surprised they haven't spoken to you about it already and secondly, I'm surprised they want to take 6 yr old children overnight.
I would certainly arrange an appointment with nurse to make sure she knows how serious the allergy is and to make sure she recognises your ds.

Maybe I should have mentioned that we live in Luxembourg, so the UK rules/guidelines don't apply. I agree that 6 is very young to go overnight (as do some of the other parents), but for social reasons I don't want him to miss out. The mother of a good friend of his is going as a helper, so he does know her quite well and he had a sleepover there the other night as practice.

The teacher is quite blase about the allergy in general, so I think I will have to make sure I ask for what I need in terms of having it managed safely.

To be honest, I think it can be managed safely, especially given that I will provide the food and there will be medical staff present, and I'm trying to force myself to overcome my worries.

I am guessing the nurse who is going is one of the school nurses, so they have seen him before and they keep his allergy medication, but I will need to make sure and point him out again I think.

There is a meeting at school tomorrow to find out more about it, but I want to be prepared before I go! I'm hoping the other teacher will be a bit less blase and maybe just a bit freaked out and decide my DH can go along after all, but I don't hold out much hope...

This is a really tough call for you. But i would be the same - I would send my child but be besides myself until he came home safely.
Some suggestions:

• does he take a preventative antihistamine - maybe he could for this trip: 5ml citirizine at bed time?
• can you get one of the parent helpers to volunteer to be responsible for your son? Maybe ask one of them to be really kind and loko out for your child for you, and maybe send you the odd text telling you he's OK.
• talk to the place your child is going to and send a page on how to manage the preparation of your child's food while he's there.
• book in some you time for while he's away -open an amazing bottle of wine - it sounds like it'll be nerve wracking - could you book a massage - sounds silly but that amount of emotional stress can really damage a person

Good luck!!! tell us how it goes

I am really surprised that they are not allowing your dh to go -would make it so much easier for them..

Definitely ask to speak with nurse who is going on the trip and get a telephone number that you can contact her .

Also I don't think you are being OTT at all.

Topiarygal - he's never taken preventative antihistamine, but I might ask his specialist if that is an option. That's a good idea about asking one of the parent helpers - one of them is also a friend of mine so I'm sure she would happy to help.
Really good point about doing something nice while he's away - I work full-time at present and we have a younger child to look after as well, but I might get a friend to come over or go out in the evening to take my mind off it...

ggirl - I have texted the teacher going on the trip to ask her to call me to discuss it today prior to the meeting tonight. Another mother (of an autistic child) has been in touch with her and mentioned my son's anaphylaxis and apparently she was pretty freaked out, so I guess that's a good sign. That mum has had major battles with the school over her son's autism, and recommended that I present them with my own risk assessment (since none has been done) and ask to have it in writing that the teacher is prepared to take responsibility for him. Will see how things go tonight!

how did the meeting go?

Have updated in another post below (called 'Letting go').