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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About anaphylactic shock risk?

34 replies

Cherrysoup · 13/07/2019 22:18

School trip next week, via the Eurotunnel. One student is severely allergic to sesame, amongst other things. We have his epi-pen spare, he has his. We are trained on how to deal. Other students have been strongly reminded not to bring anything he’s allergic to on the coach. I’ll remind again before they get on.

There is a Burger King at the Eurotunnel. Their buns are covered in sesame seeds. We have at least an hour there. AIBU to ban them from buying anything there? (They’ve been told to bring food for the journey.) They are good students and I can post a teacher just in case. Am I being overly cautious? Even washing hands, I can’t be sure there aren’t traces and there’s air con circulating on the coach.

OP posts:
Blubluboo · 13/07/2019 22:27

Absolutely fine in my opinion! I'm sure if the kids are old enough to be going on a school trip on the euro tunnel then they should be old enough to understand how serious this could be and that it is not just you being a spoil sport.

What does your sentence mean 'I can post a teacher' ? I've read it three times but struggling to understand it.

JustTheCrowsAndTheBeef · 13/07/2019 22:29

i.e. post a teacher in Burger King to stop kids from trying to buy anything.

Original poster
Cherrysoup · 13/07/2019 22:30

Sorry, I mean I can place (post) a teacher at Burger King to ensure no-one tries to buy anything.

I think some of the students will be disappointed, but the majority don’t even know there is a Burger King.

OP posts:
PawPawNoodle · 13/07/2019 22:32

I think you'd be met with resentment! You could allow them to go to Burger King but stipulate they must buy burgers without sesame buns i.e. request plain buns, they do have them. The 'posted' teacher can enforce this. Smile

GrandmaSharksDentures · 13/07/2019 22:32

Could you speak to the child's parents for advice on how they deal with situations like this? I imagine they'll be glad you're thinking how to keep him safe

OKBobble · 13/07/2019 22:34

Is the student with the allergy bejbg restricted to the coach only because other travellers may eat at Burger King and touch door handles, etc ?

Original poster
Cherrysoup · 13/07/2019 22:39

I could speak to his parents if I can get hold of them before we leave, certainly.

Resentment I can handle, they’ll get over it, there are other options and very few of them will be aware there’s a Burger King, the majority have not used the Channel tunnel before.

I imagine there will be cross contamination even if they buy buns without sesame seeds.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cherrysoup · 13/07/2019 22:40

Is the student with the allergy bejbg restricted to the coach only because other travellers may eat at Burger King and touch door handles, etc ?

No. My plan is to keep all students away from Burger King. I’d rather have resentment than have to call an ambulance!

OP posts:
JustTheCrowsAndTheBeef · 13/07/2019 22:42

Are you the trip leader? You need a copy of his care plan and you need to discuss these questions with the parents.

Original poster
Cherrysoup · 13/07/2019 22:52

Are you the trip leader? You need a copy of his care plan and you need to discuss these questions with the parents.

Yes, I am. I have the care plan and spent an hour with the school nurse discussing him, his particular needs and how he presents when he’s been in contact with anything to which he’s allergic. He’s not had to use his epi-pen since being at school (Year 9), just takes anti-histamines. I will phone his parents , I want to be very sure about his care.

I’ve taken students with anaphylactic shock away before, the sesame seed issue is new to me, normally it’s only nuts which are relatively easy to avoid/ban.

OP posts:
Schuyler · 13/07/2019 23:09

I voted YANBU but what if the children bring something else with sesame seeds on the coach?

PotatoScallop · 13/07/2019 23:20

Is it an airborne allergy? That is hard to manage. I'd try to speak to his parents about how they manage risk when he's out and about. They must have some pointers after all these years keeping him safe.

Also ask the parents if his allergist has ever suggested taking antihistamines daily while he's in risky situations. My allergist recommended that for me on a trip where cross contamination has been an issue multiple times previously.

Original poster
Cherrysoup · 13/07/2019 23:21

Like I said in the OP, students have been told that they absolutely must not bring anything he reacts to onto the coach and as mentioned, I will be very clearly reminding them before we get on the coach.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cherrysoup · 13/07/2019 23:23

Also ask the parents if his allergist has ever suggested taking antihistamines daily while he's in risky situations. My allergist recommended that for me on a trip where cross contamination has been an issue multiple times previously.

In his spare pack, we have Piriton tablets and syrup. I’m also taking extra, just in case. He’s very good at coming to tell us if he’s not feeling well, bless him. We will of course be keeping a very close eye on him, without wanting to suffocate him!

OP posts:
greathat · 13/07/2019 23:24

If he's getting off the coach you can't restrict everyone else at the services though, who will be carrying Burger King food around. You need to know how much contact is too much

HollowTalk · 13/07/2019 23:24

This is not their only chance in life to have a Burger King burger! They should all be responsible enough not to have a burger.

My son has a peanut allergy so I have a vested interest in this sort of thing.

QuestionableMouse · 13/07/2019 23:24

I think you can't remove all risk. It's possible he may come into contact with it from other travellers via the tables or loos or wherever. (I've been itching all day due to someone getting strawberry on the trolley at Morrisons, for example)

I'd find out from his parents and him waht his risk levels are: can other students eat in BK then wash their hands? Or does he need more protection than that? If so you might have to limit his access a bit.

Drum2018 · 13/07/2019 23:29

YANBU. The other kids need to understand that a trip to BurgerKing could be seriously detrimental to the allergy child's health and respect the fact that they are not allowed to go there. As the parent of a child with a serious allergy it's great to read your post and see that you are taking the matter so seriously. Contact the parents to go through the care plan and see what measures they take when they are on holidays with their child.

Original poster
Cherrysoup · 13/07/2019 23:34

This is not their only chance in life to have a Burger King burger!

Yes, it is, due to where we’re going.

I will speak to parents and will of course speak to him about keeping himself safe. Environmentally, I think (but will check) that he should be ok with people walking round. He’s never needed his epi-pen in school and we aren’t a nut free school. If he takes anti-histamines, he needs to use as little water as possible in case a contaminant is on his tongue. We’re going to be very vigilant. I have a huge pack of wet wipes! Fortunately, he’s a very sensible young man.

OP posts:
waterallday · 13/07/2019 23:40

Sounds like a nightmare, I think you're worrying about this more than him/his parents are OP! Severe allergies are awful but you can only do so much to prevent them. The coach could have been touched by people that have come into contact with the allergen beforehand/he may speak to someone who has just eaten it in life etc.

serenadoundy · 13/07/2019 23:47

This is not their only chance in life to have a Burger King burger!

Yes, it is, due to where we’re going.

It's not though, is it? That's a ridiculous exaggeration.

I agree you should put someone on BK to stop them. Yes the child may be exposed being in and around other people; but stopping the schoo trip kids will help to minimise the risk.

BarbedBloom · 13/07/2019 23:52

I think the problem is anyone who isn't on the trip may be eating them outside of BK or have the residue on their hands etc. I have seen lots of people walking round at the services with burgers in the past. It sounds very difficult to manage from that perspective.

Original poster
Cherrysoup · 13/07/2019 23:54

@serenadoundy are you saying that I’ve made a ridiculous exaggeration? I hope not, given you have no idea where we’re going and I do! There are no Burger Kings where we’re going.

OP posts:
TheRLodger · 13/07/2019 23:56

You can stop them going to bk.
However, who do you plan to deal with this for the rest of the trip? Do you have a card saying “no sesame seeds” in French. What happens if a member of the group buys something unwittingly with sesames in it for the rest of the trip? I realise a lot of this depends on if the trip is for a day or a week

serenadoundy · 13/07/2019 23:57

Well yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Of course it's a ridiculous exaggeration. Why would that one stop with you be their only chance to have BK?