Lebanon Christian School
Food Allergy Policy
March 2011
Goals: 1. Prevent food allergy reactions/Anaphylaxis
2. Rapid recognition of allergic reaction
3. Rapid treatment of allergic reaction
Purpose: 1. Alert staff and parents regarding the dangers of food related allergies
2. Implement techniques to reduce food allergy exposure and cross
contamination in the school setting.
3. Outline specific regulations for students with food allergies.
4. Educate staff to:
a. recognize symptoms of anaphylaxis
b. follow an emergency plan
c. properly administer epinephrine (Epi-Pen)
Anaphylaxis: A sudden, severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction to an allergen.
Symptoms may start within a few seconds or up to 2 hours after exposure and each
reaction may be different. Anaphylaxis may start with mild symptoms and rapidly
progress and become life threatening. Usual symptoms include warmth, flushing,
tingling, itching in or around mouth, hives, itchy red rash, cramps, nausea, diarrhea,
difficulty swallowing, itchy eyes and throat, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing,
drooling, lightheadedness, anxiety, increased heart rate, shock, loss of consciousness,
death.
There is no way to predict the severity of a reaction based on the history of past
reactions.
Food allergies can be potentially fatal, and there is no cure. The only way to avoid a
reaction is strict avoidance of the offending allergen.
Most common and typically most severe food allergens: Peanuts and Tree Nuts
Less common, still potentially severe: Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Soy, Fish, Shellfish,
Strawberries, Medications, Latex, Environmental or unknown causes.
Objectives:
1. Emergency Care Plans (ECP) will be created to minimize or prevent
exposure to known allergen and potential reaction. The ECP will be
created by the nurse using the information obtained from the parent
questionnaire and physician’s orders.
a. Parent questionnaire will be sent home for completion at the start of the
academic year and updated annually. Completed forms will be returned to the school nurse.
b. ECP’s will be reviewed by the school nurse and updated annually or as
needed,
c. A signed physician’s medication order will be obtained by the parents
annually, returned to the school and kept in students medical file.
d. Teacher and applicable staff will review ECP’s annually or as needed.
e. Epi-pens will be labeled and stored unlocked in the nurse’s office and
readily
available during school hours.
f. If physician and parent sign permission for student to carry an Epi-Pen
the student must demonstrate competency to the school nurse.
2. Mandatory training will be provided to administrator, teachers, office
staff, food service personnel, coaches and aides annually and as needed.
3. If an allergic reaction should occur, the Epi-Pen should be administered
immediately by the nurse or trained school personnel. All people who
come into contact with the student must be trained, including bus drivers,
in accordance with state law.
a. The nurse or trained school personnel will assess the student and
administer the Epi-Pen as directed by the Emergency Care Plan and
physician’s orders. (Must have physician’s orders to administer EpiPen)
4. Contact 911 anytime an Epi-Pen is administered in the school setting.
5. After contacting 911, call parent/guardian or emergency contact person to
advise them that the student has had a severe allergic reaction and/or Epi-Pen
was administered at school.
6. Emergency Care Plans and Emergency Medical Authorization forms will be
maintained in student health files in the nurse’s office. These forms must be
provided to EMS personnel and accompany student to the hospital.
DUE TO THE FACT THAT PEANUT AND TREE NUT ALLERGIES ARE THE
MOST COMMON AND SEVERE TYPE OF FOOD ALLERGY, THE
FOLLOWING PROCEDURES SHALL BE FOLLOWED:
*Cafeteria prepared food will be nut free
*Cafeteria tables will be disinfected between each lunch period using soap and
water then bleach and water.
*Nut Free table available at every lunch period
*No food sharing
*Nut Free classrooms provided for those students with nut/food allergy
*All commercially prepared food and boxed items sent in for celebrations,
parties, etc. must contain full ingredient list.
7. Role of the Parent/Guardian:
a. Parents/Guardian will complete the Severe Allergy questionnaire,
obtain a physician’s medication order form, provide Epi-Pen and other
medication as ordered annually.
b. Notify the school nurse of the allergy or changes to the allergy.
c. Provide emergency contact information and update school of changes.
d. Educate the child on safe and unsafe foods and to ask when in doubt,
symptoms of an allergic reaction, how and when to tell an adult they
may be experiencing a reaction, and how to read food labels (age
appropriate).
e. Provide written documentation to the nurse if they do not want their
child to sit at the Nut Free lunch table.
f. When possible, parents/guardians of the allergic child are encouraged
to attend field trips with their child and carry the Epi-Pen. If
parent/guardian is unable to attend the Epi-Pen will remain in the
possession of the trained teacher during the field trip.
8. Role of the student:
a. Use proper hand washing with soap and water before and after eating
and throughout the school day.
b. Should not consume items containing known allergen, or items with
unknown ingredients.
c. Ask when in doubt.
d. Avoid sharing or trading of foods or eating utensils with others.
e. To be proactive in the care and management of their food allergies and
reactions based on their developmental level. Learn to recognize
personal symptoms.
f. Notify and adult IMMEDIATELY if they eat something believed to
contain a food to which they are allergic.
g. Notify an adult if they are being picked on or threatened by other
students as it relates to their food allergy.
h. Learn to develop an awareness of their environment and their allergy –
controlled zones as developmentally appropriate.
9. Role of the School:
a. Mandatory training/in-service will be provided to staff annually and as
needed. Training will include: a description/definition of severe
allergies and a discussion of the most common foods causing allergic
reactions, the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, the correct use of an
Epi-pen, and specific steps to follow in the event of an emergency.
b. Follow all applicable federal laws, including ADA, Section 504, and
HIPPA/FERPA, as well as all state laws and district
policies/guidelines that may apply.
c. Enforce no eating policy on school buses.
d. Parents will be discouraged from sending nuts or nut containing
products for lunches/snacks to avoid cross contamination of allergic
students.
e. Provide a dedicated Nut Free table at all lunch sessions. The Nut Free
table will be cleaned before and after each lunch session with a bleach
and water solution.
f. Cafeteria prepared food will be Nut Free.
g. Nut Free Classrooms will be provided for those students with
documented peanut and/or tree nut allergies. This will include food,
craft, instructional, pet and manipulative items. All Nut Free
Classrooms will be BOTH peanut and tree nut free.
h. Allergen Free Classrooms will be provided as needed for students with
other known life threatening food allergies: i.e. milk, fish, eggs etc.
The same guidelines will apply.
10. Nut Free Classroom guidelines:
a. Teachers will send home written notification to other parents regarding
the Nut Free Classroom status. This letter will be provided by the
nurse and will include items to avoid as well as instruction for reading
food labels.
b. Teacher will be able to read food labels and screen for nut products.
c. Laminated sign will be posted outside the classroom clearly indicating
that the classroom is a Nut Free area. Sign will remain posted for the
duration of the academic year.
d. Food and beverages brought in to be shared in the classroom for
parties, celebrations etc. must be nut free. This means the items can
not contain nuts in any form or be processed in a facility or on
equipment that processes peanuts and/or tree nuts.
e. Food and beverage items brought in to be shared in the class room for
parties, celebrations etc. must be nut free. To ensure this ingredient
labels will be checked by the nurse prior to items entering the
classroom. This is to be done every time food is brought for sharing
regardless if the same item has been brought on a previous date. For
example Oreo cookies will need to have the ingredient list checked
every time as manufacturer may have changed processing plants or
altered ingredients. Parent may have purchased a generic brand which
may have differing ingredients. **This includes food items brought
in by the classroom teacher.**
f. Home prepared items are to be discouraged, due to possibility of cross
contamination. If they are brought in they must also include a full
ingredient list. Example: cupcakes made at home decorated with
g. sprinkles and candy must include cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, and
candy ingredient labels.
h. Food/beverage items brought in without ingredient labels will not be
allowed into the Nut Free classroom. There will be no exceptions.
i. Desk tops and commonly touched items (pencil sharpeners, door
handles etc.) will be wiped down with an approved cleansing agent at
the beginning of each school day and after any food/snack items are
consumed in the classroom.
j. If a Nut Free classroom decides to move their celebration/party to
another area within the school, that area is to be considered Nut Free.
k. Class pets – pet food, bedding, and cage material must be allergen
free.
l. Teachers will encourage parents to contact the school nurse with any
questions regarding the Nut Free Classroom guidelines, guidance with
food selection or to obtain more information regarding food allergies.
11. Role of the Classroom Teacher:
a. Participate in annual in-service training regarding students with life
threatening food allergies, including demonstration on how to use the
Epi-pen.
b. Be familiar with signs and symptoms of allergic reactions. Be aware
of and able to implement the emergency plan if a reaction is suspected.
c. Ensure that desk tops and commonly touched items are wiped down
with an approved cleansing agent at the beginning of each school day
and after any food/snack items are consumed in the classroom.
d. Reinforce appropriate classroom hygiene practices/thorough hand
washing with soap and water before and after eating.
e. Abide by Nut Free Classroom guidelines as stated in the LCS Food
Allergy Policy.
f. Ensure that information regarding students with food allergies is
organized and kept in the classroom yellow crisis folders in an
accessible format for substitute teachers.
g. Keep all health related information appropriately confidential as
defined by HIPPA/FERPA.
h. Treat students with food allergies with respect. (Avoid using terms
such as “the peanut kid” etc.)
12. Role of the School Nurse:.
a. Conduct annual in-service and training as stated above.
b. Ensure that medical records of student with food allergies are current
and contain updated Emergency Medical Form, Signed Physicians
medication orders, and Parent Allergy questionnaire.
c. Provide a list of students with food allergies to classroom teachers,
specials teachers, lunch room personnel and applicable ancillary staff.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
This will be done at the beginning of the academic year and updated as
necessary.
Maintain Epi-pens and medication ordered by physician in the metal
cabinet located in the school clinic. Medication will be clearly labeled
and filed alphabetically by student’s last name. The cabinet will
remain unlocked during school hours.
Be available to check ingredient list/labels throughout the school day.
This will be done prior to any food/beverage that is to be shared
entering a Nut Free Classroom.
LCS/UBC campus will follow the guidelines as states in the LCS Food
Allergy Policy. Pat Wentworth, LCS teacher will be responsible for
checking ingredient labels as needed. If she is unavailable or has
questions the school nurse will travel to the UBC campus.
Should the school nurse be absent, the substitute RN will have access
to the LCS Food Allergy Policy and assume responsibility for
checking food labels. Should the substitute RN have any questions
he/she should consult Kim Cope, LCS teacher or Mr. Milligan
Administrator for guidance.
Provide instruction, guidance, and resources as needed to any parent
regarding food allergies and the LCS Food Allergy Policy.
Abide by and enforce the guidelines as stated in the LCS Food Allergy
Policy.