DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
GUIDELINES
STUDENTS AT RISK OF ANAPHYLAXIS
Responsibility of:
Effective date:
Next review date:
Target audience:
School Support Services
July 2013
July 2016
Whole School Community
DoE File: FILE2014/429
DoE Doc: EDOC2014/29019
VERSION NUMBER: 1.0
This document should be read in conjunction with Administration of Medications to Students with
Notified Medical Conditions policy.
1. INTRODUCTION
Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction and is potentially life threatening. It usually
occurs within 20 minutes to 2 hours after exposure to a food, insect, medicine or other substance to
which a person may already be allergic. Anaphylaxis must always be treated as a medical
emergency and requires immediate treatment.
This guideline provides a resource to assist schools in managing and minimising the risk of
anaphylaxis in schools.
This guideline is based on information from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and
Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, and includes links to useful resources for
schools that are supporting children who have been diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis.
2. DEFINITIONS
Adrenaline autoinjectors (EpiPen® or Anapen®) contain a single fixed dose of adrenaline. They
are used for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis and are designed to be administered by nonmedical people.
ASCIA Action Plans (personal) have been developed as medical documents which are completed
and signed by the treating doctor. It sets out the emergency procedures to be taken in the event of
an allergic reaction and should always be stored with the device. They are located on the ASCIA
website:
http://www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/anaphylaxis-resources/ascia-action-plan-foranaphylaxis
3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Principals are responsible for:
 ensuring that a range of staff have completed appropriate training in awareness, management,
recognition and emergency treatment for anaphylaxis;
 ensuring that the Student’s Health Care Plans and Student’s Risk Minimisation Plans are
completed and kept up to date;
 implementation of strategies to minimise the risk of accidental exposure to known allergens; and
 appropriate storage of adrenaline autoinjectors in an easily accessible location out of direct
sunlight and heat.
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DoE Guidelines: Students At Risk Of Anaphylaxis
Staff are responsible for:
 knowing the identity of students who are at risk of anaphylaxis;
 following information contained in the Student’s Health Care Plan, Student’s Risk Minimisation
Plan and ASCIA Action Plan (if supplied by parent);
 knowing where the adrenaline autoinjector is located, whether it is carried by the student or
stored in an agreed location.
Parents of children at risk of anaphylaxis are responsible for:
 notifying the school if their child has been prescribed an adrenaline autoinjector, had previous or
subsequent anaphylaxis, has any changes in allergies and any other health care needs or
disabilities that may affect anaphylaxis management;
 working with the school to complete the Student’s Health Care Plan and Student’s Risk
Minimisation Plan;
 where necessary providing an in date adrenaline autoinjector and ASCIA Action Plan to the
school;
 educating their child about the condition and how to avoid known allergens; and
 reinforcing the risk minimisation strategies outlined in the Student’s Health Care Plan and
Student’s Risk Minimisation Plan.
4. GUIDELINES
Anaphylaxis is potentially life threatening and always requires an emergency response.
The most common allergens or trigger substances that may cause anaphylaxis in school aged
children are peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, egg, cows’ milk, wheat, sesame, soy, insect
stings, latex and certain medications.
4.1 Notification of Student at Risk of Anaphylaxis
Parents are required to notify the school on enrolment or on diagnosis if their child has been
medically diagnosed with a severe allergy and is at risk of anaphylaxis. A Health Care Plan and
EpiPen/Anapen Student Information Form must be completed.
As allergies, particularly food allergies, change with time it is important that schools ensure that the
Health Care Plan is reviewed and amended as circumstances change or if a serious incident
involving the student’s medical condition occurs. The Health Care Plan should be reviewed at least at
the start of every semester (six monthly).
All staff must be advised of the relevant details of an individual student’s severe allergy.
4.2 Student’s Risk Minimisation Plan
Each student known to be at risk must also have a Student’s Risk Minimisation Plan which details
strategies to support prevention, recognition and management of anaphylaxis. The Student’s Risk
Minimisation Plan is developed on enrolment or diagnosis in consultation with the student’s parents
and Health Care Team. As a minimum, the Student’s Risk Minimisation Plan should be reviewed in
conjunction with the review of the Health Care Plan, so that management strategies can be changed
if required. Strategies may differ as the student gets older and has more understanding of personal
management. A student may also outgrow an allergy or develop another allergy.
Where provided by parents, a copy of the ASCIA Action Plan should be attached to the Student’s
Risk Minimisation Plan.
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DoE Guidelines: Students At Risk Of Anaphylaxis
4.3 Education and Awareness
Where schools have students with severe allergies, schools should deliver age appropriate
awareness and education programs, especially in classes where there are affected student/s.
ASCIA provide an extensive range of information and resources to assist in the education and
management of anaphylaxis and severe allergic reactions.
http://www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/anaphylaxis-resources
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia provide free downloadable resources on their website to help schools
raise awareness of anaphylaxis. In particular, Be a M.A.T.E – Make Allergy Treatment Easier is an
educational awareness program designed to help parents and educators to teach students and staff
about food allergies and how to help their friends who are at risk of anaphylaxis.
http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/caring-for-those-at-risk/school-resources
4.4 School Risk Minimisation Measures
It is important that schools have strategies in place to minimise the risk of any severe allergic
reaction. These strategies will vary depending on the age of the student/s and the type of allergies
the school is required to manage. For schools where there are children with severe food allergies a
risk minimisation policy for school canteens should also be implemented.
It may be possible to minimise students’ exposure to potential allergens within the school
environment through the implementation of food bans or prohibiting the entry of particular
substances into schools or classrooms. Schools, however, should not make claims that their
school is, for example, “peanut/nut free” as this is impossible to guarantee and may lead to a
false sense of security about exposure to allergens.
As a general principle it is not recommended that students with an allergy be physically isolated from
other students.
The following resources outline strategies and measures to minimise students’ exposure to known
allergens:
ASCIA Guidelines for Preventions of Anaphylaxis in Schools, Preschools and Childcare: 2012
Update
http://www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/prevent-anaphylactic-reactions-in-schools
Discussion Guides: Ideas on Risk Minimisation Strategies in the School and/or Childcare
Environment
http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/images/pdf/risk.pdf
4.5 Staff Training
The Principal will determine which members of staff are required to complete anaphylaxis
training, involving online and practical training in recognising and responding appropriately to an
anaphylactic reaction including administering adrenaline autoinjectors.
The following needs to be considered when determining how many staff are to be trained:
 number of students with severe allergy at risk of anaphylaxis at the school,
 variety of activities these students engage in as part of the school program, and
 level of associated risk.
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DoE Guidelines: Students At Risk Of Anaphylaxis
A register of staff who participate in the practical training component is required to be maintained
by the school.
It is recommended that the ASCIA Action Plans (General) are used as posters and placed in first
aid kits.
http://www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/anaphylaxis-resources/ascia-action-plan-foranaphylaxis
Discussion Guide: Who should be trained?
http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/images/pdf/trained.pdf
ASCIA offers a free online training course which the Department recommends for all Principals
and staff. It is a resource for learning about the symptoms, triggers, adrenaline autoinjectors and
management. Practical training on administering adrenaline autoinjectors can be facilitated through
a range of first aid training providers such as St John’s Ambulance and the Asthma Foundation.
Online training – ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for schools and childcare
http://www.allergy.org.au/patients/anaphylaxis-e-training-schools-and-childcare
4.6 Preschools
Preschools in scope of the National Quality Framework must further meet the requirements outlined
in the Education and Care Services National Regulations. These include, but are not limited to:
 the preschool must have a person who has undertaken approved anaphylaxis management
training in attendance or on the school site and immediately available in case of an
emergency at all times;
 a medical conditions policy which sets out practices in relation to the management of a child
at risk of anaphylaxis; and
 display of a notice which is clearly visible in the main entrance advising that a child enrolled at
the service has been diagnosed as at risk of anaphylaxis.
Further details are provided on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority
(ACECQA) website: http://www.acecqa.gov.au/First-aid-qualifications-and-training.
5. USEFUL RESOURCES
Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy
http://www.allergy.org.au/
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia
http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/
EpiPen®
http://www.epiclub.com.au/
Anapen®
http://www.analert.com.au/
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