All school employees, including teachers and education support professionals, need to know about allergic reactions, how to identify them, how to respond in an emergency, and how they can help prevent them in the first place. Because at any given time, any school employee may be the closest person to a student experiencing anaphylaxis and could be the one to save a life.
Educate yourself and build awareness of the seriousness of food allergies
Download NEA HIN’s “The Food Allergy Book”, check out our allergy resources page, and then share these resources with others.
Maintain updated Emergency Care Plans
Every year, a student’s family should submit an Emergency Care Plan in consultation with student’s doctor. Allergies can change throughout a person’s lifetime, so it’s critical this record is updated regularly.
FARE offers a Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan template for download on their website.
Consult your school’s Food Allergy Management and Prevention Plan
Managing allergies is a team effort, and a plan reflects the roles everyone in a school can play to prevent allergic reactions.
Food allergy management and prevention plans should be based on school district policy and implemented by a food allergy management team that represents various job categories including nurses, food service workers, bus drivers, educators and more.
Ask if your school has a Food Allergy Mangement and Prevention Plan. If one doesn’t exist, ask to help craft one for your school. The Centers for Disease Control has a free resource to guide school staff as you create your school’s Food Allergy Management Prevention Plan.