This week is food allergy awareness week and you have a role to play in helping students manage food allergies! It’s important that you understand food allergies, how to recognize the symptoms of a food allergy reaction, and what to do in the event of food allergy emergency.
It’s likely you will work with a student with food allergies. A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showed the prevalence of food allergies increased in children under age 18 from 3.4 percent in 1997 to 5.1 percent in 2011. The cause of the increase is unknown and many food allergy professionals aren’t sure when the epidemic will plateau.
Important facts to remember:
- Many children experience their first food allergy reaction while at school, and reactions can range from mild to severe and can become severe very quickly.
- Severe food allergy reactions can result in anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.
- The majority of deaths from food allergies at school occur because there is a delay in administering epinephrine. It is very important that when anaphylaxis symptoms occur epinephrine is administered immediately.
NEA HIN released Food Allergy Book: What School Employees Need to Know last September and distributed all of its 75,000 copies in less than a year! The booklet was created through a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and educates school employees about food allergies and how they can help to prevent and respond to food allergic reactions in schools. We are pleased to announce that through additional funding from USDA, additional copies are being printed and are now available for ordering! You can download the booklet or order copies by calling 877-250-5795.
In honor of food allergy awareness week remember, keeping students safe and healthy is team effort! Share your food allergy story with us or post it on Facebook.
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