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Food Allergies and Children
Is It Taking a Toll on Your Family?
By Debbie Vallejo
- Meet with the school nurse, principal and teachers.
- Set up an emergency action plan.
- Bring educational materials that explain the severity of the allergy.
- Find out who is responsible for administering the EpiPen in the event of an emergency.
- Make sure anyone coming into contact with the child is aware of the emergency action plan and EpiPen.
- Give the child's doctor permission to share medical information with the school.
- Decide where the EpiPen should be stored.
- If your child rides the bus, make sure the bus driver is aware of the allergy and knows how to use the EpiPen.
There are also ways to ease a child's mind when beginning school. Here are the recommendations:
Never share food. - Say no when offered food you are not sure about.
- Wash hands before and after eating food.
- Wear your medical alert bracelet at all times.
- Ask what is in every food before eating it.
- Know the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
- Never feel embarrassed if you have a reaction, and don't try to administer the EpiPen on your own.
Becoming a Lifestyle
There does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel for those families just beginning to navigate the food allergy minefield. "The food allergy thing is so much a part of our life now – food no longer controls my every thought," Woodward says. "It took a while, but shopping, eating out, going to friends' houses, everything is easier."