Sacred Heart Primary School is concerned about the safety and well-being of all our students. Many of you will know someone who is affected by anaphylaxis, a life threatening allergic reaction. Our school does its best to be an allergy aware school. Staff have had training in severe allergy management and we have implemented lots of strategies to help keep students at risk of anaphylaxis as safe as we can.
Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can be caused by a number of different foods, perfumes, medications, insect stings and other environmental substances. It must be treated as a medical emergency, requiring immediate treatment and urgent medical attention. An anaphylactic reaction can be rapid and is life threatening, often developing within seconds of exposure.
We now have 11 students who live with the risk of anaphylaxis to foods and insect stings.
Whilst these children are being taught to care for themselves at an age appropriate level, we ask that you help us educate your child on the importance of not sharing food with others, washing hands after eating and calling out to an adult if they think their friend with allergies is sick. With increased awareness and understanding of anaphylaxis, you will be able to help protect those around you.
The safety of anaphylactic children in a school setting depends on the cooperation of the entire school community. We can never totally eliminate the risk of an anaphylaxis but we can all do things that will help lessen the risk.
We ask that parents respect that various students attending our schools have potentially fatal reactions to numerous foods and other products, and ask that you kindly consider this when packing your child’s lunch or when sending in food for any occasion, including school excursions.
Peanuts are the leading cause of severe allergic reactions, followed by tree nuts, shellfish, fish and milk.
Please refrain from sending peanuts (including peanut butter & nutella) with your child to school.
Class groups that have food allergic students such as peanut or egg allergy, will receive a class note.
We hope to be able to strike a balance between the right and convenience of all students to eat what they like and the allergic child’s right to relative safety in the school setting.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Anaphylaxis Supervisor, Sharon Powell on 57443339 or your child’s classroom teacher if you would like to discuss this further.
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