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Disclaimer:
The Region of Peel School Health Reference Guide is a supplementary resource to relevant Peel and Dufferin-Peel school board policies. Always refer to school board policy first if you have questions or concerns.

Managing Anaphylaxis in the School Setting

Principal responsibilities Teacher & support staff responsibilities Anaphylactic student responsibilities

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

As parent or guardian of an anaphylactic student it is your responsibility to:

• Complete forms and provide written consent
• Keep your school community informed
• Safeguard your child
• Educate your child about anaphylaxis
• Consider your child’s wellbeing on class trips

1) Complete forms and provide written consent

1. Provide written consent
   Provide written consent for teachers, school staff and volunteers to administer an epinephrine auto-injection if you child has an allergic or anaphylactic reaction.
   
   Take the appropriate school board form to your child’s physician for written consent permitting teachers, school staff and volunteers to administer an epinephrine auto-injector:
   • Peel Board: Special Education Program Services 8 Form A - Administration of Prescribed Medication.
   • Dufferin-Peel Board: Authorization of Storage and Administration of Prescribed Medication.
2. Complete an "allergy alert" form
   The allergy alert form should include:
   
   
   • The student’s name
   • A current photograph
   • The specific allergy or allergies
   • Warning signs and symptoms of a reaction
   • An emergency treatment plan
   Give teachers or other school staff permission to photocopy your child’s allergy alert form and post copies in visible locations throughout the school. Your child’s form should be renewed on a yearly basis
   • The Peel Board allergy alert form is in the Special Education Program Services 8 Form B - Allergy Alert Emergency Plan (EpiPen® only) Form B.
   • Dufferin-Peel Board parents and guardians should refer to the General Administrative Procedures.
   • Read a sample allergy alert form (PDF) from Safe4Kids.

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2) Keep your school community informed

1. Meet with your child’s teacher
   Request a meeting with your child’s teacher, Principal and food service staff to make sure they are aware of your child’s allergies. Build a rapport with your child’s teachers to support your child’s medical needs.
2. Make sure your child wears an identifying bracelet, necklace or badge
   Children with anaphylactic allergies must wear a MedicAlert® bracelet or necklace or a special badge at all times.
   
   Learn more about MedicAlert® in Canada.
3. Educate school staff
   Take the opportunity to teach school staff about using an epinephrine auto-injector. Participate in your school’s School Council and make yourself available to answer other parents’ questions about your child’s allergies or anaphylaxis.

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3) Safeguard your child

1. Check your child’s auto-injectors
   
   • Make sure that the epinephrine auto-injector(s) your child brings to school haven’t expired or changed in colour or consistency.
   • All epinephrine auto-injector(s) must be labelled with your child’s name and expiry date.
   • Visit the school on a regular basis to ensure your child’s epinephrine auto-injectors are safe for use. Ensure your child’s epinephrine auto-injector(s) are stored properly.
2. Provide “safe” foods and snacks
   Provide your child’s school with safe foods and snacks in case your child forgets his lunch.

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4) Educate your child about anaphylaxis

1. Teach your child:
   
   • About his allergy and the importance of communicating it to others.
   • To recognize the signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction.
   • To tell someone when he senses the start of a reaction.
   • The importance of his eating only foods prepared at home and to always have epinephrine auto-injector on hand before he starts to eat.
   • The importance of his not sharing food and utensils with other children.
   • The importance of hand-washing and protecting eating surfaces.
2. Make sure your child understands:
   
   • The importance of knowing the location of additional epinephrine auto-injector(s).
   • He must always carry epinephrine auto-injector(s) with him.
   • That if he’s allergic to insect stings, he shouldn’t attract insects by wearing loose garments, floral patters, blue or yellow clothing or fragrances.

5) Consider your child’s wellbeing on class trips

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1. Participate in class events and trips
   Participate in your child’s special class event preparations (i.e., class parties) and join the class on field trips.
2. Confirm medical service availability:
   If your child is participating in a field trip ensure that:
   • There is easy access to police, fire and ambulance services.
   • 9-1-1 services are available at the destination. (If not, ensure that the number to access ambulance services is readily available.)
   • Your child must have more than one epinephrine auto-injector if the nearest hospital is more than 10-15 minutes away (a second dose may be required if the reaction continues or gets worse).
   • The teacher knows the address of and directions to the destination to advise emergency personnel.