The development and implementation of a Food Allergy Plan is voluntary. Many schools have adopted practices which may disrupt the effectiveness of their food allergy safety plan.
ABSENCE OF STUDENT AND FOOD ALLERGY EDUCATION
Schools educate children about fire safety at home and school, but why not food allergies? Food allergy education must be a continuous and collaborative effort. The more accustomed and aware the students are about food allergies, the odds increase that a child's life will be saved during an adverse reaction to food.
LACK OF COLLABORATION
Protecting children with food allergies takes a collaborative effort. Regardless of the number of students with a diagnosed food allergy, all individuals need to be educated and involved including staff, students, parents, coaches and extended family members.
FILE CABINET FOOD ALLERGY PLANS
If the extent of a food allergy plan exists in a file cabinet, how effective is it during a time of emergency? When a student is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, identification and response time can be the difference between life or death.
HIPAA
Educating all children about food allergies and sharing information and experiences about the child that has a food allergy does not violate any Hipaa law. Food allergies are categorized as a disability. Children with food allergies should be treated no differently than those with a visible handicap. Schools can not educate children about food allergies without discussing those individuals affected by them.
Avoidance of the issue is severely counterproductive and will act as an obstacle to educating all students about the severity of food allergies. Acceptance and compassion can not be taught if you can not identify the children with food allergies and involve them in the dialogue and safety plan.
ALLERGEN FREE ZONE
No school or facility should guarantee or claim that they are free of a particular allergen.
ABSENCE OF STUDENT AND FOOD ALLERGY EDUCATION
Schools educate children about fire safety at home and school, but why not food allergies? Food allergy education must be a continuous and collaborative effort. The more accustomed and aware the students are about food allergies, the odds increase that a child's life will be saved during an adverse reaction to food.
LACK OF COLLABORATION
Protecting children with food allergies takes a collaborative effort. Regardless of the number of students with a diagnosed food allergy, all individuals need to be educated and involved including staff, students, parents, coaches and extended family members.
FILE CABINET FOOD ALLERGY PLANS
If the extent of a food allergy plan exists in a file cabinet, how effective is it during a time of emergency? When a student is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, identification and response time can be the difference between life or death.
HIPAA
Educating all children about food allergies and sharing information and experiences about the child that has a food allergy does not violate any Hipaa law. Food allergies are categorized as a disability. Children with food allergies should be treated no differently than those with a visible handicap. Schools can not educate children about food allergies without discussing those individuals affected by them.
Avoidance of the issue is severely counterproductive and will act as an obstacle to educating all students about the severity of food allergies. Acceptance and compassion can not be taught if you can not identify the children with food allergies and involve them in the dialogue and safety plan.
ALLERGEN FREE ZONE
No school or facility should guarantee or claim that they are free of a particular allergen.