Over the past several decades, food allergies in children have been increasing significantly. One recent online survey found that one in twelve children in the United States may have some kind of food allergy. This means that in an average classroom, a teacher will most likely have at least two students with food allergies.
One statistic that might come as a surprise is that eight foods ? wheat, soy, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, regular fish, egg and milk ? account for 90% of all allergic reactions. While some of these allergens may go away as children grow older, others like peanuts and shellfish are lifelong conditions. A severe allergic reaction is extremely serious and potentially life-threatening, so schools must take measures to ensure that classrooms, hallways, the cafeteria and other public spaces are safe for children with food allergies.
Parents, principals, teachers and support staff play important roles in keeping classrooms safe for kids with food allergies. One way to make sure that the entire community is on the same page is for the principal to send home an all-school newsletter, letting families know what the school will be doing to create a safe environment for students with allergies, and providing instructions and suggestions for what families can do too.
Here are some important, yet very simple things schools and families can do:
- At the start of the year, make sure that the school faculty and staff are aware of which students have food allergies and that health and contact information is up to date and easily accessible. Training on how to recognize the symptoms of a reaction and what to do next should be provided before classes begin.
- For school celebrations like birthdays and holidays, consider serving only fresh fruit and vegetables as snacks. Another option is to use something else entirely for celebrations, like stickers, pencils, homework coupons or books. In addition to keeping the classroom safe, these ideas also encourage healthy eating habits for children who may not eat many fruits and vegetables at home.
- Any time food is served, make sure to clean surfaces with disinfectant and make sure children wash their hands thoroughly before and after eating.
- Food sent from home should be commercially prepared and contain a preprinted ingredient statement. Before distributing it to the class, the teacher (and child if he/she is old enough) should check the ingredient labels for any potential allergy-causing ingredients. Schools? policies may vary on this, so before parents bring in any homemade treats, they should obtain permission from the school.
- Holiday celebrations don?t need to focus on just the food that goes with them! Let the kids enjoy their holiday treats at home. The school experience can include costumes, music, stories, games, and arts and crafts related to the holidays.
Understanding and managing food allergies requires a collaborative effort among parents, staff and students. While it may seem overwhelming at first, with a little planning, a classroom should easily be able to create the necessary safe environment for its students with allergies.
Guest post submitted by Karen Lederer, who works with the online programs at Dominican University http://www.dominicanu.com/
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