PREVIOUS MYTH:
Only students will experience allergic emergencies in school
NEXT MYTH:
Food allergies to foods other than nuts are mild
PREVIOUS MYTH:
Only students will experience allergic emergencies in school
NEXT MYTH:
Food allergies to foods other than nuts are mild
Staff Training: Food Allergies & Anaphylaxis in School – What School Staff Need to Know
This 30 minute module is designed to assist the school nurse in staff training of management of life-threatening allergic reactions and increase food allergy awareness for all school staff including teachers, food service personnel, administrators, aides, specialists, coaches, bus drivers, custodians and others.
FOOD ALLERGY MYTH
“Only staff that directly work with students need to be trained.”
FOOD ALLERGY FACT
“Any staff member who might interact with children with food allergies or be asked to help respond to a food allergy emergency should be trained.”- CDC
COMMENTARY:
“Administrators, nutrition and food service staff (including contract staff), classroom and specialty teachers, athletic coaches, school counselors, bus drivers, custodial and maintenance staff, therapists, para-educators, special education service providers, librarians and media specialists, security staff, substitute teachers, and volunteers such as playground monitors and field trip chaperones.” – CDC
The CDC Voluntary Guidelines suggests that training should include the following:
- School policies and practices
- Food allergy overview and definitions
- Difference between potentially life-threatening food allergy and other food-related problems
- Signs and symptoms of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
- Information on emergency medication
- Prevention strategies for reducing and preventing exposure to allergens (in food and nonfood items)
- Policies on bullying and harassment
- The school’s emergency protocol
RESOURCES:
- Staff Training: Food Allergies & Anaphylaxis in School – What School Staff Need to Know. This 30 minute module is designed to assist the school nurse in staff training of management of life-threatening allergic reactions and increase food allergy awareness for all school staff including teachers, food service personnel, administrators, aides, specialists, coaches, bus drivers, custodians and others.
- NASN Checklist for CDC Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies. This checklist provides guidance on how to use the Voluntary Guidelines and provide leadership in your school communities.
- Food Allergy Management and Education (FAME) Manual & Tool-Kit. This manual and toolkit provides resources for school food allergy management and school-wide education.
- Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in Schools and Early Care and Education Programs. A comprehensive and practical set of voluntary federal guidelines to assist US schools in the management of food allergies. These voluntary guidelines are sure to serve as an excellent foundation for schools to implement school policies, especially useful in states without their own guidelines.
- NEA-HIN’s Food Allergy Book: What School Employees Need to Know. This booklet was created to educate school employees about food allergies and how they can help to prevent and respond to food allergic reactions.
