Anaphylaxis Management Policy
Policy: Anaphylaxis Management Policy
Policy Coordinators: Deputy Principal, Heads of School
1. BACKGROUND
The Children's Services and Education Legislation (Anaphylaxis Management) Amendment Act 2008 comes into effect on 14 July 2008. All schools across Victoria, from 14 July 2008, must have an Anaphylaxis Management Policy if they have a student enrolled who has been diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis. Tintern Schools has such students. The policy must include information on:
- individual management plans for each child at risk;
- a communication plan to inform staff, parents and students about anaphylaxis and the school's anaphylaxis management policy; and
- staff training and emergency response procedures.
Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapidly progressive allergic reaction that is potentially life threatening. The most common allergens in school aged children are peanuts, eggs, tree nuts (e.g. cashews), cow’s milk, fish and shellfish, wheat, soy, sesame, latex, certain insect stings and medication.
The key to prevention of anaphylaxis in schools is knowledge of those students who have been diagnosed at risk, awareness of triggers (allergens), and prevention of exposure to these triggers. Partnerships between schools and parents are important in ensuring that certain foods or items are kept away from the student while at school.
Adrenaline given through an EpiPen® autoinjector to the muscle of the outer mid thigh is the most effective first aid treatment for anaphylaxis.
2. PURPOSE
To provide, as far as practicable, a safe and supportive environment in which students at risk of anaphylaxis can participate equally in all aspects of the student’s schooling.
To raise awareness about anaphylaxis and the school’s anaphylaxis management policy in the school community
ANAPHYLAXIS MANAGEMENT POLICY
To engage with parents/carers of students at risk of anaphylaxis in assessing risks, developing risk minimisation strategies, and management strategies for the student.
To ensure that each staff member has adequate knowledge about allergies, anaphylaxis and the school’s policy and procedures in responding to an anaphylactic reaction.
3. INDIVIDUAL ANAPHYLAXIS MANGEMENT PLANS
The principal will ensure that an individual management plan (the Action Plan) is developed, in consultation with the student’s parents, for any student who has been diagnosed by a medical practitioner as being at risk of anaphylaxis.
The individual anaphylaxis management plan will be in place as soon as practicable after the student enrols, and where possible before their first day of school.
The individual anaphylaxis management plan will set out the following:
- Information about the diagnosis, including the type of allergy or allergies the student has (based on a diagnosis from a medical practitioner).
- Strategies to minimise the risk of exposure to allergens while the student is under the care or supervision of school staff, for in-school and out of school settings including camps and excursions.
The student’s individual management plan will be reviewed, in consultation with the student’s parents/ carers:
- annually, or more frequently as applicable,
- if the student’s condition changes, or
- immediately after a student has an anaphylactic reaction at school.
It is the responsibility of the parent to:
provide the emergency procedures plan (ASCIA Action Plan see link below).
- inform the school if their child’s medical condition changes, and if relevant provide an updated emergency procedures plan (ASCIA Action Plan see link below).
- provide an up to date photo for the emergency procedures plan (ASCIA Action
Plan see link below) when the plan is provided to the school and when it is reviewed.
Note: A link to an individual anaphylaxis management plan is attached:
http://www.allergy.org.au/images/stories/anaphylaxis/Action_Plan_anaphylaxis_personal.pdf
Note: The red and blue ‘ASCIA Action Plan’ attached is the most common form of
emergency procedures plan that is provided by medical practitioners to parents when a child is diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis.
4. COMMUNICATION PLAN
The principal will be responsible for ensuring that a communication plan is developed to provide information to all staff, students and parents about anaphylaxis and the school’s anaphylaxis management policy.
The communication plan will include information about what steps will be taken to respond to an anaphylactic reaction by a student in a classroom, in the school yard, on school excursions, on school camps and special event days.
Volunteers and casual relief staff of students at risk of anaphylaxis will be informed of students at risk of anaphylaxis and their role in responding to an anaphylactic reaction by a student in their care.
All staff will be briefed once each semester by a staff member who has up to date
anaphylaxis management training on:
- the school’s anaphylaxis management policy
- the causes, symptoms and treatment of anaphylaxis
- the identities of students diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis and where their medication is located
- how to use an autoadrenaline injecting device
- the school’s first aid and emergency response procedures
Note Tintern Schools Communication Plan is attached as Appendix 1
5. STAFF TRAINING AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Teachers and other school staff who conduct classes which students at risk of
anaphylaxis attend, or give instruction to students at risk of anaphylaxis, must have up to date training in an anaphylaxis management training course.
At other times while the student is under the care or supervision of the school, including excursions, yard duty, camps and special event days, the principal must ensure that there is a sufficient number of staff present who have up to date training in an anaphylaxis management training course.
Training will be provided to these staff as soon as practicable after the student enrols.
Wherever possible, training will take place before the student’s first day at school. Where this is not possible, an interim plan will be developed in consultation with the parents.
The School’s first aid procedures and the students emergency procedures plan (ASCIA Action Plan) will be followed in responding to an anaphylactic reaction.
The principal will identify the school staff to be trained. The current Tintern Schools policy is that all staff are trained in the identification of risk factors, the recognition of early signs of an anaphylactic episode and the use of an autoinjector.
Note: A link to a risk assessment checklist is attached http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/stuman/wellbeing/Anaphylaxis_Risk_Management_Checklist_F.pdf
Appendix 1
TINTERN SCHOOLS ANAPHYLAXIS MANAGEMENT COMMUNICTION PLAN
Raising staff awareness
All staff involved in the care of students at risk of anaphylaxis, including class teachers, office staff, casual relief teachers, canteen staff, administrative and other office staff will attend briefing sessions at leats once per semester that will inform staff on:
- the causes, symptoms and treatment of anaphylaxis
- the identities of students who are at risk of anaphylaxis
- the preventative strategies in place
- where EpiPens® are kept
- the school’s first aid and emergency response procedures
- their role in responding to a severe allergic reaction.
Copies of the student’s ASCIA Action Plan will be kept in tuckshops and staff rooms.
The School Nurse at each of the Tintern Schools campuses has been designated as the staff member responsible for briefing new staff about students at risk of anaphylaxis, the school’s policies and prevention strategies.
It is the responsibility of the Daily Organiser at each of the Tintern Schools campuses to advise Emergency teachers of students at risk of anaphylaxis and the steps required for prevention and emergency response.
Raising student awareness
Peer support is an important element of support for students at risk of anaphylaxis.
Tintern Schools can raise awareness in school through fact sheets and posters displayed in hallways, tuckshops and classrooms.
Form teachers are advised to discuss the anaphylaxis with students in class, with a few simple key messages:
- always take food allergies seriously – severe allergies are no joke
- don’t share your food with friends who have food allergies
- wash your hands after eating
- know what your friends are allergic to
- if schoolmate becomes sick, get help immediately
- be respectful of a schoolmate’s EpiPen®
- don’t pressure your friends to eat food that they are allergic to.
Privacy considerations
Schools should be aware that some parents/carers or students may not wish the identity of the student to be disclosed to the wider school community. This should be discussed with the student’s parents/carers and written consent obtained to display the student’s name, photograph and relevant treatment details in staff areas, canteens or other common areas.
NB: this policy is to be read in conjunction with Tintern Schools Nut Aware strategy
Download Anaphylaxis Management Policy
Download Information for Parents (Anaphylaxis)