The SpecialMoms Parenting Magazine 3rd Issue | Page 7

Back to School with Food Allergies

Back to School
with Food Allergies
NUTS | DAIRY | EGGS | SEAFOOD | GLUTEN
EGGS | SEAFOOD | GLUTEN | NUTS | DAIRY
GLUTEN | NUTS | DAIRY | EGGS | SEAFOOD
>>>>>> Lauren Kossack

F

or most families, preparing to send
their kids to school is a time that is
filled with anticipation and excitement. But for food allergy families,
it brings about intense anxiety as we hope
and pray that we’ve done and said all the
right things to ensure our child’s safety while
they are at school. But have we?

How about the bus? Will the other students
on the bus decide that they don’t want to
wait to grab a snack at home and open up
their lunch boxes and finish their uneaten
peanut butter sandwich while your child sits
in the next seat?
All of these scenarios play-out in your mind
over and over again as the first day of school
creeps closer and closer. So what do you
do? What can you do to ensure the safety of
your child?

If you are like me then the nightmares have
already begun. You know the ones... cafeteria chaos where lunches get mixed up or
the entire room breaks out into a food fight,
but not just any food fight – a peanut food
fight. Or the mismanagement of classroom
birthday parties where although you’ve been
communicating regularly with your child’s
teacher – this one time the teacher forgets
to call you and the decision as to whether or
not your child eats the treat is left up to him.

Here’s a list of what I recommend, based on
what’s worked for our family.

Medical Action Plan/IHP

Will he remember all
that you’ve taught him
over the years and make
the right choice to
just say “no?”
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Meet with your allergist and work together to create a food allergy medical action
plan or an IHP (Individualized Health Care
Plan). This form will specify ways to reduce
the contact with your child’s allergen(s), list
signs and symptoms to watch for, and proper emergency medical treatment should
your child have a reaction. It will also state
where your child’s EpiPen will be located.
Will your child self-carry or will his EpiPen
be kept in the nurse’s office?
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