10 Questions You Should Ask Your Child's School About Food Allergy Safety

When my child was diagnosed with a stage six peanut allergy, I was floored. How could I send my young child to school, where peanut butter was served daily, without feeling like he would go into anaphylaxis at any given moment? For years I lived in a constant state of anxiety until I learned food allergies are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This was the fuel I needed to start asking questions about how my child was protected in school.

Who keeps the EpiPen during school hours?

Most schools keep your child's EpiPen in the nurse's office, but, in severe cases, the Epi-Pen may be allowed in the classroom. Some older children wear the EpiPen around their neck for added protection.

Who keeps the EpiPen during school field trips?

I found out my child's school did not bother to pack my child's EpiPen during school field trips. After talking with the nurse, we decided it was best to give the nurse and teacher a call the day before the field trip and the morning of to remind them to pack his EpiPens.

Are lunch tables cleaned before my child attends lunch?

Lunch rooms are fast-paced environments where children flock in and out on a constant basis. Before sitting down for lunch, we asked our child's teacher to clean the lunch table and only allow students eating peanut-free meals at the table. A small sign is displayed on the table reading "Peanut-Free Lunch Table."

Are community rooms like the library, art room and music room allergen-free?

Your child visits several rooms in the school throughout the week, including the art room, music room and library. If these teachers are not aware of your child's severe food allergy, they may allow peanuts or other allergens to be consumed in the room. Small signs can be posted on the door to these rooms naming the area as a peanut- or allergen-free zone.

Who is trained to administer an EpiPen?

First responders are available at my child's school every day, but who are these first responders and where are they located in proximity to your child's classroom, lunchroom and community rooms?

Who has access to the nurse's office when she is not at work?

If EpiPens are located in the nurse's office, other school officials and teachers must have immediate access to the room in case of an emergency. Anaphylactic reactions can kill in as little as two minutes, so access to EpiPens must not be limited when the nurse is off duty.

Are substitute teachers briefed on my child's condition?

Just because you have talked to your child's teacher several times a week does not mean the substitute is briefed on the severity of the reaction. Ask your child's teacher or school to contact you immediately if a substitute teacher will be covering class. You will likely have to make a trip into the school for a brief meeting, but that meeting could save your child's life.

What are the symptoms of anaphylaxis?

Do the school nurse, teachers and other personnel understand the "two system rule" of anaphylaxis? If two systems are affected by an allergen, an EpiPen should be used immediately. For instance, if your child has a rash and wheezing, allergists advise parents to use an EpiPen and take the child to the emergency room immediately. Some symptoms of anaphylaxis are severe enough to require an immediate injection of epinephrine, like trouble breathing or gasping for breath.

Who is responsible for retrieving the EpiPen if my child has a reaction in school?

An emergency action plan should be reviewed by all teachers and school staff. Running through the emergency plan with mock drills could save your child's life.

What do you do if my child's reaction to peanuts does not change after the first epinephrine shot?

Allergists suggest waiting 15 minutes after the first shot of epinephrine before administering another EpiPen. Most schools ask to keep one EpiPen at school, but one is not always enough. If emergency services does not respond within 15 minutes, the nurse or other school official needs to reevaluate the situation and decide if another shot of epinephrine is required.

Children with food allergies should have a happy, safe school experience. Just because food allergies prevent a child from eating certain foods should not prevent them from earning a quality education. Preparation, planning and a few question-and-answer sessions with the school nurse, principal, teachers and first responders may help save your child's life.

More from Summer on Food Allergies

An Invisible Threat: A Food Allergy Could Have Killed Our Son

Epi-Pens in School: Is Your Child Safe?