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Current School
Bus Route Information and School Closures
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File JFI-R
ANAPHYLAXIS AVOIDANCE STRATEGIES
The Portage la Prairie School Division will strive to
maintain a safe environment for students with life-threatening allergies. This
includes making every effort to protect students with life-threatening
allergies. This includes making every effort to protect students with
life-threatening allergies from exposure to known allergens. However, no
individual or organization can guarantee an allergy-free environment. To
minimize the risk of exposure and to ensure immediate response to an emergency,
the Division has identified the responsibilities of all students, parents, and
school staff, to increase awareness and provide accurate information, and to
implement strategies that reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative
agents.
Avoidance of the specific allergen is the cornerstone
in the management and prevention of anaphylaxis.
Responsibilities of all School Administrators
a. Awareness and Information
- The school administrator will, at the beginning of the school year,
provide general awareness regarding life-threatening allergies to the
school community through letters, notices, posters, or school newsletters.
b. Avoidance Strategies
- The school administrator will support the implementation of strategies
and procedures to reduce the risk for the allergic student in the
classrooms and common areas of the school.
- The school administrator will notify all staff that they will make
reasonable efforts to avoid the use of allergens and products containing
them for teaching purposes, art projects, special events or personal
consumption in the classroom, and request that they refrain from consuming
these in the school.
- The school administrator will support the implementation of avoidance
strategies by individuals responsible for sale or provision of food in the
school, including those involved in daily lunch programs, special lunch
programs, and cafeterias. Minimal expectations for avoidance would be not
using packages of allergens (e.g. peanuts or nuts).
- The school administrator will encourage all those involved in the school
fundraising events, especially in the elementary schools, to avoid the use
of allergens or products containing them.
The school administrator will, at the beginning of the school year, issue a
notice requesting that both students and other school community members assist
in reducing the amount of allergens in the school.
The school administrator will, at the end of the school year, issue a notice
thanking the community for support in reducing allergens in the school.
Responsibilities of all Parents in the School
Community
- Awareness and Information
- Parents should attend any information sessions and/or read any
information received from the school regarding life-threatening allergies.
Parents should contact the school administrator to address any questions
or concerns.
b. Avoidance Strategies
When a child in a classroom has been identified as
having an allergy:
- Parents should respond to any request from the school to assist with
reducing the risk by not sending specific allergic substances.
- Parents should encourage their children to wash their hands prior to
going to school, particularly if they have consumed allergens (e.g. peanut
butter, peanuts, or nut products), as requested while at school.
- Parents should assist their children in understanding the seriousness of
life-threatening allergies and encourage them to be supportive and respect
the student with allergies. Parents should review the information provided
by the school.
- Parents will inform the Teacher before sending food products to school
for parties and special events, so the Teacher can remind parents that
allergen products and substances related to the class are not permitted.
- Parents will report to the school administrator any information
regarding situations where the student with allergies has been teased,
bullied, or threatened with an allergic substance.
Responsibilities of Staff/Teacher
- Awareness and Information
- Staff will attend awareness and training sessions on life-threatening
allergies at least once each year or as requested by the school
administrator.
- Avoidance Strategies
- Staff will assist, when requested by the school administrator, with
implementing and supporting the strategies and procedures to reduce the
risk for the student with allergies, in classrooms and common areas of the
school.
- Staff will not bring allergens or products containing
them, or a substance with a recommendation of strict avoidance by a
Physician, into the classroom for teaching purposes, art projects, special
events, or personal consumption. Teachers shall be aware of the possible
hidden allergens present in curricular materials such as:
 | craft material (e.g. play dough, egg cartons); |
| pets and pet food; |
| bean-bags, stuffed toys (e.g. peanut shells are sometimes used); |
| counting aides (beans, peas); |
| toys, books and other items which may have become contaminated in the
course of normal use; |
| avoid the use of latex materials such as latex gloves, balloons, and
pink erasers. |
iii. Custodial staff will regularly empty outdoor garbage cans and
remove nests or hives from play areas.
Responsibilities of Students Identified as having a
Life-Threatening Allergy
- Awareness and Information
- The student will participate in the school planning team when
appropriate.
- The student will access the school environment for any potential risks
and present any concerns to a designated adult.
- A student in middle or senior years will ensure that all staff members
who are involved with him or her are notified of the life-threatening
allergy.
This will be particularly important when there
are changes throughout the year, such as staff changes and timetable
changes.
b. Avoidance Strategies
- The student will take as much responsibility as possible for avoiding
contact with allergens.
- The student with food allergies will take the following mealtime
precautions:
| eat only food that has been sent from home; |
| place food on a napkin rather than directly on the table; |
| refrain from sharing food, utensils, and containers; |
| refrain from purchasing food products from school; |
| follow hand-washing routines before and after eating; |
| not eat if they do not have their epi-pen with them. |
III. The student will be able to identify his or her
allergens.
IV. The student will be able to recognize dangerous situations posed by his or
her allergies.
V. The student will remove him or herself from dangerous situations
regarding the allergens and report any concerns to a designated adult.
Responsibilities of all Students in the School (as
developmentally appropriate)
- Awareness and Information
- Students will be attentive during class presentations on
life-threatening allergies, particularly with regard to information about
recognizing symptoms of an allergic reaction and the emergency procedures
to follow if a fellow student has an anaphylactic reaction.
b. Avoidance Strategies
- Students will follow the expectations for keeping specific allergic
substances out of the classroom.
- Students will follow expectations for not sharing food and eating
utensils.
- Students will follow expectations regarding hand washing prior to coming
to school and during school.
- Students will refrain from teasing, bullying, or threatening the student
with allergies with the allergic substance.
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