Regulation 5077: Life Threatening Allergic Reactions

The following procedures will be implemented when a student is determined to have life threatening allergies.

1.  Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

• Notify the School Nurse of the presence of a life threatening allergy with documentation from the student’s licensed medical provider.
• Obtain policies, regulations and relevant forms from the School Health Office Website and ensure that all forms are completed by the student’s licensed medical provider and must be returned to the School Nurse by June 1, for the following school year.
• Provide all necessary medications to the School Nurse for the first day of school.
• Replenish and replace expired medications.
• Provide the School Nurse with current and complete contact information.
• Inform the bus driver and bus monitor of the student’s allergy.
• Together with the medical provider and school nurse, determine if the student can self-carry and self-administer medication.
• Provide safe snacks.
• Consider providing the child with a medic alert bracelet or chain for identification.
• Review the “Student Responsibility” section of these regulations with their child.
• For students who must carry an epinephrine auto-injector on the bus, ensure that the epinephrine auto-injector and Emergency Allergy Procedure and Health Plan with current contact information are in the child’s backpack and accessible to the bus driver.

2.  Role of School Nurse

• Obtain and review the Emergency Allergy Procedure and Health Plan annually for students with life threatening allergies.
• Establish a multi-disciplinary team in order to determine measures to reduce exposure to allergens and establish procedures to treat exposure to allergens and allergic reactions
• Provide a hands on demonstration training on how to administer an epinephrine auto-injector.  
• Provide teachers and the bus company with a list that identifies students with life threatening allergies.
• Provide a list to food services that identifies students with food related life threatening allergies.

3.  Student Responsibilities

• Do not trade or share food with anyone.
• Take as much responsibility as possible, depending on developmental level, to avoid allergens.
• Tell the school nurse and teachers that you have a food (or other) allergy.
• Wash hands before and after eating.
• Avoid eating any food if unsure of the ingredients.
• Learn to read food labels.
• Learn to recognize symptoms of an allergic reaction and alert an adult immediately if a reaction is suspected or symptoms appear
• Report any teasing or harassment to a school employee.

4.  Cafeteria Guidelines

• Food services will input the list of students with life threatening food allergies received from the school nurse into their data base.
• An allergen aware table will be maintained in the elementary school cafeteria.

5.  Classroom Guidelines

• Classroom teachers, specials teachers, and school-related personnel will view the training video on GCN website regarding signs, symptoms  and treatment of life threatening allergies.  Meet with the school nurse for  a hands on training demonstration on the administration of the epinephrine auto-injector
• Parents/guardians of all elementary students will be notified of known allergens that can cause life-threatening allergic reactions.
• Maintain a list of students with life threatening allergies in the sub folder.
• Teachers will encourage proper hand washing techniques to students for before and after eating.
• Students will not be permitted to share food.
• If exposure to allergen is suspected, the school nurse will be notified.

6.  Bus Guidelines

• Food and beverages are prohibited on school buses except when required for medical purposes as expressed on the student’s Individual Health Care Plan.
• Students with a life-threatening allergy may require dedicated seating.
• Bus drivers and bus monitors will view a New York State approved training program regarding signs, symptoms and treatment of life-threatening allergies, and attend a hands on demonstration of the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors annually.
• Bus drivers and bus monitor will have access to the Emergency Allergy Procedure and Health Plan for each student they transport with a life-threatening allergy in which the parent has completed the Epi-pen Bus Protocol. It will be located in the student’s backpack as provided by the student’s parent along with the epinephrine auto-injector and current emergency contact information.
• Bus drivers will pay careful attention to cleaning, including seats and handrails..
• School bus will be equipped with a functioning communication device for use in the event of a suspected exposure or allergic reaction.
• Transportation Director will be provided with a list of students with life-threatening allergies.
• Transportation Director will ensure that substitute bus drivers of students with life-threatening allergies are trained and informed of procedures.

7.  Field Trip Protocol

• Teachers will notify the school nurse at least two weeks in advance of a field trip,
• School Nurse will ensure that at least one staff member attending the field trip has been trained regarding signs, symptoms and treatment of life-threatening allergies, including the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors..
• School nurse will ensure that epinephrine auto-injector provided to the school by the parent/guardian will accompany the student on the field trip. If an epinephrine auto-injector and completed Emergency Allergy Procedure and Health Plan has not been provided by a parent or guardian for a student with a life threatening allergy, the student will not be permitted to attend the trip.
• A functioning communication device will be brought on field trips.