5 ways to prepare for a peanut allergy emergency at school

When it comes to peanut allergy emergencies, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what to do. With a little education and preparation at school, an allergy does not have to be something to fear.

The best thing to do is work on a method of prevention. It's a good idea to ensure that both parents of other students and the students themselves are aware of the fact that they should avoid packing lunches that feature peanuts.

• It's also worth emphasizing that while a food may not visibly have peanuts, it's important for parents of all students to check the ingredients to make sure that there is no trace of peanuts at all  to minimize any risk of an allergic reaction.

When handling peanut allergy emergencies, time is your most important asset.

• Ensure that all teachers are aware of what to do in the event that a student gets an allergic reaction.
• The plan of action should include either informing parents and administrators as well as utilizing epinephrine as soon as possible to treat a potential life-threatening reaction.

When it comes to allergies, not every child is the same. Some children may have additional medical concerns that you should take into account while others may need a specific plan of treatment.

• Get information about each child's specific condition so that in the event of an emergency, you can act appropriately and promptly, minimizing any potential harm to the child.

The best way to avoid any potential allergy issues is to minimize the presence of food altogether.

• If total elimination is not possible, at least work on strategies of things to do around the presence of food.
• Have rules that prevent against the sharing of food as well as rules that encourage hand washing after food handling to ensure that there is no potential for contamination.

While this can be a difficult task in large schools, it's a good idea to teach children their own plan of action.

• This includes prevention by carrying medical identification jewelry to convey that the child has an allergy, washing hands regularly as well as knowing where the prescribed epinephrine is located in the school.

As scary as a severe allergy is, as long as both educators and children know the action plan, they can take comfort in knowing that they are prepared to handle a peanut allergy emergency at school.