Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction. It occurs when a person is exposed to an allergen. Anaphylaxis is potentially life threatening and always requires an emergency response.

Anaphylaxis Guidelines for Schools - Edition 2 (pdf 1mb) outlines the steps schools need to follow to manage the needs of students who have been diagnosed as being at risk of a severe allergic reaction. They recommend a case by case approach which is responsive to the needs of the individual student within the context of the particular school.

The guidelines include information and forms for parents (Appendices 1, 2 & 3).  These have been translated into 22 languages.

Where a student is known to be at risk of an anaphylactic reaction, an individual health care plan is developed.

Parents will need to provide information from their child's medical practitioner. This information will be used in the development of an individual health care plan. 

An emergency response plan will form part of the individual health care plan.

Schools do not supply or administer EpiPens unless they have been provided by parents as part of a negotiated individual health care plan for a specific student.

In an emergency which has not been anticipated in the emergency response/care section of an individual health care plan negotiated for an individual known to be at high risk of a serious emergency reaction, staff will provide a general emergency response, eg call an ambulance.

Schools must arrange specialist anaphylaxis training for staff where students in the school have been diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis. The specialist training includes training in the use of an EpiPen.

Anaphylaxis, when it occurs, always requires an emergency response. The student's health care plan will detail the emergency response. Training is appropriate for all school staff including school administrative staff, casual staff and the school canteen manager.

It is recommended that specialist training be conducted every two years. However, schools can make decisions about the frequency of training on the basis of turnover of staff and enrolment of new students. The frequency of training can also be informed by the review and update of students' individual health care plans.

The NSW Health nurse educator anaphylaxis training program can provide the specialist anaphylaxis training for school staff. To assist schools in organising the training, NSW Health has established a central booking system.

Schools are encouraged to complete the application for anaphylaxis training form (pdf 110kb) and fax to the administration officer, NSW Anaphylaxis Training Program on (02) 9391 9300. The administration officer will communicate with the educators as to the availability of training and can be contacted between the hours of 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday on telephone (02) 9391 9188.

For students diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis, the individual health care plan must include strategies to minimise the risk of exposure to known allergens. Further information is provided in Appendices 8 and 9, pages 19-21 of Anaphylaxis Guidelines for Schools Edition 2 (pdf 1mb).

Students and their parents will not always be aware that they have a severe allergy.

To minimise the risk of exposure to a high risk allergen, schools should avoid the use of peanuts, peanut butter or other peanut products in curricular or extra-curricular activities. They should also review curriculum materials to make sure that they do not advocate the use of peanuts, peanut butter or other peanut products.

These precautions apply to all schools whether or not any student is known to be at risk from anaphylaxis.

A ban on peanuts and peanut products within the school is not required but may be agreed to by a school and its community.

If a school does decide to ban peanuts or peanut products it should nevertheless not claim to be "peanut free". Such a claim could not reliably be made and, if made, may lead to a false sense of security about exposure to peanuts and peanut products.

If an anaphylactic reaction is suspected in a student not previously known to be at risk, schools must ensure emergency procedures are activated and appropriate medical assistance is called.

Further information on the prevention of food anaphylactic reactions can be accessed from Guidelines for prevention of food anaphylactic reactions in schools, pre-schools and childcare. See Section 4 of the guidelines for information specific to school age children. In this guide, there is no recommendation to place blanket bans on certain food groups.

Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis – Information for Schools (pdf 55kb) answers some frequently asked questions about food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Where requests are made to ban foods  written documentation of this request should be sought from the student's medical practitioner. Further advice can be sought from the Student Welfare Directorate.