The school nurse shall oversee the administration of these procedures in consultation with the food service director, the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), the wellness committee, the transportation director, local health authorities and, where appropriate, the special education director or 504 coordinator.
Definitions
Allergen - A substance that triggers an allergic reaction.
Allergic Reaction - An immune system response to a substance that itself is not harmful but that the body interprets as being harmful. Allergic reactions trigger inflammation in the skin (hives, itching, a rash); in the respiratory system (coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing); in the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain); and the cardiovascular system (lowered blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, shock). Anaphylaxis is another type of allergic reaction.
Anaphylaxis - A life-threatening allergic reaction that involves the entire body. It may be characterized by symptoms such as lowered blood pressure, wheezing, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea and swelling and hives. Anaphylaxis may result in shock or death.
Emergency Action Plan - An EAP is a written plan for students who have life-threatening conditions, such as an allergy. This plan is designed to inform school district personnel who may be called upon to respond.
Individualized Health Plan - An IHP is a document created by the district in cooperation with the parents and, when appropriate, a student's health care provider for students who have specific health care needs. It is a nursing care plan that has student-centered goals and objectives, and describes the nursing interventions designed to meet the student's short and long-term goals.
Life-Threatening Allergy - An allergic reaction that is severe enough to potentially cause death.
General
In accordance with Board policy, the nurse or designee will provide training to all staff members about the causes and symptoms of and responses to allergic reactions and the proper administration of epinephrine. This training will be provided to current staff members within thirty (30) calendar days of the adoption of the Allergy Prevention and Response policy and on an annual basis thereafter. Staff members who are hired after this training has been conducted will be provided the information within ten (10) calendar days of the first day of employment.
Pursuant to Board policy, students may carry medication for the treatment of allergies. In addition, epinephrine premeasured auto-injection devices are available in each building and stored in the following locations:
Building: _Newtown-Harris High School_ Locations: __
Building: _Newtown-Harris Elementary School_ Locations: __
Building: __ Locations: __
Response to an Allergic Reaction
Any staff member who becomes aware that a student is having an allergic reaction must:
If a staff member determines that the allergic reaction is potentially life-threatening the staff member will implement the student's 504 Plan, Individualized Health Plan (IHP) or Emergency Action Plan (EAP) if the staff member is familiar with the plan.
If the student does not have a 504 Plan, IHP or EAP, the staff member is not familiar with the 504 Plan, IHP or EAP or such plan is not immediately available, the staff member will immediately take or direct another person to take the following actions.
As soon as possible after the life-threatening allergic reaction, the nurse will consult with the 504 compliance coordinator and the student's parent/guardian to determine whether a 504 Plan or IHP/EAP would be appropriate for the student.
Instructional Areas
No food preparation or consumption will take place in any instructional area unless the instructor has permission from the building administrator. Courses that include food preparation or consumption as a regular part of the curriculum are exempt from this provision, but instructors in these courses have an increased responsibility to monitor student adherence to prevention procedures.
Dining Areas
The school nurse or designee will provide the food service director with a copy of any 504 Plan or IHP that concerns diet, along with a photograph of the student. Any 504 Plan or IHP that requires food substitutions must include a written statement from a licensed physician that:
The food service director will provide information to food service personnel as necessary. Food service personnel will not act on individual requests for dietary accommodations. If a student or parent/guardian of a student who does not have a 504 Plan or IHP/EAP on file with the food service director requests an accommodation, he or she will be referred to the school nurse and/or the Section 504 Coordinator for assistance.
The food service director will arrange for all food service staff to be trained in food label reading, cross-contamination avoidance, safe food handling and food item labeling requirements.
If there is any change in the menu after the menu has been posted, the food service director will notify the school nurse or designee. The nurse or designee will notify parents of students with a 504 Plan or IHP/EAP for food allergies, if necessary and applicable.
The principal may designate one (1) or more tables in the dining area as peanut and/or nut-free areas. Any student may use these tables, but may not have any food or beverage that contains or may contain peanuts or other nuts. If any student has been identified as having life-threatening allergies to a food or beverage other than peanuts or nuts, the principal may instead designate one (1) or more tables as allergen-free areas and specify the prohibited foods and beverages. Staff responsible for cleaning dining areas will clean any such designated tables prior to each use according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommendations using separate cleaning supplies. No student will be required to sit at the designated table.
Staff members supervising dining areas will promote a "no sharing/no trading" environment to prevent students from trading food, beverages or dining utensils.
Transportation and Off-Site Activities
Except as otherwise outlined in this procedure, drivers will not allow students to eat or drink on district transportation unless the student has written permission from his or her building principal. Written permission will be provided if the student has a medical need to consume food or beverages during the time the student is transported. A student who has a medical need to consume food or beverages on district transportation must have an IEP, 504 Plan or IHP that addresses which foods or beverages the student may consume.
Students being transported to and from activities on district transportation may be allowed to consume food and beverages if the staff member serving as sponsor has verified that none of the students being transported have documented life-threatening food allergies.
Staff members must submit a list of students taking part in off-site activities, such as competitions and field trips, to the nurse at least five (5) days prior to the activity. The nurse will verify which, if any, students have allergies and provide the staff member with a copy of the relevant 504 Plans or IHPs or EAPs and any medications that may be needed in the case of an allergic reaction.