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There are currently 120 students with life-threatening food allergies in Dedham’s public school system, Health Services Director Gail Kelley said.
Just one month after the School Committee approved an updated life-threatening allergies policy, Kelley invited a “peanut allergy expert” to educate community members about managing this condition in school.
“This is the most dynamic, hot area of research right now,” said Dr. Michael Young, author of “Peanut Allergy Answer Book,” and a doctor at Children’s Hospital Boston. Young addressed a crowd of parents and school administrators at Dedham Middle School on Wednesday, Feb. 9.
Young said the prevalence of food allergies in minors is on the rise. From 1997 to 2007, there was an 18 percent increase in reported cases among children under 18 in the United States, with 1 in 25 school-age children affected.
While researchers are working to uncover the root of these life-threatening reactions, Young said that schools need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
“About 20 to 25 percent of reactions happen for the first time in school, so schools need to be prepared,” he said. He then confirmed that anaphylactic reactions to foods like milk, eggs and peanuts commonly occur within minutes of exposure. “The absence of hives or a skin rash should not rule out that this is anaphylaxis requiring epinephrine.”
Young presented a variety of detailed case studies, most revealing that fatalities in school-aged children from allergic reactions were associated with the failure to administer epinephrine immediately after exposure. Kelley said Dedham teachers are trained to assist students if anaphylaxis should occur.
“At the elementary level, if we have an allergic student, we keep (EpiPens) in the classroom. All the staff in the school are trained in EpiPen administration,” she said, adding that students traveling between classrooms in the middle school are allowed to carry dispensers in their backpacks.
Dedham’s updated food allergies policy requires elementary schools to develop an individualized health care plan for each student diagnosed with an allergy. It also holds the school responsible for creating a safe environment. While competitive foods and beverages can still be sold at parent-teacher organization sponsored events after school hours, Kelley said the removal of food from the classroom was an important step forward.
“We are not going to find a system that appeals to everyone,” said Kelley, who initially pushed for ending competitive food sales, including bake sales, on elementary school property.
There are currently 120 students with life-threatening food allergies in Dedham’s public school system, Health Services Director Gail Kelley said.
Just one month after the School Committee approved an updated life-threatening allergies policy, Kelley invited a “peanut allergy expert” to educate community members about managing this condition in school.
“This is the most dynamic, hot area of research right now,” said Dr. Michael Young, author of “Peanut Allergy Answer Book,” and a doctor at Children’s Hospital Boston. Young addressed a crowd of parents and school administrators at Dedham Middle School on Wednesday, Feb. 9.
Young said the prevalence of food allergies in minors is on the rise. From 1997 to 2007, there was an 18 percent increase in reported cases among children under 18 in the United States, with 1 in 25 school-age children affected.
While researchers are working to uncover the root of these life-threatening reactions, Young said that schools need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
“About 20 to 25 percent of reactions happen for the first time in school, so schools need to be prepared,” he said. He then confirmed that anaphylactic reactions to foods like milk, eggs and peanuts commonly occur within minutes of exposure. “The absence of hives or a skin rash should not rule out that this is anaphylaxis requiring epinephrine.”
Young presented a variety of detailed case studies, most revealing that fatalities in school-aged children from allergic reactions were associated with the failure to administer epinephrine immediately after exposure. Kelley said Dedham teachers are trained to assist students if anaphylaxis should occur.
“At the elementary level, if we have an allergic student, we keep (EpiPens) in the classroom. All the staff in the school are trained in EpiPen administration,” she said, adding that students traveling between classrooms in the middle school are allowed to carry dispensers in their backpacks.
Dedham’s updated food allergies policy requires elementary schools to develop an individualized health care plan for each student diagnosed with an allergy. It also holds the school responsible for creating a safe environment. While competitive foods and beverages can still be sold at parent-teacher organization sponsored events after school hours, Kelley said the removal of food from the classroom was an important step forward.
“We are not going to find a system that appeals to everyone,” said Kelley, who initially pushed for ending competitive food sales, including bake sales, on elementary school property.
After Greenlodge School parents informed the School Committee that their first-grader was accidentally exposed to peanut products at a PTO fundraiser, discussions were raised about the possibility of banning peanut products entirely. Young said removing named allergens from Dedham schools would not reduce the risk entirely.
“This type of argument causes a lot of controversy,” said Young, who said that banning peanuts would result in fewer exposures for students, while simultaneously creating a false sense of security.
He also asked if removing the threat completely is the proper way to prepare students for the real world.
“You can’t put your kid in a bubble,” said Jeannine Serratore of Norwood, one of many parents attending the meeting who has children with severe allergies. “Schools should not be totally peanut-free, kids need to learn to live in the world. If you take the right precautions, things can go smoothly.”
Many parents are happy about the proactive approach some local elementary schools are taking to insure students with food allergies are not alienated. At Oakdale and Greenlodge, for example, students are asked to bring in their own “party in a bag” snacks for safer classroom celebrations.
“They have done quite well,” said Oakdale parent Jeannie Uhrmann, whose 6-year-old daughter has numerous allergies. “We made a set plan and she can choose a friend to sit with her at lunch. They are aware of her allergy but don’t alienate her.”
Studies reveal that children will not go into anaphylactic shock by simply inhaling or touching peanut products, Young said. In fact, Young told parents that the complete removal of peanut products could lead to a child developing an allergy.
“Eight to 9 percent who have passed a peanut challenge, subsequently get the peanut allergy back because they continue to avoid peanuts,” he said.
The best way to protect children with allergies is to wash hands with soap, and be ready to respond in the event of a reaction, Young said.
“Do not beat yourself up for this problem, because we don’t know exactly why there are so many children with food allergies,” he said. “We haven’t established any cause and effect.”
