Anaphylaxis - Canadian School Boards Association

Emergency responseWhen accidental exposure triggers an anaphylactic reaction, there is no time to waste. In cooperation withparents, the child’s physician, and the public health or school nurse, schools should establish a separateemergency plan for each student, whether at school, on the school bus, or on a field trip, including:• A rapid response procedure to:- administer epinephrine- contact an ambulance or drive to hospital- include a familiar and trusted adult to accompany the child- contact the hospital- contact the student’s parents• An easily accessible, up-to-date supply of auto-injectorsA shared responsibilityAnaphylaxis:A Handbook for School BoardsEnsuring the safety of anaphylactic children in a school setting depends on the cooperation of the entireschool community. Chapter VI of this handbook summarizes the responsibilities of all members of theschool community in minimizing the risk of exposure and ensuring immediate response to an emergency.As the occurrence of serious allergies continues to increase, a growing number of schools are entering apartnership with parents and health professionals to protect anaphylactic children from potential tragedy. Theinformation and proposals contained in this handbook are intended to help school boards and their employeesfulfill their obligations in that partnership in a way that meets the needs and respects the rights of the wholeschool community.5