Allergy free school frustration

[pooh4evr]

[/QUOTE] I feel for the family that has this problem, but what do these families do when they go to the mall, a parade, the park. Do they make their child stay home all the time other than school?? And if there is a Dr. reading, is this what is going to be the norm soon? Schools buying specific school items, parents paying for them, and sending kids home each day to eat and wash properly before returning. What happens when different laundry soaps become a problem??[/QUOTE]

We'll all float around in bubbles like Glinda in Wizard of Oz!

 

[C.Ann]

Please do not think that I am being sarcastic and or uncaring with this reply. I do not have this problem in my family only seasonal allergies and I (yes me) feel that this is going overboard.

I received a 5 page (front and back list) of items that were and were not acceptable.... From fruit snacks, to sandwiches (bread types), to hotpockets, crackers, chips, chex-mix, brownies, cake mixes, etc... It was an extreme list. I feel for the family that has this problem, but what do these families do when they go to the mall, a parade, the park. Do they make their child stay home all the time other than school?? And if there is a Dr. reading, is this what is going to be the norm soon? Schools buying specific school items, parents paying for them, and sending kids home each day to eat and wash properly before returning. What happens when different laundry soaps become a problem??

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I think your questions are legitimate ones.. My adult DD is allergic to latex - which was a sudden onset thing in high school - but never had a problem with school supplies containing latex.. Then I start reading on here today that a school has also banned tomatoes.. Children/adults can suddenly become allergic to just about anything.. (Adult DD is now allergic to seafood as well - a severe life-threatening allergy - which popped up out of the blue.. Same thing happened to me with sulfa drugs - which I had always been able to take before without problems..) A child develops an allergy to bananas - so the school has to become "banana free".. Next it's wheat.. The school must now become "wheat free".. Someone develops a life-threatening allergy to cheese - the school must become "cheese free".. Where does it end?

Honestly - I truly sympathize with the parents of these children - but if more and more children are going to develop life-threatening allergies to more and more foods and/or supplies, just how far should the general public have to go to accomodate the needs of one child?

Not being sarcastic or argumentative at all.. I just think they have to draw a line in the sand somewhere as they couldn't possibly address every single life-threatening allergy in an effort to accomodate the minority while totally ignoring the impact on the majority..

Wish I had a better answer, but as I've stated before, I would home school my child until he or she was old enough to deal with these unfortunate health problems on their own.. The fear would drive me out of my mind!

 

[Ctsplaysinrain]

This is one of my least favorite issues.. My children do not have any allergies but they do have some special needs. My oldest son has a form of Autism. I am glad though that none of our schools so far have gone nut-free. I can understand the needs of the allergic children BUT total bans can cause severe problems for other children.. When my son was younger, preschool through about 3rd grade, the ONLY lunch he would eat was PB and J and I do mean ONLY and even that was a problem at times.. In fact, there was one year when I had to resort to the nurse feeding im a snack after lunch because he was just NOT eating.. One of his meds caused his bp to drop and along with the lack of food, dehydration, we had a period when he was "passing out" in class... Now, what would have happened if he could not have had his PBJ??? Would it have been right to cause another child serious medical issues due to a peanut butter ban?

There have been severe allergic children in our schools. It has been handled by having nut-free classes and a nut-free table that is placed alone across the cafeteria from the other tables ( close to an open door also).. Children in rooms with an allergic child have to wipe down their hands before entering with clorox wipes. They are encouraged if they must eat PB before school to change clothes AFTER they eat instead of before and brush their teeth.
In my son's K class, it was decided if these policies didnt work for the child, then the child would have eaten in the school office...
It seems like the best approach MUST be that you MUST accomodate all the children and find some solution that works for all.

Also, peanut allergic kids do need to learn to "live in the world." It can't be controlled everywhere. What happens when they go to the mall? the movies? an airplane etc???

 

[C.Ann]

I was thinking the same thing. Why the sudden increase. These allergies have been around for who knows how long. Over cleaning, air cleaners in your house, air conditioning. The folks next doors two daughters are sick all the time, colds runny nose on and on. They shower twice a day can't play outside for too long if its hot [ over 85 deg.] the house is shut up with the air or heat running all the time. Our immune systems need excersise and need to be subjected to dirt and such to be in shape. While this may not apply to all allergies in general it holds true. I put on my flame proof outfit and hook up my oxygen bottle now.

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Your assumptions are pretty much right on the mark.. I remember reading a number of articles on the internet - written by physicians - who have stated we have become our (and our children's) worst enemy with our aversion to dirt; germs; cold/hot weather exposure; etc. and our use of air purifiers; anti-bacterial soaps; overuse of antibiotics; etc.. These conditions have resulted in a rise in allergies; asthma; respiratory infections; severe cases of what should be "minor" childhood diseases; and a whole host of other health problems..

 

[tkmmc]

I am neither judging anyone else's decisions nor am I trying to be rude with this comment, I just would like to post my opinion:

If MY child's allergies were so severe that going to school could in any way be life threatening, I would not send my child to school. I would homeschool or find someone else to homeschool my child before I let others be responsible for whether or not my child comes home alive.

 

[MissyDVC]

This is a very interesting discussion. Neither of my children have food allergies and I am grateful. We have had severe nut allergies in both of their classes last year and my DS9 has one again this year. I have to admit that, when I received the note about the allergy before school started, I complained about what choices I had to send him for lunch. But thankfully I stopped to think about the child and their parents. My worrying about PB&J sandwiches and snack choices can make another child's day easier and healthier. And I am even more blessed because when I told my DS about not being able to have PB&Js, he told me he was glad because he really likes "Amanda" and would never want to make her sick. For me it is more of an effort to make lunch, yes...but I feel better knowing that we are doing our small part to help. Our school does not like to separate the child with the allergy so they just ask you to be aware. And by the way, my very DS sat with "Amanda" on the first day at lunch and was glad to be able to do so.

 

[cosmicdaisy]

Re: Homeschooling. Not everyone has the means or financial ability to homeschool. I have thought about it...and if it ever got to a point where I felt like my DD's life was in any more danger than the normal day to day danger of having a life threatening food allergy...I would think about it again. But it is actually one of my least favorite things to hear about FAs and schools. When I hear "why don't you homeschool" all I can think is "why don't you be a little more selfish."

I thought I would post this, I've brought it up a couple of times here and the other FA thread currently going on.

Question: What is a 504 plan?
Answer: The "504" in "504 plan" refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which specifies that no one with a disability can be excluded from participating in federally funded programs or activities, including elementary, secondary or postsecondary schooling. "Disability" in this context refers to a "physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities." This can include physical impairments; illnesses or injuries; communicable diseases; chronic conditions like asthma, allergies and diabetes; and learning problems. A 504 plan spells out the modifications and accommodations that will be needed for these students to have an opportunity perform at the same level as their peers, and might include such things as wheelchair ramps, blood sugar monitoring, an extra set of textbooks, a peanut-free lunch environment, home instruction, or a tape recorder or keyboard for taking notes.

http://specialchildren.about.com/od/504s/f/504faq1.htm

You can also do a simple google search for 504 plan.

If there happened to be a school where you had mutliple issues, where you had a child who needed a peanut free environment and you had another child who would/could only eat peanut butter...that would be addressed for that school, kwim? If your school is peanut free, but then you come along and need your child to eat peanut butter, if your child falls under the 504 then the school has to accomodate both parties the best way they can.

I don't think anyone is forgetting, but we are talking about children's lives here. I want my DD to be safe, happy and healthy and go to school and learn and socialize etc. ...just like most of you. It just so happens that she has something about her that makes keeping her safe and healthy a little more complex than others.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My ds7 son is one of the children in the schools with the allergies - one of them life-threatening. I have never asked for any special accommodations but have taught him what he can/cannot be in contact with have talked with his teacher, the nurse and the office staff. Anyone who has contact with him at school has training on he use of the EpiPen.

He is allergic to milk and egg but these just cause an upset stomach and sometimes vomitting (the flu shot last year about did him in, that's when we found out about the eggs - he threw up for 2 weeks, was hospitalized 2x for IV fluids and lost over 5 pounds).

His latex allergy is the type that causes anaphylactic reactions - his throat starts swelling almost instantly. We provided latex free school supplies (and they do make pencils with latex free pink erasers) including his pencils, erasers, glue (only Elmers does not have latex) and latex-free bandaids for the clinic. He knows that he has to stay clear of other children's supplies and also anything made of craft foam, rubber bands, Nerf or Koosh and if there is a balloon in the room, he has to leave. He also cannot have bubble gum, bananas, kiwi or avacado. His allergy started when he was 3 - at that age I started teaching him what was safe - by now, he pretty well knows although sometimes his desires overcome his knowledge - he pretty much eats Benadryl on a daily basis.

I know that there is a boy in his class with a peanut allergy but so far our school still allows pbj and even offers it in the cafeteria as a daily alternative to the main lunch.

 

[zoemurr]

how many kids at a school have peanut allergies? I don't know.. but I got notes that both of my kids will have a peanut free room this year. I know they also post notes on the outside of the classroom doors. Not really a problem for us.

At our school the kids have a few days of a mini-session teaching them all about allergies, hand washing, epi-pens, and such. I thought that was a nice way to deal with things without pointing anyone out. Most young kids are very sensitive to others needs.

Our school has the peanut free lunch tables and anyone can sit there with the allergic child. It's sort of an honor if someone asks you to sit there.

It's interesting that people complain about the nut-free thing. Our school is trying very hard to be a healthy environment. We have very strict rules about what we can bring in for snacks. Also, any snack brought for sharing needs to be under a certain amount of fat and sugar or it will not be served. No candy of any kind can be brought in for holidays. We've had a lot more complaints about this than the no peanut thing.

I think schools are doing the best they can. I can't believe that anyone would delibrately send in something that would harm another child.

 

[mykidsintow]

Allergens are everywhere. Its a fact of life. My son is allergic to artificial colors and flavors. Not only in his food, but in soaps, lotions, anything that his skin can absorb.

We homeschool and I carry soaps with us. However, I monitor what he eats closely. Is his life threatening? Absolutely not.... tho its a few days of a child that has no self control.... Its not something that would be banned at his school, its a self monitoring thing.

Peanuts.... even latex. I can see that being banned. Peanut allergies can be airborne. I know my friends son cannot even go into restaurants or malls with food courts.... It can kill him. He has been to the ER already and school started last week. That whole "peanut free table and another buffer table" is obviously not keeping him breathing.... Seems like a no brainer. Parents can be upset that their little Sam or Susie can't have Peanutbutter sandwich and sure its inconvient. However, its much more inconvient to have a child that cannot breathe or to be in the ER, or worse 6 feet under. Its not like they ASKED to have this allergy I am sure they have lots more issues than a kid that can't take a PB&J sandwich.

FYI: Cashew butter or Almond buter are good substitutes. Peanuts are not tree nuts and if there is no tree nut ban, get a new kinda butter. The kids will learn to like it.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I'm venting a little and wondering if any parents with allergic kids actually feel better when schools take this approach.

As a parent, I would feel better with my child alive...so if the peanut allergy or latex allergy is severe enough to be brought on by breathing or touching, yes, it would make me feel better. I always believe in safety over convenience.

I would think something like a tomato allergy wouldn't be so severe, don't know for sure, but then I would think such strict policies would be needed...

The latex school supplies wouldn't bother me at all.

And don't we all have to wonder what the heck is going on to cause such a dramatic increase in allergies in our kids!?