Peanut Allergies and Schools

[msteddom]

I found this interesting article on CNN.com. I'm not really sure what to think. I can see both sides of the issue. On the one hand the child needs to have adequate provisions for his medical issues, on the other hand it seems like the school has done everything it can. I just feel sorry for the poor boy!!!What do you guys think?


http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/01/30/allergic.boy.ap/index.html



Melissa

 

[lisajl]

Melissa,
I see no one has responded to you yet.

Well..here we go.

This is from a mom whose 6 year old son is allergic to peanuts, peanut butter.
My school has an emergency plan if my son goes into anphalatic (sorry about the spelling) shock. They have epi pens that I have taken in to the school. Everyone that comes in contact with him, knows how to use it.

Now...if it takes them 30 minutes to administer it (or get it to him), he does not belong in school. My son had a peanut at a wedding reception (because my niece did not know he was allergic), and if we would have waited 30 minutes, my son would not be here.

I feel sorry for the boy and his mom that have to deal with this.
The child still needs an education, he should be homeschooled if his mom can't get the school to take care of him like they should.

Lisa

 

[momm2four]

I wonder why it would take 30 minutes to administer the epi-pen.

When I was teaching last year, we had a nurse come in to our staff meeting and talk about food allergies and demonstrate how to use an epi-pen. Each teacher was given a blank pen and had to practice using it.

The school hasn't banned peanut products, but if a child in a room has an allergy, everyone is aware of it. When my second son was in kindergarten a little girl in his class couldn't have peanuts b/c her older brother was deathly allergic and her parents were keeping her away from peanuts until she was older just in case. The teacher asked parents not to send in snacks for the class that contained peanuts and anyone who brought peanut based foods for lunch wasn't allowed to sit by her.

 

[mudnuri]

My best friends 5 year old son is also severly allergic to peanuts/ and other nuts.

he is in pre-school right now, and that schools policy is that the teacher can adminsiter the epi-pen should it be needed. They have also banned anything with peanuts/nuts and all the parents were brought in at the beginning of the year to learn about this allergy. There is also a little girl in his class who had a positive blood tests, but no actual anaphalactic reaction. (she was tested due to an older sibling with the allergy).

In our elementary school- there is a peanut table in the lunch room, instead of seperating the 1 or 2 kids with the allergy, they seperate all kids with peanut butter, or any other nuts. Again, the nurse in this case went to each classroom and spoke to the kids about the allergy and what can happen to the kids if exposed.

Now on the 30 minutes- I can see probably 5 mintues in our elementary school. Drugs are not allowed to be ANYWHERE except behind the lock box in the nurse's office. Our building is shaped like an L single floor. the nurse's office is 1/2 way down the longer part of the L...if a child in the other end has a reaction, it will take the teacher, or student probably 30 seconds to 1 minute to realize what has happened, and then run to the nurses station. The nurse then needs to retreive the medicine, and run back to the class. We're talking probably 3-4 minutes.

If the nurse is not in the building the teacher must get the secretary who then goes and gets the epipen....again- another minute or so.

Brandy

 

[janette]

At least in TX there are some new laws that allow some students to carry their own medication. I got notice from my 9yo's school nurse that asthmatic kids are allowed to have their inhalers with them. Seems like that could be a solution here, along with the teachers and other adults knowing how to use an epi-pen. Epi-pens are made to be self administered so they are not something that anyone would need medical training to do. 30 minutes isn't acceptable I've had anaphylactic shock and was lucky enough to be at a hospital within about that time still alive. Even 5 minutes might be too late.

 

[browneyes]

I read that today too. I thought it was ridiculous the school system won't back down on giving him the shot immediately. Even the boy's dr has said he needs it immediately!

 

[Octoberbride03]

When i worked in my preschool we had a few children with peanut allergies. We were allowed to administer the epi-pen the minute we saw a reaction(fortunately i never did). We also separated all the peanut bearing children together and were careful to make sure their table was disinfected the minute they were finished. We also watched to make sure they washed their hands. Thank goodness the parents in my school were very understanding of allergies.

Only in the past few years have ppl really come to believe how bad this allergy can be. I have read of ppl forcing peanuts on a child even when the child has told them repeatedly that they cannot have them. And a few of those children have died because of it.

Sensitivity to peanuts can be so selective. we had 1 child who had to be all the way across the room from the scent. a small whif could have started a reaction. Another child was fine so long as he didn't actually eat the peanuts or have hand contact from another child who did but didn't wash up afterwards.

As far as the story goes, i think everybody involved, except the boy, is at fault to some degree. The school should have a person with him constantly since he is so sensitive. And his mother should be regularly home-schooling him and making he sure he keeps up with his age group, regardless of her fight with the school. It doesn't sound like she's doing that. Intermitent tutoring does zilch.

I feel bad for the boy and i hope the school understands his needs b4 a child with the same allergy there dies or is hospitalized because it took 30 minutes to get the epi-pen unlocked.

 

[dandave]

I disagree that the school should have to have someone with this child at all times.
From the article:
"She released an affidavit from her son's pediatrician, Dr. Evan Hack, who said the plan was not appropriate because it did not assign one person to be with Dalton at all times and immediately administer epinephrine if he had an allergic reaction."
I am sorry about this child's condition, but I do not agree that he is entitled to have a personal epi-admininstrator with him constantly while at school.

 

[sha_lyn]

And his mother should be regularly home-schooling him and making he sure he keeps up with his age group, regardless of her fight with the school. It doesn't sound like she's doing that. Intermitent tutoring does zilch.

Out of curiosity I checked out the HS laws in Ct and found that it is a very easy state to legally HS in. Before checkign their laws I thought perhaps they were one of the states that made it very hard to HS without a teaching certificate.

However.... It is my understanding that he would qualify for assistance the disabilities act. This can include an aid that accompanies him in the school, or in some cases the school system would have to pay for a private school or home bound studies (basically a teacher with the school system visits the student at home).

I found it interesting that the schools lawyer made it sound like it is all at the mothers insistence, even though the Dr has said that the child would need the shot immediately.

 

[disykat]

It seems like the logical thing would be to have him wear an epi-belt, train everyone around him to recognize the symptoms (peers included) and have the adult in charge at the time administer the epipen immediately. It's hard for me to see the need for a constant aide, but I guess I understand the mother's fears. I have never had difficulty gaining cooperation from the school and forming a plan for my PA son. My first impression is that the mom is hard to deal with.

I do think if it comes down to it that the Mom has the right to get him IEP'd and ask for provision under the American with Disabilities Act. I see kids with aides that have much lesser disabilities.

 

[sha_lyn]

It seems like the logical thing would be to have him wear an epi-belt, train everyone around him to recognize the symptoms (peers included) and have the adult in charge at the time administer the epipen immediately.

I think it really depends on the liability laws from state to state (or at least a systems fear of possibly being held liable). It sounds as if that school/system won't even allow the teacher to keep the pen for him.

The dad of one of DS's friends is a very unstable diebetic. It took him all of 5 min to teach me how to use his rescue kit if he went into insulin shock. At the time we spent a lot of time hiking and camping together as part of a YMCA group. At times we were at least 30 min from anyone else and it was very important that some of us know how to get him stable.

My point is that "rescue" medical treatment such as an epi pen, glucose shot etc are made to be very easy to use because they are meant to be used by the general public to keep the person alive until they can receive medical attention.

 

[lisajl]

Orginally posted by dandave:

I disagree that the school should have to have someone with this child at all times.
From the article:
"She released an affidavit from her son's pediatrician, Dr. Evan Hack, who said the plan was not appropriate because it did not assign one person to be with Dalton at all times and immediately administer epinephrine if he had an allergic reaction."
I am sorry about this child's condition, but I do not agree that he is entitled to have a personal epi-admininstrator with him constantly while at school


I am so glad that your children (if you have any) do not have this problem. Obviously, in your opinion the doctor does not know what he is talking about.

Sorry, dandave, but some children can't even be in the same room with anyone having peanuts.
My son, thank God, is not that sensitive.
The school has three epi pens for my son. The teachers, nurse and principal all know how to use it for Sean.
God forbid that he has a reaction, at least they are there and know how to use it.

As I stated in the first post, I too, believe that boy needs homeschooling. If the school will not work with her, it is still the parents responsibility to make sure he gets an education.

There is fault on both sides as far as that is concerned.
Thank God my school system is so flexible....I would hate to take my son out just because they could not guarantee he would get that epi pen as soon as needed.
Lisa

 

[Danauk]

We have children in the school where I teach who have severe allergies, including one boy who is alergic to lots of things including grass! All staff are epi pen trained and can administer it if needed. Fortunately for us the boys mum works at our school as well, but we have other children who need epi pens whose parents do not. Last summer I had to help administer the epi pen to one boy. We knew the symptoms of his allergies and realised that his usual medication that we give him almost daily was not working. Although it was painful for the staff to see the boy in such distress we administered the pen then he went to the ER. Luckily he was OK and even came back to school the next day. If we were not trained I dread to think what would have happened to him.

 

[Mermaid02]

My son has anaphylactic (sp?) reactions to both peanuts and fish.. everything from Tuna to Caviar.... his epipen must be kept in the office per school rules...luckily he doesn't seem to be "smell" sensitive.
As far as the child having a "one on one" during another discussion similar to this one someone stated that they thought peanut allergies were covered under the "Americans with Disabilities Act" does anyone know if this is true?

 

[caseylouandtyler2]

I found this site after reading these posts.
Sorry I don't know how to post a link


www.allergysupport.org/s_504vIDEA.htm

 

[momof2inPA]

My kids have peanut allergies, and their allergist says they need the epi-pen within the first five minutes of a reaction or ingestion to have the best chance at survival. I don't know why this would be at all difficult for a school to do. Many kids who require an epi-pen either wear them or have a pouch that is handed off to whatever adult is responsible for the child at that time.

Peanut allergies are considered a hidden disability under the ADA, and many peanut allergic kids have either an IEP or 504 plan.

I homeschool my peanut allergic school-aged child, but no one should be forced to make this decision. Public school is for all kids, even those with special needs. Honestly, it isn't like the mom has asked for the school to ban peanuts, why are the administrators being so difficult? Save the lawyer money and use some common sense.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I don't see what is wrong with the school's plan, and I think it is completely unreasonable to expect someone to follow this child around all day long just in case he needs a shot.

I noted from the original CNN story that the lawyer defending the school says that the shot would be given quickly, but that the mother claims it would take 30 minutes. I'd be interested in seeing the actual plan so that we could see which side is exaggerating.

I tend to believe it is the mother.

 

[Talking Hands]

My daughter's pediatrician wrote a letter to the school to the effect that her asthma inhaler must be on her person at all times and that she was to self administer it before orchestra (rosin a major trigger) and as needed. This was middle school. We wrapped the inhaler with medical tape and attached a safety pin to pin it to her clothes so it was on her person.
An idea might to be to train all staff in contact with the student on a regular basis on the use of the epipen and have it literally attached to him so it is easily removed and used by trained staff but not easily available to other students as it would be in his backpack. Or provide several and have one in each classroom he attends, library, and cafeteria.
Otherwise I would say home schooling may be the only option. A fulltime one on one para cannot be the complete option since even a para would not be with him at all times. They have breaks and lunch periods in their schedule and are not with the students the entire time the student is at school.
Perhaps the mother can get her insurance to provide a fulltime aide at school. We had one student who had a fulltime nurse at school with her daily because she was vent dependent. The family's medical insurance paid for this. She also had an one on one para but she did take her breaks and lunch so was not with the student at all times.

 

[lisajl]

caseylouandtyler2 I found this site after reading these posts. Sorry I don't know how to post a link www.allergysupport.org/s_504vIDEA.htm


Denise,

Thanks for the post. It was very interesting to see how this is suppose to be handled.

Thanks again...
Lisa

 

[momof2inPA]

Funny, I don't see any description of the school's plan, but if the child were allowed to carry his epi and an adequate number of adults were trained to use it, there would be no question as to the promptness of treatment.