Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is committed to creating an allergy-safe and -aware environment. Management of students at risk of life-threatening allergies is a shared responsibility among students, parents, the school system, and health care providers.

The Division and school has put in place an Asthma, Allergy and Anaphylaxis Plan based on guidelines developed by Food Allergy Canada. While the school can’t guarantee an allergen-free environment, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe environment for staff and students with life-threatening allergies.

To assist us in keeping your child safe here are some tips to help teach your child how to protect themselves:

• Encourage your child to carry with them a own epinephrine auto-injector at all times—when age appropriate, which is usually by Grade 1.
• Provide the school with a backup epinephrine auto-injector labeled with your child’s name, which will be kept in a readily available location.
• Educate your child on avoidance strategies including not sharing food and washing hands before and after eating.
• Inform the school about your child’s allergies and updating the school on any changes—additional allergies or outgrowing an allergy.
• Complete an individual Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan including the child’s photograph, allergy information, emergency contact numbers, emergency protocol, and signature of the parent/guardian and physician.
• Provide consent allowing school staff to use an epinephrine auto-injector when they consider it necessary in an allergic emergency.
• Meet with food-service staff to inquire about allergen-management policies and menu items if your child is to eat foods prepared at school.
• Discourage your child from eating if he/she doesn’t have an epinephrine auto-injector readily available.
• Encourage your child to be cautious when eating foods prepared by others and not to exchange food with other children.
• Communicate with school staff about field trip arrangements.
• Have your child wear medical identification—MedicAlert bracelet or necklac, or badge—to clearly identify the allergy.
• Encourage all children to comply with a “no eating” rule during daily travel on school buses.
• Provide non-perishable foods and safe snacks for special occasions.
• If you are a parent with non-allergic children teach them to respect the children that do have allergies and to follow the rules to keep those children with allergies safe.

Online training for parents and educators is available at www.allergyaware.ca

Additional Resources

Food Allergy Canada
Allergy/Asthma Information Association
Alberta Asthma Centre