Peanut allergy issue

[Csn2016]

So typically I try to do my own digging around and research before posting here but in a bit of a dilemma as I am currently hospitalized with preterm labor, doing research on my iPhone is not so easy and don't you know the unexpected circumstances has the health office in a huge mess right now.

i got a call from my health room aid that our local private school (who utilizes us as their school nurse for inquiries) is having an issue. They have a student with a severe peanut allergy (not just consumption but contact as well). They wrote up a letter and sent it home to all the parents indicating the school is peanut free now and asked that parents return the paper signed and ONE parent is down right refusing saying she will continue sending pbj sandwiches every day for her child. This child is also in the same grade as the child with the peanut allergy (they are a VERY small school of k-5 with 15-25 children per grade)

any insight on how this should be handled?

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

My school is peanut/tree nut "free." No peanuts or tree nuts in the building.

However, we don't have a cafeteria currently and students eat lunch in home rooms and teachers have students clean up after, to varying degrees of actual cleanliness. Therefore a student could eat a PB sandwich at a desk at lunch, not clean it properly and a student with an allergy could end up sitting at desk next period.

Yeah, imagine how fun that is for me :).

I had a student have a reaction sitting next to another student eating peanut butter. The student wasn't upset about the other student eating it, nor was the parent, but we had to think about getting the allergic student a safer space. So if student's normal lunch spot might have exposure, student is allowed to eat elsewhere and take a friend. But this student is in HS and both Mom and I realize the world isn't allergen free and how we can get student to have practical, safe practices. This includes my teaching student how to give a Epipen to themselves if needed.

I feel like it is more my place to teach a student how to manage their allergy in both school and the world outside of school then spend my entire day policing the policy. It is there. We make sure any food we provide, including the school lunches we get delivered, are tree nut and peanut free. What else can one do?

[SaltineQueen]

I recently read an article that was talking about how going "peanut free" really didn't have much of an impact.. I'll see if I can dig it up because I'm currently having a brain fart.

[Farawyn]

No such thing as Peanut Free. I LOVE the term AWARE.

Just adding my voice to the chorus.

[Amethya]

Not a story about me but my mother. She's a pre-k assistant and has this one small boy who is apparently super allergic to tree nuts. So allergic she requested that the class goes nut free and that my mom carries this small box with antihistamine, benadryl and this epi-pen. The thing is the kid has been near kids eating nuts and such, because other parents don't care and nothing has happened to him.

[osceteacher]

I'm going to be controversial.

Peanut butter Jelly is an abomination and any child eating it should be home schooled instead.

[dbabz]

Years ago my son, who is very small for his age due to Crohn's and growth hormone deficiency, inhaled peanut butter sandwiches. In addition, he had many academic issues, including ADHD and behavior issues AND became hypoglycemic very easily. When hyperglycemic, he could not make a good choice--completely beside himself. The one protein source that I was confident he would actually eat was peanut butter. Quite a quandary. Soy butter and sunflower butter were suggested as alternatives, but he wouldn't touch them. I ended up just letting him have the school lunch, which was almost completely devoid of any kind of nutrition, but at least it was calories in his body.

Fast forward a few years later and he was diagnosed with a shrimp allergy. Guess what? School continues to serve popcorn shrimp as a meat-free alternative to this day. He had an epi at school and that was the extent of the accommodation.

Point being that if we cut out all allergens, there is going to be very little left for kids to eat. I take the attitude that this is our problem to deal with. We can't foist it on others. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics at the time recommended against making schools peanut-free for the reasons all of you mention above--it creates a false sense of security.

My heart goes out to the parents of these kids; it must be terrifying to send them out the door every day, but attempting to rid the world of peanut dust is not the answer.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I'm going to be controversial.

Peanut butter Jelly is an abomination and any child eating it should be home schooled instead.

Go back to the general board where this is lauded.

[cowboysandangels, BSN]

We were advised by our district to never use the words "peanut free" due to liability issues. If you state that you are peanut free and someone has a reaction, you are the responsible party. We try our best to educate and keep our students with allergies safe but we must also be cautious in the use of our words.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

My only thought is that this one family may not be thoughtless and ignorant. Maybe PB&J is all they can afford.

I opt for the peanut free table with every student in the class washing hands bfore schools and before and after lunch!

Hppy

[BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN]

see next post

[BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN]

I'm going to be controversial.

Peanut butter Jelly is an abomination and any child eating it should be home schooled instead.

How do I get a job as a home school nurse? I love PB&J!

[GdBSN, RN]

How do I get a job as a home school nurse? I love PB&J!

Sign me up!