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?

[dbabz]

My kid has a dairy allergy. I don't think requesting a dairy free elementary school would go over very well at all! í ½í¸†

Right? One year my son's football team did snack rotation for all the games. Team parent sent e-mail out for signup and got a slew of e-mails back--"Skylar is dairy-free, gluten-free and casein-free; Jaden in Vegan; Laffrey has allergies to nuts, stawberries and soy" And whatever other dietary fad Dr. Oz was pushing. I was tempted to tell them about my son's seed coat restriction (no popcorn, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds) but I held my tongue and figured I could take him out for his own snack if he couldn't participate. As it was, it was pretty much apples and clementines every week. What about the kid with bad teeth and the one with GERD?

The school district where my own two kids go is "Peanut Aware" which I totally agree with. My school where I practice is : Nut, shell fish and fish free" I hate it because parents still send in cakes for parties, etc. and it is a huge mess. No such thing as "free" because nothing is 100%. And I even see teachers using thai peanut dressing on their salads in the classroom at lunch, go figure...

[Cattz, ADN]

I'm going to be controversial.

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

Oh- I totally agree! I can't stand peanut butter myself--and then to add something stick and sweet to it (jelly) YUCK! When I get Peanut Butter on my hands! I smell it all day! This Granny has never been so thankful as when they came out with the PB and J in the same jar. I

[Nurse2Kids]

I didn't read previous comments, but we do this at our school.

We have two kindergarten students with severe peanut allergy, not just by ingesting. These children sit at a separate table, and tables cleaned before and after. The mothers provide bulk baby wipes and every child that had any peanut products in their lunch has their hands wiped down before going outside to play....so no cross contamination at play area. The mothers originally requested all students' hands be washed, but decided after a couple of weeks that it was okay to just wipe the hands of children who may have had peanut items. It would be impossible to be truly peanut free.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

What happens when this parent goes to Shoprite or an amusement park or the mall ? just wondering, not stirring up anything controversy but it is impossible to prevent any interaction with any possibility of nuts....

I see both sides of the issue. I have two kiddos here with contact allergies, with a history of full blown anaphylaxis for one. I feel that while we cannot go "nut free" as a school, we can exert some control over the areas where they spend the bulk of their day. Our tables get thorough wipedown after each lunch, there are wipes inthe rooms, the kids have their own chromebooks.

Our feeling is that while we cannot promise total freedom from nuts, we can restrict food in certain rooms. The teachers have been pretty good about it, the kisd, some times they are not so pleaseant.

It is not a perfect answer but one we all seem to be able to live with.

[jess11RN]

Here is my prospective as a school nurse and allergy mom (my oldest is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame)...

I have never agreed with peanut free schools and here is why:

1-It creates a false sense of security. I'm not even talking about the parents who try to sneak in the contraband peanut or peanut butter when I say it won't happen. People are clueless! My son had his first allergic reaction 9 years ago, I stopped counting the times that people have told me "I didn't even think that product would contain nuts"

2-It creates animosity towards the school, the student, and the parents.

3-It doesn't allow kids to learn to navigate with their allergy. The real world is full of allergens. People with allergies NEED to develop self-advocacy skills, allergen avoidance, and self-preservation moreso than the general child. Creating this bubble enviornment where they cannot practice these skills is not going to do them any favors when they get older.

4-What about all of the other allergens? When/where do we draw the line?

How old is this student and how long have they had the allergies for? What is the parent's opinion on all of this? Is this something the parent requested or is this something the school jumped the gun on?

I think these are all important questions to ask and I think education is the key.

What CAN be done (other than EDUCATE EDUCATE EDUCATE):

1-Have a seperate table in the lunch room for the student, have them invite some friends that have peanut free lunches to the table so that the stuent doesn't feel isolated. When my son was in Kindergarten-1st grade, I required him to sit there, he had one friend sit with him. After that, I told him it was his choice. In 5th grade, he STILL chooses to sit there...because now he has about a half dozen of his friends joining him at his "elite club"

2-Have the students stop in the bathroom to wash their hands after lunch. My son's teachers carved it into their routine, go to the bathroom and wash your hands in between the cafeteria and classroom...less interrupted classroom time for potty breaks as well (bonus for the teachers).

2-If they do snacks in the classroom, THIS is where I draw the line. Snacks (and all food, including that used for lessons) that enter the classroom must be peanut free. There is too great of chance for a slip up in the classroom enviornment, plus this is where the student should feel the safest. Encourage healthy snacks like fresh fruit and veggies.

3-encourage non-edible celebrations and birthday treats. If non-edible treats is a no-go, then ask mom to supply a box of treats for the student to eat as an alternative so that he is not excluded from the celebration.

Hope this helps!

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Here is my prospective as a school nurse and allergy mom (my oldest is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame)...

I have never agreed with peanut free schools and here is why:

1-It creates a false sense of security. I'm not even talking about the parents who try to sneak in the contraband peanut or peanut butter when I say it won't happen. People are clueless! My son had his first allergic reaction 9 years ago, I stopped counting the times that people have told me "I didn't even think that product would contain nuts"

2-It creates animosity towards the school, the student, and the parents.

3-It doesn't allow kids to learn to navigate with their allergy. The real world is full of allergens. People with allergies NEED to develop self-advocacy skills, allergen avoidance, and self-preservation moreso than the general child. Creating this bubble enviornment where they cannot practice these skills is not going to do them any favors when they get older.

4-What about all of the other allergens? When/where do we draw the line?

How old is this student and how long have they had the allergies for? What is the parent's opinion on all of this? Is this something the parent requested or is this something the school jumped the gun on?

I think these are all important questions to ask and I think education is the key.

What CAN be done (other than EDUCATE EDUCATE EDUCATE):

1-Have a seperate table in the lunch room for the student, have them invite some friends that have peanut free lunches to the table so that the stuent doesn't feel isolated. When my son was in Kindergarten-1st grade, I required him to sit there, he had one friend sit with him. After that, I told him it was his choice. In 5th grade, he STILL chooses to sit there...because now he has about a half dozen of his friends joining him at his "elite club"

2-Have the students stop in the bathroom to wash their hands after lunch. My son's teachers carved it into their routine, go to the bathroom and wash your hands in between the cafeteria and classroom...less interrupted classroom time for potty breaks as well (bonus for the teachers).

2-If they do snacks in the classroom, THIS is where I draw the line. Snacks (and all food, including that used for lessons) that enter the classroom must be peanut free. There is too great of chance for a slip up in the classroom enviornment, plus this is where the student should feel the safest. Encourage healthy snacks like fresh fruit and veggies.

3-encourage non-edible celebrations and birthday treats. If non-edible treats is a no-go, then ask mom to supply a box of treats for the student to eat as an alternative so that he is not excluded from the celebration.

Hope this helps!

Yes! To all of this!!

[dbabz]

Yes! To all of this!!

I second!!! And "Flare", I love your photo and your quote.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Our school sent out a note at the beginning of the year that one student in the school has a peanut allergy (including other allergies too) that is severe and airborne. No food treats allowed at birthdays and such. Our principal never addressed lunch time. I had to email to ask if they would allow my son to bring a PB&J if he was not in same grade. Lunch time had no issues with my son. He is T1D and refuses to eat other than PB&J for lunch.

I was told by our county school nurse consultant not to worry about anyones allergies. I felt like I should still be considerate to someone who has issues too, but see the nurse consultatns point about not worrying. We do have peanut free tables though.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

These type of things always tend to crop up in bunches... i seem to remember that Someone had a position statement that was anti-nut free... anyone remember who? Can't find it on NASN. My admins want me to draft an email. There was an incident with a rogue cupcake!