Children also play an important role in reducing their risk of anaphylaxis. “The roles that a child can play in their own self-management and understanding will change with age and their developmental capabilities,” says Pistiner.
Check out these tips on how you can prepare your child to manage their anaphylactic food allergy at school:
Teach Your Child the Basics
They should know what their specific food allergy is, the signs of a reaction, and what to do if they start to experience those signs.
Show Them How to Read Labels
Older children can be taught how to do this themselves, while younger children should be taught to ask for help. Practicing label reading before this responsibility falls on their shoulders can be a fun way to build your child’s confidence, says Pistiner.
Discuss What’s Okay and What’s Off Limits
“Teach children not to take risks with food,” says Mitchell. Depending on your child’s allergy and the school policies, that might mean they don’t eat any cafeteria food and stick to what you’ve packed in their lunch box. You might also remind your child not to take snacks from classmates.
It may be hard for your child to hear about what they can’t have — so it can be helpful to also remind them what they can have (their favorite snack from home, for example, or allergen-free ice cream after school).
Emphasize — and Practice — Hand Hygiene
Remind your child of the importance of handwashing before eating, says Pistiner. Talk with them about how rubbing their eyes — and, yes, picking their nose — can be dangerous if they’ve come into contact with an allergen. Model good hand hygiene at home and work with your child to make hand-washing a habit before and after meals.
It’s worth noting that hand sanitizer does not remove food allergens from hands, so get your child in the habit of using good ol’ soap and water.
Ramp Up Self-Management Skills Over Time
As your child gets older, they may be able to carry their epinephrine themselves. If this is an option for your child at their school, “you can work with the school health office to determine where your child’s epinephrine is stored or if it’s carried in a bag that they keep with them,” says Pistiner. Your child should also be taught how to administer it themselves. However, he points out, the school should ideally have available epinephrine in case your child does not have it on them or is not able to self-administer.
The nonprofit organization Food Allergy Research and Education offers a Food Allergy Management in Schools guide that outlines how your child may take more responsibility for their allergy as they get older, as well as what other care team members — caregivers, school administrators, school nurses — should be responsible for.
Consider Other Precautions
Your child may benefit from wearing a medical alert bracelet or tag that notifies teachers and classmates about their allergy. You may also speak to your child’s doctor about preventive medications and treatments, such as oral immunotherapy, that may reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.
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