Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

We are registering Emily for kindergarten next month...she starts this Fall

Anyway, she is still severely allergic to milk (anaphylatic), and also has egg and peanut allergies. She has asthma as well (managed by pulmicort via nebulizer 2x a day).

I plan on speaking with the nurse at registration to make sure the teacher can store the epi-pens and inhalers for Emily, but I'm also a bit concerned with the school bus. I've heard some parents fight to get an aide/nurse to ride with the student on the bus each day, but I don't know if that's really necessary? The risk of her reacting on the bus is low but what worries me is that she won't have anyone to help her with the meds in an emergency.

How do all of you handle when your child starts school? Does your school allow the teacher to store the meds? (rather than at the nurses office?)

What do you do about the bus ride?

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

Her doctor may be able to give information about forms he has signed for other kids and what accommodations they got (general information, no names). Good luck.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

My ds goes to nursery school at a private school that has kindergarten. They don't let the teachers keep the epi-pens in the classroom, they are in the office. When I tried to hand it to his teacher she wouldn't even touch it. It makes me a little anxious, but he's never had an anaphylatic reaction to date so I didn't push the issue.

I'll ask them what happens on the bus.

I have a friend who has a dd in our public school kindy program. Her dd has different serious health issues but she might know how they handle the FA kids. I'll ask her when I talk to her again this week.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

OMG, I just got sick to my stomach reading this! I HATE this asthma!

good luck...please keep us posted.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

the nurse will keep any medication but if your child is really, really severe they may qualify for a para/aid. talk to your doctor as he/she is probably familiar with it. Then discuss with the school their procedures. good luck.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

Check out this link They have a lot of good information about kids in public schools and FAs.

I would also read this document Caring for Students with Life Threatening Food Allergies It is a set of guidelines that the schools are "encouraged" to follow to protect FA kids.

We'll be dealing with this in about 2 years and I'm dreading it already.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

My ds is also severly allergic to dairy and banana. The nurse in his school keeps the epi pen and benydrl for him. I had to fill out a tremendous amount of paperwork in the beginning of the year. He also rides the bus and the driver is aware of his allergies.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

Thanks everyone.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

depending on how severe it is, or your doctor can make it seem, there may ba wasy to get your child a 504 plan and even an aide....some districts do more than others....(i know this having worked in a few districts!)...once your child is assigned to a class, try to talk to the teacher too...i had a great mom teach me a lot about tree nut allergies and read a book to the kids and all.....

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

PAK - ProtectAllergicKids.com is a great site for all of the forms and support you will need for DC to enter school.
Food allergies and asthma falls under the disabilities act (I think it's 504 or something like that - It's on the site). It basically states that schools have an obligation to protect your child. Some districts will provide shadows for your child (to make sure they aren't sharing food on the bus) - They will make sure that Epi Pens can be administered in an emergency. Some schools are peanut free (snacktime and lunch time) or just provide a peanut free table at lunch.

Like you, my DD's have multiple, severe (anaphaltic) food allergies and asthma.
They are still preschool and toddler age, so I have some time, but I made sure to make myself knowledgeable about the disabilities act becase from what I 'hear', some districts are not allergy friendly.

Message edited 1/26/2009 9:28:44 PM.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

In our school, most students with life-threatening allergies are driven to school. My guess is that has to do with the same concern about reactions on the bus. Quite honestly, I'd be very concerned about a reaction on a bus. I'm not trying to scare you, but as a teacher of several children with life threatening allergies, I really have gotten used to see ten steps ahead to possible issues. As far as the bus goes, you have to remember that many children of many ages use the same bus, and that many times they do eat on the bus. Depending on what they're eating, residue can get left behind. For a child with a severe peanut allergy, just the oils from someone's hands left days ago can possibly cause a life threatening situation, so definitely pursue the bus issue. Again, I'm not trying to scare you, but I wouldn't feel right if I didn't share what my personal concerns about that are.
As for the teacher, I'm pretty sure there aren't many schools that would allow for him/her to hold onto the epipen and meds. In my school, however, we are all trained to administer the epi pen so that if the nurse is not around, we can grab it and administer it.
Good luck, and I hope you don't mind me chiming in as a teacher. The teachers in my school are VERY good about protecting the children with food allergies, and we make it our business to really know what to do and how to handle it.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

I'm a teacher in a private school & before school started all the teachers were required to watch a video on how to use the epi-pen & then we got to try it w/ expired pens & a tester (in an orange).

Any teachers that came in contact w/ a child w/ an allergy has a pen in his/her room (spanish, computers, gym, library, etc). I had a child w/ severe allergy to tree nuts & we had one in our room that we had to always take w/ us (recess, etc.) .

The nurse also has one for each allergic child in the school.

I'd DEFINITELY meet up w/ the nurse and teacher at school & discuss your concerns. Last year I was a bit surprised when the mom didn't contact me until after the first day of school...I had questions re: snack, birthday parties, lunch (they eat in our room), etc.

fm me w/ any q's

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

Just a teacher's perspective...I agree with others about speaking with your child's teacher once you find out who he/she is. I am sure he/she will work with you and your child. As for the EPI pen in most public schools, teachers will not administer an EPI pen that is the nurse's responsibility. All teachers get lists of students from the nurse on the first day of school with allergies or other medical concerns.

Also, on the bus, an aide may be useful but an aid cannot administer an EPI pen either. Some school districts will offer a smaller bus for students like this so there is a smaller change of exposure to peanuts or anything else the child is allergic to.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

Message edited 1/27/2009 7:00:04 AM.

Re: Kids with Food allergies/Asthma - how did you handle sending them to Kindergarten?

Thanks again everyone.

Does anyone here have any first-hand experience with the 504 process and having an aide for their child? I wonder just how difficult it is

I am not as concerned about residue from other foods on the school bus - mainly because Emily (I don't believe) would only have an analphylatic reaction from consuming the foods or drink and she knows better than that now. Coming into contact from a residue would give her hives but it wouldn't be life-threatening.

I could definitely drive her to school but I'd honestly rather she take the bus. This school is a ZOO in the AM and I can't imagine dragging my younger girl to and from school each day too. But of course it's an option if I'm not comfortable with the bus.