Major Nut Allergy, not fun

Well I found out last week I had a tree nut allergy child in my class & this week found out how serious it is (skin to skin contact, cross contamination, etc.)...we have a few in our school so our nurse did a presentation w/ the epi pen & we have one in our room, yet now we have to provide the snack for the class daily & bday parties are going to be interesting & they sit so close together, I'm worried. We have to sanitize the table after snack, after lunch & make sure e/ child washes their hands after eating.

Has anyone else had to deal w/ this? Any tips? Pointers?

Thanks.

PS--I'm teaching Pre-K (hence eating in the room, etc.)

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

I work in pre-k as well, and we've had a few children with severe nut allergies. I'm not in the class room with the children throughout the whole day however I know that some of the teachers that have these children in their classrooms have set up separate tables (during snack) for the child with allergies. They also have sent home letters to the parents explaining the situation and giving them some suggestions on alternatives for birthday parties. I would also have the children wash their hands immediately when entering the classroom.
Good luck!

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

I had a 4th grader 2 years ago that had a life threatening allergy to anything made with peanuts. He was with this class since pre-k so the students and parents were well aware of it. None of the kids ever came to school with anything peanut related. Throughout the year, his mom would send in treats for him that I would keep in a bag in my closet whenever we had a birthday party or class party, he would get a treat from the bag his mom sent in and he didnt mind it at all and it was honestly 2nd nature with the kids and didnt even faze them he was having something different. He would need an epi pen also. If we went on a field trip, I would always allow his mom or dad to come. It is very scary though.

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

I had 3 nut allergies in my classroom (I also am allergic, but need gto ingest for reaction) it was very stressful. So much so that I am not allowing birthday celebrations with food in my room anymore. You cannot believe how many products are "manufactured on the same equipment that processes nuts". I spoke to the parents numerous times about not sending in ANY foods containing nuts as their child's daily snack. They could have it during lunch because we have nut free tables in the cafeteria. It is alot of stress and you always need to be aware of what everyone is eating. Those students also always had extra "safe" snacks in class for any celebration. I have 2 this year as well.

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

My friend's little boy has a severe nut allergy plus eggs and a few other things. She has always written a letter to all the parents in his class informing them of his allergy. He wears a medical bracelet and for a 5 year old is very aware of what he is allergic to so that is good.

Yes you need to be contantly cleaning up but the child should know what he/she can or cannot eat by now as well. Good luck and be careful!

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

honestly, you need to start a no-nut policy for your classroom. if it's an airborne allergy and someone has pbj, the kid will go into shock. do you have an epi pen in the classroom?

your principal will need to make that decision. your nurse should send home a strongly worded letter saying no nut products in the class. if a parent has a problem, they can switch their child to another class. since it's for the life and health of a child, most parents have no problem.

i've had many kids with serious allergies and have 2 airborne allergies this year so i have a no nut policy. it stinks for me because i love nuts, but their health is more important. now the "proccessed in plants with peanuts" you can't do anything about.

the mom of this child MUST be involved in parties, etc. she should be the one to buy/make the food so she knows her child will be okay.

for birthday parties, she should send a list to all the parents of "nut friendly" cupcake mixes, etc. there are ones out there because i've sent home similar letters before.

also, you need to tell that mother that you will NOT give her child food from another child's home without her being present. it may inconvenience her, but it is that serious. she should send in "special snacks" that you can keep in the class to give her child during birthday parties and send home the birthday treat in a ziplock bag so the mom can decide for herself whether her child can have it or not.

do NOT take chances with food. when in doubt, never let him take outside food. EVER. and insist on an epipen in your classroom...not just in the nurses' office.

feel free to FM me if you need to. i've dealt with this a lot.

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

Whats really scary is i bought pretzel nuggets for my class at snack..gave them out..then ate one myself and realized it had peanut butter in the middle. Thank God i dont have any allergies in my room. I didnt even know they made these and never even thought to look at the label on the front. Make sure you check everything!!

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

Message edited 9/8/2007 11:06:46 AM.

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

I had a child with a severe dairy allergy. Epi pen. If he touched a desk that had had anything with dairy on it he would have a life threating allergy. I contacted Mom and if we were having any kind of party she would send in brownies or whatever that were safe for him . In his case it was surprising the amount of things that had dairy that you would never ever even think had dairy.

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

I'm a new teacher, in a new state, in a new grade level...and my school designated ME as the "peanut allergy" classroom for 5th grade. Luckily, I only have one student. But it's enough to put me on guard ALL THE TIME.

I'm lucky though, because our entire school has been asked to be "peanut and treenut free". So if anyone comes in with a PB&J sandwich, they have to sit at one of two tables designated for peanut products in the cafeteria. As such, very few children actually WANT to bring a PB&J anymore.

I take this child's epi-pen EVERYWHERE we go...to specials, outside for recess, to lunch. His mom bought me a little tote bag so I can carry it around.

I'm just SUPER careful. At snack time, everyone know that they CAN NOT open their snacks until I have checked each and every label.

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

Re: Major Nut Allergy, not fun

I have a student ths year with a severe peanut allergy..it can not even be airborne. If any child in my class has a PB and J sandwich they have to bring their lunch bag into the other class and eat there as well.