ANAPHYLAXIS MANAGEMENT POLICY and

COMMUNICATION PLAN for

ANAPHYLAXIS INCIDENTS

BACKGROUND

Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapidly progressive allergic reaction that is potentially life threatening. The most common allergens in school aged children are peanuts, eggs,tree nuts (e.g. cashews), cow’s milk, fish and shellfish, wheat, soy, sesame, latex, certain insect stings and medication.

The key to prevention of anaphylaxis in schools is knowledge of those students who have been diagnosed at risk, awareness of triggers (allergens), and prevention of exposure to these triggers. Partnerships between schools and parents are important in ensuring that certain foods or items are kept away from the student while at school.

Adrenaline given through an EpiPen® autoinjector to the muscle of the outer mid thigh is the most effective first aid treatment for anaphylaxis.

PURPOSE

To provide, as far as practicable, a safe and supportive environment in which students at risk of anaphylaxis can participate equally in all aspects of the student’s schooling.

To raise awareness of anaphylaxis and the school’s anaphylaxis management policy in the school community.

To engage with parents/carers of students at risk of anaphylaxis in assessing risks, developing risk minimisation strategies and management strategies for the student.

To ensure that each staff member has adequate knowledge about allergies, anaphylaxisand the school’s policy and procedures in responding to an anaphylactic reaction.

INDIVIDUAL ANAPHYLAXIS MANAGEMENT PLANS

The principal will ensure that an individual management plan is developed, in consultationwith the student’s parents, for any student who has been diagnosed by a medicalpractitioner as being at risk of anaphylaxis.

The individual anaphylaxis management plan will be in place as soon as practicable afterthe studentenrols and where possible before their first day of school.

The individual anaphylaxis management plan will set out the following:

  • Information about the diagnosis, including the type of allergy or allergies thestudent has (based on a diagnosis from a medical practitioner).
  • Strategies to minimise the risk of exposure to allergens while the student is underthe care or supervision of school staff, for in-school and out of school settingsincluding camps and excursions
  • The name of the person/s responsible for implementing the strategies.
  • Information on where the student’s medication will be stored.
  • The student’s emergency contact details.
  • An emergency procedures plan (ASCIA Action Plan), provided by the parent, that:
  • sets out the emergency procedures to be taken in the event of an allergicreaction;
  • is signed by a medical practitioner who was treating the child on the date thepractitionersigns the emergency procedures plan; and
  • includes an up to date photograph of the student.

The student’s individual management plan will be reviewed, in consultation with the student’sparents/ carers:

  • annually, and as applicable,
  • if the student’s condition changes, or
  • immediately after a student has an anaphylactic reaction at school.

It is the responsibility of the parents/carers to:

  • provide a copy of the student’s ASCIA Action plan for anaphylaxis.
  • inform the school if their child’s medical condition changes, and if relevant providean updated ASCIA Action Plan.
  • provide an up to date photo of their child for the ASCIA ActionPlan.
  • provide an in-dateEpiPen®.

Please note:

The College will purchase andprovide backup adrenaline autoinjectors for general use.

COMMUNICATION PLAN

The principal will be responsible for ensuring that a communication plan is developed toprovide information to all staff, students and parents about anaphylaxis and the school’sanaphylaxis management policy.

The communication plan will include information about what steps will be taken torespond to an anaphylactic reaction by a student in a classroom, in the school yard, onschool excursions, on school camps and special event days.

Volunteers and casual relief staff will be informedof students at risk of anaphylaxisand their role in responding to an anaphylactic reaction in a student by the information in the Emergency folders distributed by the office.

All staff will be briefed once each semester by a staff member who has up to dateanaphylaxis managementtraining on:

  • the school’s anaphylaxis management policy
  • the causes, symptoms and treatment of anaphylaxis
  • the identities of students diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis and where theirmedication is

located

  • how to use an autoadrenaline injecting device
  • the school’s first aid and emergency response procedures

STAFF TRAINING AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Teachers and other school staff who conduct classes which students at risk ofanaphylaxis attend, or give instruction to students at risk of anaphylaxis must have up todate training in an anaphylaxis management training course.

At other times while the student is under the care or supervision of the school, includingexcursions, yard duty, camps and special event days, the principal must ensurethat there is a sufficient number of staff present who have up to date training in ananaphylaxis management training course.

The principal will identify the school staff to be trained based on a risk assessment.

Training will be provided to these staff as soon as practicable after the student enrols.

Wherever possible, training will take place before the student’s first day at school. Wherethis is not possible, an interim plan will be developed in consultation with the parents.

The school’s first aid procedures and students’ emergency procedures plan (ASCIAAction Plan) will be followed in responding to an anaphylactic reaction.

COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR ANAPHLAXIS INCIDENTS

An EpiPen® for a student who may have an anaphylactic reaction will be kept in the main office where it is easily accessible should an incident occur. EpiPen®s are kept in the pigeon holes on the wall immediately behind the main reception desk in packs that have a photograph of the student on the outside and contain the EpiPen® and a copy of the student’s ASCIA emergency action planthat sets out the emergency procedures to be taken in the event of an allergic reaction.

The EpiPen® is to accompany the student to all excursions, including interschool sports, camps.

DIRECTIONS FOR USING EpiPen®

  • Remove from plastic container.
  • Check the ‘window’ to make sure it is clear; and check the expiry date.
  • Form fist around the EpiPen® andPULL OFF THE BLUE SAFETY RELEASE
  • PLACE ORANGE ENDagainst the outer mid-thigh (with or without clothing).
  • PUSH DOWN HARD until a click is heard or felt and hold in place for 10 seconds.
  • REMOVE EpiPen®massage injection site for 10seconds.
  • Note the time you administered the EpiPen®.
  • The used autoinjector must be handed to the ambulance paramedics along with

the time of administration.

IF AN ADRENALINE AUTOINJECTOR IS USED THE SCHOOL MUST:

  • Immediately call an ambulance (000/112).
  • Lay the student flat and elevate their legs. Do not stand or walk. If breathing is difficult for them, allow them to sit but not to stand.
  • Reassure the student experiencing the reaction as they are likely to be feeling anxious and frightened as a result of the reaction and the side-effects of the adrenaline. Watch the student closely in case of a worsening condition. Ask another staff member to move other students away and reassure them elsewhere.
  • In the rare situation where there is no marked improvement and severe symptoms (as described in the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis) are present, a second injection (of the same dosage) may be administered after five minutes, if a second autoinjector is available.
  • Then contact the student’s emergency contacts.
  • Later, contact Emergency Services Management, Department of Education and EarlyChildhood Development to report the incident on 9589 6266 (available 24 hours a day,7 days a week).

MANAGING ANAPHYLACTIC REACTIONS IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS

CLASSROOM

  • Staff member to stay with the student in crisis at all times and keep them as calm and still as possible
  • Summon assistance either by phoning the office or calling to another staff member
  • Second staff member to get student’s EpiPen® and action plan.
  • Call an ambulance
  • Follow student’s Anaphylaxis Action Plan, administer student’s EpiPen®as soon as it is available.
  • Follow first aid procedures - DRABCD
  • Another staff member to remove the other students to another area to be supervised.

SCHOOLYARD

  • Staff member to stay with the student in crisis at all times and keep them as calm and as still as possible
  • Summon assistance either by phoning the office, calling to another staff member or sending a student/s for assistance.
  • Second staff member to get student’s EpiPen® and action plan.
  • Call an ambulance
  • Follow student’s Anaphylaxis Action Plan, administer student’s EpiPen®as soon as it is available.
  • Follow first aid procedures - DRABCD
  • Other staff members to remove and supervise other students.

CAMPS AND EXCURSIONS

To consider prior to the excursion:

  • The student’s adrenaline autoinjector, ASCIA Action Plan and a mobile phone mustbe taken on all field trips/excursions.
  • A staff member or team of staff trained in the recognition of anaphylaxis and the administration of the adrenaline autoinjector must accompany the student on field trips or excursions. The number of staff attending should be determined by a risk assessment. All staff members present during the field trip or excursion need to be aware of the identity of any student at risk of anaphylaxis attending.
  • Staff must develop first aid procedures plan that sets out clear roles and responsibilities in the event of an anaphylactic reaction. These first aid procedure plans will vary according to the number of anaphylactic students attending, the nature of excursion/sporting event, size of venue, distance from medical assistance, the structure of excursion and corresponding staff–student ratio.
  • The school should consult parents/carers of anaphylactic students in advance to discuss issues that may arise; to develop an alternative food menu; or request the parent/carer send a meal (if required).
  • Parents/carers may wish to accompany their child on field trips and/or excursions. This should be discussed with parents/carers as another strategy for supporting the anaphylactic student.
  • Consider the potential exposure to allergens when consuming food on buses. If this risk is assessed as too high, it may well be deemed necessary for students to refrain from eating on the school bus.

Emergency response:

  • Staff member to stay with the student in crisis at all times and keep them as calm and still as possible
  • Summon assistance from other staff members.
  • Call an ambulance
  • Follow student’s Anaphylaxis Action Plan, administer student’s EpiPen®.
  • Follow first aid procedures – DRABCD.

REMOTE SETTINGS

Things to be considered prior to leaving:

  • Schools must have a risk minimisation strategy in place for students at risk ofanaphylaxis for school camps, developed in consultation with their parents/carers,and the students’ medical practitioner and camp owners prior to the camp dates.
  • Camps must be advised in advance of any students with food allergies.
  • The camp provider should be able to demonstrate satisfactory training in themanagement of food allergens and its implications for food handling practices; namely:
  • knowledge of the major food allergens that cause anaphylaxis
  • how to avoid cross-contamination
  • the consequences of cross-contamination of allergens for the food allergicindividual.
  • Schools should not sign any written disclaimer or statement from a camp owner/operator that indicates that the owner/operator is unable to provide food whichis safe for students at risk of anaphylaxis. Schools have a duty of care to protectstudents in their care from reasonably foreseeable injury and this duty cannot bedelegated to any third party.
  • If a camp owner/operator cannot confirm with the school that it is able to providefood that is safe for anaphylactic students, then the school should consider usingan alternative camp provider.
  • If the school has concerns about the whether the food provided on a camp will besafe for students at risk of anaphylaxis, it should also consider alternative meansfor providing food for those students.
  • Staff should liaise with parents/carers to develop alternative menus or allowstudents to bring their own meals.
  • Camps should avoid stocking peanut or tree nut products, including nut spreads.Products that ‘may contain’ traces of nuts may be served, but not to students whoare known to be allergic to nuts (unless it is specifically approved in their individualAnaphylaxis Management Plan).
  • Use of other substances containing allergens should be avoided where possible.
  • The student’s adrenaline autoinjector, individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan,ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis and a mobile phone must be taken on camp. Ifmobile phone access is not available, an alternative method of communication in anemergency must be considered, e.g. a satellite phone.
  • A team of staff who have been trained in the recognition of anaphylaxis and theadministration of the adrenaline autoinjector must accompany the student on camp.However, all staff present need to be aware if there is a student at risk of anaphylaxis.
  • Staff must develop first aid procedures that set out clear roles and responsibilitiesin the event of an anaphylactic reaction.
  • Know local emergency services, how to contact them and the time it will take to doso. Liaise with them before the camp.
  • The adrenaline autoinjector should remain close to the student and staff must beaware of its location at all times.
  • The adrenaline autoinjector should be carried in the school first aid kit; however,schools can consider allowing students, particularly adolescents, to carry theiradrenaline autoinjector on camp.
  • Remember that all staff members still have a dutyof care towards the student even if they do carry their own adrenaline autoinjector.
  • Schools should consider purchasing a backup adrenaline autoinjector to be kept inthe first aid kit.
  • Students with anaphylactic responses to insects should always wear closed shoesand long-sleeved garments when outdoors and should be encouraged to stay awayfrom water or flowering plants.
  • Cooking and art and craft games should not involve the use of known allergens.
  • Consider the potential exposure to allergens when consuming food on buses and incabins.

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • The school will involve parents, the student and the employer in discussions regarding risk management prior to an anaphylactic student undertaking work experience.

MINISTERIAL ORDER 706

Irymple Secondary College will fully comply with Ministerial Order 706 and the associated Guidelines published and amended by the Department from time to time.

ANNUAL RISK MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST

The principal will complete an annual Risk Management Checklist as published by the Department of Education and Training to monitor compliance with their obligations.

Date: 11/04/2016

Authorised by:

Review date:

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