Prevent

By 2005, 17 percent of U.S. schools are estimated to have banned peanuts and the trend is growing, according to the School Nutrition Association.

Touching, inhaling or ingesting even the slightest peanut/nut trace is enough to trigger anaphylaxis in allergic individuals. To help reduce the risk of exposure, here are some steps that all teachers, specialists, subs, administrators, custodians, nurses, classmates, parents, volunteers, visitors, and others can take:

• Read package labels to ensure food, beverage, pet food/cage, and art/craft/science and other project ingredients that come into contact with the allergic student contain no peanuts/nuts, no traces of peanuts/nuts, and are not manufactured on equipment or in a facility that processes peanuts/nuts. If ingredients, manufacturing or genetic modification processes are questionable, call manufacturer to verify the item contains no peanut or tree nut protein.

• Thoroughly clean surfaces, such as tables, doorknobs, desks, chairs, floors, keyboards, mouse pads, seats, etc., with dedicated cleaning materials.

• Cover questionable eating/seating areas, such as lunchroom floors during assemblies, with a clean surface for allergic students.

• Wash and sanitize equipment, such as instruments, jerseys, safety goggles and masks before allergic students’ use.

• Avoid cross contamination that can occur with peanut/nut residue on cooking/working surfaces and utensils, dishes, etc. For example, a knife dipped in peanut butter, then merely wiped off and dipped in jelly, cross contaminates the jelly.

• Wash hands/mouths after eating peanuts/nuts, before entering the classroom.

• Train ALL staff members, volunteers, visitors, guests and others working with students how to prevent exposure to peanuts/nuts, recognize the symptoms of exposure and anaphylaxis, and appropriately respond to emergencies.

• Create safety zones. Prohibit items containing peanuts/nuts from entering allergic children’s learning environments. Hold community education, extracurricular, and special events in rooms other than those of peanut/nut-allergic students.

• Designate a peanut/nut-free lunch table. Routinely wash with dedicated cleaning materials.

• Celebrate special occasions with non-food treats, such as books, games or special activities.

• Discreetly monitor allergic student to promptly stop bullying or respond to emergencies.

• Consider becoming a peanut/nut-free facility, while remaining strictly committed to upholding peanut/nut allergy precautions, training and response drills.