Managing allergies

Fact sheets: Managing allergies

December | 2019

Many children in education and care services experience an allergic reaction when exposed to certain foods or substances that affect their immune system. Some allergic reactions are severe and can be life-threatening, such as anaphylaxis. Whoever is trained to provide first-aid in your service should be ready to call triple-zero (000) for an ambulance in the case of severe allergic reactions. However, it’s vital that all staff at your service are prepared and know what to do.

What is an allergy?

An allergy occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances in the environment that are harmless for most people. These substances are known as allergens and are found in house dust mites, pets, pollen, insects, moulds, foods and some medicines. If a child in your service has an allergy, it is important to know exactly what causes the reaction.

What is anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a more severe allergic reaction that can affect the skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. It requires immediate medical attention. Anaphylaxis usually occurs within 20 minutes to two hours after exposure to the allergen and can rapidly become life-threatening.

 

Knowing the triggers is the first step in prevention. It is important that children and educators in an education and care service are aware of a child’s food allergens and/or other triggers. Educators need to be able to recognise symptoms of anaphylaxis and be prepared to respond without delay according to the child’s medical-management plan.

Common triggersFood: Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy are the most common food triggers. However, any food can trigger anaphylaxis. It is important to understand that some children may have a life-threatening reaction from exposure to even very small amounts of food. In some extreme instances, just the smell of particular foods being cooked, or even touching someone who has eaten the food, can trigger a reactionBites and stings: Bee, wasp and ant stings are the most common triggers of anaphylaxis to insect stings. For some children, ticks can also trigger anaphylaxis.Medication: Both over-the-counter and prescribed medications can cause life-threatening allergic reactions for some children, as can some herbal medicines.Common symptoms

In some instances, educators may not be aware that a child has an allergy, as the child’s first allergic reaction can happen at the education and care service. Here are some symptoms you may see.

Mild to moderate allergic reaction

Nose and eye irritationHives and eczemaTingling of the mouthWelts or body rednessSwelling of the face, lips and/or eyesVomiting or abdominal pain

 

 

Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

Difficult/noisy breathingSwelling of the tongueSwelling or tightness in the throatDifficulty talking or hoarse voiceWheeze or persistent coughPersistent dizziness or collapsePale and floppy (young children)Your obligations

As an approved provider, you must ensure each service has a medical conditions policy that sets out practices about the management, support and care for children with medical conditions, including children with allergies.

 

These policies and practices must be reviewed regularly for each child, as their particular circumstance is likely to change over time.

 

If a child at your service is diagnosed as having an allergy, you must obtain a detailed medical-management plan for that child and develop a risk-minimisation plan to ensure that:

the risks of the child’s allergy are discussed and known by all staffpractices and procedures are in place for safe food handling, preparation and consumption of food that triggers the allergythe procedures outline identifying the child and the details in the individual medical-management planit includes the management of risks during excursionsthe child’s specific medication, such as an EpiPen, is accessible and current.Putting the plan into practice

You also need to consider how to manage the day-to-day healthcare needs of each child. Ongoing communication is one way of ensuring this. As part of the communication plan you must ensure the following:

 

All staff at the service, including relief staff and volunteers, must:follow the service policies and practicesbe aware of all children in the education and care service who have allergiesbe aware of the triggers that cause the allergy for each child understand food ingredients and ensure that ingredient labels are checked regularlybe aware of mealtime procedures for children with anaphylaxis and/or allergy conditionsadequately support children with allergies to tell others about their allergy and not accept food from othershelp other children be aware of the potentially serious nature of a child’s allergy and how to help them if needed.

Note: It is important that you regularly review mealtime procedures so all staff are involved in ongoing discussions about the procedures and identifying any areas for improvement.

All parents and families should be aware of the known triggers that pose a risk to each child to prevent these triggers being brought into the service.You should have a clear process in place to outline how parents can communicate any changes to the medical-management and risk-minimisation plans and how these changes are effected in the service.You should have signs, photos and information on how to respond to anaphylaxis on display and accessible throughout your service.Approved training

Whenever children are being educated and cared for, there must be at least one staff member who holds a current qualification in ALL of these areas:

first-aidanaphylaxis managementemergency asthma management.

To meet this requirement, the same person can hold one or more of the above qualifications. However, the educator must be onsite and immediately available in an emergency. Training qualifications must be maintained.

 

The list of approved first-aid qualifications is provided on the ACECQA website. 

Useful informationAllergy and Anaphylaxis AustraliaAustralian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)health-care plansContact details

Education Standards BoardPhone: (08) 8226 0077 or 1800 882 413Website: www.esb.sa.gov.auEmail: educationstandardsboard@sa.gov.au

This fact sheet provides guidance for approved providers of education and care services to help them operate in line with the National Quality Framework. We also recommend referring directly to the legislation:

Education and Early Childhood Services (Registration and Standards) Act 2011 (SA), incorporating the Education and Care Services National Law (South Australia)Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011Education and Early Childhood Services (Registration and Standards) Regulations 2011 (SA).A more print-friendly version of this fact sheet will be coming soon.