Your Child’s Allergies and Back-to-School

If your child has a known allergy, it is important to teach them what they should do if they experience an allergic reaction while at school. Stacy Chavis, MSN, RN, CHFM Nursing Manager at ER at Spanish Springs, an Extension of Northern Nevada Medical Center, explains the importance of taking steps to prepare both your child and their school if that should happen.

How can I help prepare my child to manage their allergy during the school day?

Work with your child to understand what their signs and symptoms are when they may be at the start of an allergic reaction. This information empowers your child to own their allergy and use tools to self-manage and alert a responsible adult when they need help. Parents also need to be proactive with educating their child’s teacher and other adult figures.

What allergy sensitivities are most common in children?

As most of us may know, nut allergies are one of the most common in children. However, having a nut allergy, or other food allergies or sensitivities, does not mean your child is unable to safely comingle with their classmates. It is important to teach your child early on about how to identify their triggers to protect themselves from a potential allergic reaction.

This can include teaching them how to properly identify any unsafe labeling on food items, what to do if they encounter a food trigger, or who to reach out to if they need additional help managing their reaction.

What precautions can I take in working with my child’s school?

Partnering with your child’s school nurse to inform them about medical conditions and allergies should be a high priority. Parents should provide the school with an adequate supply of current, approved medications and a medical plan if there is a situation that arises while your child is there. Most schools have a formal process for supporting children’s medical needs.

While the school nurse may not be the only person involved in treating and caring for your child during a reaction, they will be able to provide medical care when needed. If there are changes to your child’s medical condition, you should notify the school immediately. This includes a change of doctor, new providers, new medications or ones to remove from their list, and more.

What things should my child carry in preparation for a possible allergic reaction?

Parents should encourage their child to carry identification with their name, known allergy, parents’ contact information and a care plan. Having this information readily available will quicken medical attention.

While an allergic reaction is never anticipated, you and your child can work with the school to best prepare those that should be involved to handle the situation.

Learn more about Northern Nevada Health System’s 24/7 ER locations and Urgent Care clinics