Food Allergies
School employees don’t always know how to care for a child who is suffering from an asthma attack or allergic reaction. They may not recognize the symptoms or know how to give needed medicine. In these cases, an emergency care plan can make a difference. It can save your child from a serious health scare.
If your child has asthma or a food allergy, work with his or her doctor to create a school emergency care plan. The following steps can also help protect your child during a health-related emergency:
- Tell your child’s teachers and other school employees about your child’s condition. Be sure they know how to identify symptoms that the condition is getting worse.
- Make sure your child has enough medicine on hand during the school day. See if the school can store extra asthma inhalers or epinephrine auto-injectors in case they are needed. Mylan Specialty offers the four free EpiPen ® or EpiPen Jr ® Auto-Injectors to schools through their EpiPen4Schools Program. The only requirement for this program is that the school obtain a valid prescription from a healthcare provider.
- Give written consent. Your child’s school may require you to sign a form that allows staff members to contact your child’s doctor during an emergency. You may also need to fill out a similar form for your child’s doctor to talk to school staff.
- Review your child’s emergency care plan every year. Update it as needed. Immediately notify the school if contact information for you or your child’s doctor changes.