Alberta students benefit from increased allergy awareness
New resources help schools protect severely allergic children
Edmonton... Students across the province are benefiting from better knowledge in their schools about severe allergies. Resources provided to all schools by the Alberta government are increasing awareness among educators and caregivers about allergy causes, effects and treatments.
“A greater understanding of life-threatening allergies in our school communities will contribute to safer learning environments for all students,” said Janice Sarich, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education and MLA for Edmonton-Decore. “By removing people’s fears of the unknown, we are helping them to avoid allergic reactions, where possible, and to respond correctly to emergency situations if they arise.”
Resources were sent to every public, charter, separate, private and Francophone school in Alberta in March 2008. Each resource contains awareness materials and training resources, including auto-injector training devices.
“Albert Lacombe School is committed to creating an allergy-safe environment, where students at risk are clearly identified,” said Principal Julian DiCastri. “We strive to educate our students to be well informed and vigilant in their response to those students should they experience an allergic reaction. We have implemented a number of allergy avoidance strategies that will help to enhance the safety of all of our students.”
“I was impressed when I learned of Albert Lacombe School’s allergy procedure and practice,” said Charlene Andersen, parent of an allergic Grade 5 student. “With a quick response plan for staff and an educational component for students, severe allergies are taken seriously. As a parent, this means better peace of mind.”
The Allergy and Anaphylaxis Informational Response (AAIR) resource resulted from the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) Anaphylaxis Committee’s policy advisory, developed in fall 2007. An Alberta Education grant to assist school boards in providing secure and caring places for children to learn aided the ASBA in developing the policy advisory.
Members of the Anaphylaxis Committee include educators, administrators, and health-care providers with experience in dealing with severe allergies. To develop the policy advisory, the committee consulted experts including a medical doctor and representatives from the Allergy/Asthma Information Association, the Alberta Asthma Centre, and Anaphylaxis Canada.
For more information about allergies and anaphylaxis or to obtain additional resources, visit www.education.alberta.ca/aair.
High quality learning opportunities means ensuring all students feel safe in their schools. One of Alberta Education’s goals is to continue to foster safe and caring school environments through various initiatives and activities in collaboration with education stakeholders, school jurisdictions, parents and the community.
Backgrounder
Alberta School Boards Association Anaphylaxis Policy Advisory
The goal of the anaphylaxis policy is to create an allergy-safe or allergy-aware environment rather than an allergy-free environment and that the management of students at risk of life-threatening allergies is a shared responsibility among the individual, parents, the school system and health-care providers. For more information about the advisory, visit www.asba.ab.ca/news_index/anaphylaxis.html.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction that involves the whole body. After an initial exposure to a substance like bee sting toxin, a person’s immune system becomes sensitized to that allergen. On a subsequent exposure, an allergic reaction occurs.
Allergy Anaphylaxis Informational Response (AAIR) resource contents
-
Twinject and EpiPen demonstrator/training pens with DVD step by step instructional information.
-
Asthma and Anaphylaxis posters, brochures, and comparison charts.
-
Anaphylaxis in Schools & Other Settings booklet.
-
MedicAlert No Child Without information for acquiring MedicAlert bracelets for students.
-
Anaphylaxis and Asthma Alert templates for prevention and treatment plans for students.
-
Additional resource information including websites from various organizations and medical professionals.
Contributors to the AAIR resource
-
Alberta School Boards Association
-
College of School Superintendents
-
Alberta Health Services – Capital Health
-
Alberta School Councils’ Association
-
Anaphylaxis Canada
-
The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
-
Alberta Asthma Centre
-
COPD & Asthma Network of Alberta
-
The Lung Association
-
Canadian MedicAlert Foundation
-
King Pharma
-
Paladin Labs
