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Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy

Anaphylaxis (Severe Allergic Reaction)

Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. The most serious symptoms may include difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure, and shock.

Common triggers for life-threatening allergic reactions include certain foods and stinging insects. Reactions may also occur from medications, latex, or even exercise.

The primary emergency treatment for anaphylaxis is epinephrine, which is typically administered using an auto-injector (such as EpiPen®, EpiPen Jr®, or Auvi-Q®).

Keene ISD Commitment to Student Safety

While Keene ISD cannot guarantee an allergy-free environment, the district is committed to taking every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety and well-being of students with severe allergies.

Keene ISD has established guidelines to support students at risk for anaphylaxis, allowing them to safely participate in the educational environment.

Student Self-Carry and Self-Administration

Students at risk for anaphylaxis may carry and self-administer their prescribed epinephrine auto-injector at school or during school-sponsored events if the following requirements are met:

  • A physician or licensed healthcare provider has authorized both the medication and self-administration.

  • The student demonstrates the ability to properly self-administer the medication to both the healthcare provider and the school nurse.

 

Required Documentation

Keene ISD requires completion of an Allergy Action Plan for students with severe allergies.

Parents/guardians should contact the school nurse prior to enrollment or at the start of each school year to obtain and complete all required documentation to help ensure student safety.

Emergency Medications at School

All campuses maintain an emergency supply of epinephrine and diphenhydramine HCl (Benadryl®), which may be administered by trained school personnel in the event of an unexpected or undiagnosed anaphylactic reaction.

The district follows established protocols for the storage, administration, and disposal of these medications. Emergency medications are:

  • Stored in accessible, unlocked locations

  • Routinely checked for safety and expiration

  • Administered by trained staff when appropriate

For more information, please review the district’s Allergy Intervention Protocol and Unassigned Epinephrine Protocol.

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

Parents/guardians of students with known severe allergies are expected to provide the campus nurse with an individual supply of prescribed emergency medication.

Food Allergy

(Including, but not limited to, peanut allergy)

Keene ISD's Allergy Intervention Protocol and the Unassigned Epinephrine Protocol. will be individualized to all students who have food allergies.
Once notified of the student's allergy, a working partnership with the student, parents, student's physician, school nurse, and other Keene ISD personnel, as appropriate, begins the foundation for the development of an individual health plan (IHP).

Upon receipt of signed medical plans and parental consent, the IHP is developed. The first to be addressed is the emergency response. This ensures that a team of at least three (3) principal-designated staff members, who work daily with the affected student, are trained to recognize an allergic reaction, have the rescue drugs readily available, and can quickly treat the student. This will include training of these staff members annually or more frequently as the school nurse deems necessary.

In the case of severe life threatening allergies, the school principal will collaborate with the school nurse to send letters to other parents of the class requesting parents to voluntarily refrain from sending the food allergen in their child's belongings during school or for after-school activities, celebrations, and parties.

Depending on physical constraints within the school, if parents request, the principal may designate a food-allergy friendly area or lunch table.

The Food and Nutritional Service Department (FANS), in collaboration with the parents and the school nurse will follow their policy for medical documentation for meal substitution when applicable. Also, site-based FANS Managers will flag the child's account through the point-of-sale system.

Students and staff will be reminded of handwashing guidelines and will be encouraged to do so when appropriate.

The custodial department will be instructed to use commercial wipes and cleaners that remove the allergen from the hard surfaces.

Non-food items will be adapted in the curriculum for those classes who have students with food allergies.

The transportation department will also be notified and trained to recognize the specific reactions to life threatening allergies.