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If your child suffers
from a peanut allergy, it is
important for you to educate
his or school about keeping
things peanut-free.
Before school begins, meet
with the principal to
discuss the peanut allergy.
Ask if the teacher, school
nurse and manager of the
cafeteria can join the
meeting. Ask what
policies they have in place
for peanut allergic children
and carefully review what
procedures the school needs
to follow if your child is
accidentally exposed.
While you are in the
meeting, give a
demonstration on the use of
your child's epipen with the
testing device. The
teacher, principal and nurse
need to know how to use the
epipen as well as when it
should be administered.
Your home and cell phone
numbers should be posted in
both the classroom and the
clinic, as well as an
alternative number in case
of emergency. Ask that
substitute teachers be
informed of what to do for
emergencies as well.
The parents of every
student in your child's
class should be given an
informational handout on
peanut allergy facts and
peanut ingredients.
Include your phone number so
they can reach you if they
have any questions.
Keep a shoe box in the
classroom with special,
peanut free treats.
Let your child pick from the
box on days that other
mother's bring birthday
snacks to school.
Your cafeteria's school
should have a peanut free
table for the entire year.
Items in the classroom
should be checked for items
containing peanuts. Be
sure the art teacher
understands what may contain
peanuts in her class.
If your child will be
attending a computer class,
the keyboard must not have
been used by children who
might have eaten peanut
butter earlier.
Consider a wireless keyboard
and mouse to be used only by
your child.
Do not let your child be
put on clean up duty in the
cafeteria. Pack water
and instruct your child not
to drink from water
fountains. Only let
your child eat meals from
home. The risk of a
contaminated cafeteria meal
is too great.
Consider driving your
child to school. A bus
often contains
peanut-smeared seats and
crumbs from granola bars and
other nut snacks.
Also, attend filed trips if
possible to be sure your
child is safe from peanut
exposure. Remember,
farm trips and hayrides may
result in peanut exposure.
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