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.