The Best Practice Guidelines for Anaphylaxis Prevention and Management in Schools and Children's Education and Care (CEC) services were launched in late 2021. These guidelines can be accessed at https://www.allergyaware.org.au.
These Guidelines aim to provide best practice guidance alongside associated support documents to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis in CEC/schools while supporting children/students to participate in the full range of CEC/school life.
The Allergy Aware website has information specific for each of the following areas:
As a parent it can be very stressful when your child at risk of anaphylaxis commences CEC/school. In the parents/guardians section of the Allergy Aware website, you will find resources to help you safely manage your child's journey through CEC and school.
Insights from A&AA’s CEO
Life has many dangers. We are taught how to live safely and be responsible beings. People at risk of anaphylaxis have an added ‘danger’. As a parent of a child (now an adult) at risk of anaphylaxis, I know just how much I want my son to NEVER have another anaphylaxis. We speak of milk or nuts or sesame as being like rat poison. Our fear motivates us to do what we can to keep individuals with potentially life-threatening allergies safe. Our knowledge, which increases with time, experience, and research, motivates us to teach individuals how to manage all aspects of this condition in everyday life.
Let’s Eat, but what about those students with food allergies?
Food allergy continues to increase at alarming rates. 1 in 10 Australian infants* now have food allergy. The most common food allergies in childhood are cow’s milk, egg, peanut and tree nut. The foods that trigger 90% of food allergic reactions in Australians include cow’s milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, sesame, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. Peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish and sesame allergy are usually life-long.
Updated Be a MATE discussion guide* coming soon
Important update to the Understand Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis video above:
EpiPen® must be held in place for 3 seconds when it is used (this video shows it as 10 seconds – this is outdated information).
Important update to the Adrenaline (Epinephrine) Injector Use video above:
Both EpiPen® and Anapen® must be held in place for 3 seconds when they are used (this video shows both need to be held for 10 seconds before being removed – this is outdated information).
Content updated September 2022
ALLERGY & ANAPHYLAXIS AUSTRALIA acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work, live and play.