Camp allergy management checklist

On this page

Checklist for parents

Checklist for school and camp staff

Training for camp staff

At camp

Insect allergy

Students

Reporting an allergic reaction

eBook: Preparing for camp with food allergies

This checklist helps both camp staff and groups attending camps (usually schools) prepare for a safer camp for people at risk of anaphylaxis. The list is meant as a guide and does not include all safety plans a camp might have in place.

Checklist for parents

Speak with school staff about 2-4 weeks before camp to discuss:

Which school staff will be attending camp and speak directly with them.
If the student is primary school age and has multiple food allergies or difficult to manage food allergy (such as milk (dairy) or wheat allergy) or other special needs the parent may ask to attend the camp.
Get the contact details for the camp so you can contact the camp directly.
Find out if students will take a packed lunch or will be expected to buy lunch on the way to camp. Plan so that your child has food to eat (free of their food allergens) on the way to camp and way home from camp.
Confirm that the school will be taking a first aid kit that includes a general use adrenaline injector to camp.
Tell the school you will provide TWO adrenaline injectors (either 2 EpiPen® injectors or 2 Anapen® injectors) clearly labelled with your child’s name to take on camp.
Find out which staff member will be in charge of the adrenaline injectors and where they will be kept. Make sure your child knows which teacher is in charge of their adrenaline injectors.

Speak with camp staff about 1-2 weeks before camp to discuss:

Speak with the camp cook or food supervisor to make a plan to manage your child’s food allergy at camp. Management will depend on the age and maturity of the student, what food/s they are allergic to and what the menu plan is for when the student is on camp. Communicate by phone and email to confirm.
Options for managing food at camp include:
- The parent/student with food allergy could supply their own food in containers. These must be clearly labelled with the student’s first and last name and their allergy/s. This may be the safest option for students with multiple food allergies. If this option is chosen, there must be steps in place for safe storage, preparation and serving of their clearly labelled food.
- The camp provides all the meals and snacks for the student. If this option is chosen, the parent should discuss the proposed meal and snack plan with the camp cook to ensure the food will be suitable for their child.
- The camp and parent can each provide some meals and snacks. If this option is chosen there must be clear written information on who is providing what food.
Tell the school about the communication between parent and the camp staff and the plan for managing the student’s food allergy while on camp.

Checklist for school and camp staff

Before camp

School staff must know which students are at risk of anaphylaxis and which allergies need to be managed and communicate this with camp staff.
This includes students with an:
- ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (red) who are prescribed an adrenaline injector
- ASCIA Action Plan for Allergic Reactions (green) who do not have an adrenaline injector prescribed but still have a small chance of having anaphylaxis
Schools should ask for parental consent to give the camp a copy of the student’s ASCIA Action Plan as per the school policy for sharing of medical information.
The school should send the camp copies of ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (red) and ASCIA Action Plan for Allergic Reactions (green) so camp staff know which students have immediate type food allergies and can plan how to manage them.
School staff must work with parents to ensure that the correct information about their child’s food allergies is given to the camp food service provider. Ensure the information about allergies that the parents have completed on the camp enrolment form matches the information on the student’s ASCIA Action Plan for Allergic Reactions or Anaphylaxis.
Check that all food allergies can be catered for and if they cannot, work with parents on a plan to have appropriate food at the camp for the student.
Note that students with or without allergies may have other dietary requirements which should also be documented and catered for.
The school staff member organising the camp and the camp coordinator must discuss the management of any students who are at risk of anaphylaxis several weeks before the camp. They must discuss roles, responsibilities, and the allergy policy.
Consider these options: Can food allergens be removed or reduced? This may include removing peanuts, tree nuts or not serving eggs as a breakfast option. Remember: If a food is removed from the menu, this is not a food ban. Food bans do not work and are not to be trusted. Are students allowed to bring snacks and treats from home? How will this be managed to reduce the risk to students with food allergy? Note that if schools allow students to bring their own snacks/foods, it is the responsibility of the school (not the camp) to make sure there are safety processes in place to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.
- If the student is primary school age and has multiple food allergies or difficult to manage food allergy or other special needs, the school can consider asking the student’s parent to attend.
Complete a specific anaphylaxis risk management plan prior to camp.
School and camp must make sure there is a camp “Emergency Response Plan.” This is different to the ASCIA Action Plan. A camp emergency response plan should include information on mobile phone reception and emergency access to the people on the camp (for example, whether there is space for a rescue helicopter to land if needed).

Training for camp and school staff

There are two types of training available.

1. Training to prevent, recognise and treat anaphylaxis.

This should be done by ALL camp and school staff as they all need to do what they can to prevent anaphylaxis and know how to recognise and treat allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. This is free and available online ASCIA Anaphylaxis e-training. This should be done at least every 2 years.

A 15-minute free online refresher course is also available and should be done at least every 6 months and preferably just before camp ASCIA Anaphylaxis refresher e-training .

Both above courses should include hands-on practise with adrenaline injector trainer devices. These can be purchased here.

2. Training to safely prepare and serve meals for people with food allergy.

This should be done by any camp or school staff who prepare, serve and supervise meals.

This training is free and available online All About Allergens for Camps This should be done at least every 2 years.

At camp

Camp coordinator to be introduced to student/s with food allergy and the school’s camp coordinator at the beginning of camp. This way the catering team can cross-check all information and ask any questions directly to the individual student regarding their allergies. This is also a great way to meet and greet, put faces to names, and explain to the student/s how they will collect their meals each service.
All school and camp staff should know which students are at risk of anaphylaxis to food, insect, latex, or other causes.
Games, rewards, and activities should not involve any foods students are allergic to.
Always have students’ adrenaline injectors and ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis close by (either in unlocked central location or with the student/their group supervisor).
Each student with an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis should bring their TWO prescribed adrenaline injectors to camp which should be clearly labelled with the student’s name.
The ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis and the adrenaline injector/s must always be kept together.
The school should also bring a general use adrenaline injector to camp if available. This should be kept with an ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) encourages camps to have at least one adrenaline injector for general use stored in their first aid kit with an ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis.
On arrival at camp, school and camp staff and students (when age appropriate) must discuss where each student’s adrenaline injector/s are kept and who will be responsible for carrying the adrenaline injector/s on activities.
If there are non-teaching staff attending the camp (such as parent volunteers) they should not be responsible for students at risk of anaphylaxis unless it is their child.

Mealtimes

Be aware of cross contamination of foods during storage, preparation, cooking and serving.
Always keep food packaging labels so food content can be checked. If food, such as bread from a bakery, arrives without a label, call the manufacturer, and ask for a printed ingredient list.
Foods with Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) statements (such as “may contain traces of”) should not be given to students allergic to that food. These food products may be served to other students at the camp.
Camp coordinator or nominated camp staff as well as school staff must be available at mealtimes to help read labels, check food and supervise delivery of meals that are free of food allergens to the correct students with food allergy.
If food has been provided from home, make sure:
- it is clearly labelled.
- it can’t be contaminated with other foods during storage. For example, keep it in a sealed container or on the top shelf of the fridge.
- there is one staff member in charge of preparing and serving this food, and the student knows who this staff member is.
- to use clean utensils when reheating and serving food for students with food allergies.
Ensure students wash their hands before and after eating.
Ensure dining tables and chairs are clean.
Ensure teachers/camp staff supervise mealtimes and students understand they need to tell teachers/camp staff if they are feeling sick.
When students are helping at mealtimes, give the student with food allergy “safer” jobs to do such as setting the table rather than clearing or washing dirty dishes.

Checks specific to insect allergy

Mow grass areas before arrival of students if possible.
Get professional pest control staff to remove insect nests when no students are present.
Have insect repellent available (containing DEET).
Have a ‘MUST wear shoes when outside’ policy except when swimming.
Stay away from bees/wasp nests/ant mounds if possible.
Always cover drinks when outside and check cups and drink bottles for bees/wasps before drinking.
Avoid areas with lots of ticks if possible. If the camp site is in an area known to have ticks, use prevention measures and include tick freeze spray in the first aid kit. Check students for ticks after outdoor activities. A short video on how to safely remove ticks is available here. For more tick-specific information visit tiara.org.au

What we say to students with food allergy

Wash hands before and after eating.
Don’t take food from your friends unless a trusted adult says it is OK.
Always check that your food does not contain your food allergen– tell people offering food you have a food allergy and ask to read food labels (or get a trusted adult to read labels for you).
If you are not sure about what is in a food, do not eat it.
Ask for help from staff straight away if you feel sick or have any signs of an allergic reaction. Ask friends to get help if no staff are close by.
Lie flat or sit on the ground with legs out in front of you (not in a chair with legs hanging down) if you think you are having anaphylaxis.
Older students:
- Make sure your adrenaline injector/s close by (ask staff where it is if you are not carrying it).
- Follow instructions on the ASCIA Action Plan.

What we say to friends of students with food allergy

Know what your friend is allergic to.
Don’t share food with your friends with food allergy.
Wash hands after eating.
Don’t tease, trick, or make fun of your friend with severe allergy. Be respectful of your friend’s food allergy.
If your friend looks sick, get an adult straight away even if your friend does not want you to.
Take allergy seriously.