New allergy guidelines to help protect children at risk of anaphylaxis in schools and children’s education and care (CEC) services

The National Allergy Strategy (a partnership between the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy [ASCIA] and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia) has launched Best Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Anaphylaxis in Schools and Children’s Education and Care services (including out-of-school-hours care).

These national guidelines were developed in consultation with key stakeholder organisations, staff working in the sector and parents. The guidelines are an important resource in providing evidence-based information and support to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis, while also ensuring children who are at risk of anaphylaxis can participate in all activities.

There is currently no nationally mandated approach to training school staff in the prevention, recognition, and emergency treatment of anaphylaxis.

Significant variations exist in the approach between jurisdictions and government and non-government school sectors. These guidelines help to close that gap in care between states and territories, making prevention and management of anaphylaxis more consistent across Australia.

In CEC services, the minimum staff training requirements are less than what is required in schools and there is greater variation in the type and amount of training being undertaken.

To support the adoption of the guidelines, the National Allergy Strategy has developed an ‘Allergy Aware’ online hub for staff working in CEC and schools. The hub provides free, evidence-based resources, including an implementation guide, templates and sample documents, plus links to state and territory specific information. The Allergy Aware hub also includes sections for parents and older students.

Some parents and schools are concerned that the guidelines do not recommend food bans. Trying to completely ban food allergens in schools and CEC settings simply does not work and is near impossible to enforce. It is not safe or practical to rely on people to not bring food allergens, of which there are many, into a school or children’s education and care environment. A consistent allergy-aware approach with age-appropriate strategies is preferred. This includes ensuring staff are adequately trained, especially in the prompt recognition and treatment of an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis. In CEC and early school years it may still be reasonable, however, for class teachers to ask that messy foods, such as peanut butter, milk drinks or egg sandwiches, are not sent in for lunch because they can be spread around more easily.

It is essential to have a range of appropriate risk minimisation strategies in both schools and children’s education and care services alongside good supervision and open communication.

The new guidelines and supporting resources are freely accessible on the new Allergy Aware website.

In conjunction with the new guidelines and supporting resources, the A&AA Be-A-Mate national school curriculum resources have been updated to help schools educate students with age-appropriate content about food allergy, including anaphylaxis and how to look after their friends with allergies.