Tag Archives: elementary school

School & Food Allergies

Managing Food Allergies During Elementary School Field Trips

Our son, Morgan, was 10 years old when he originally wrote the answers to these questions in April of 2006. This article appeared in a newsletter that we published, long before there were blogs

He was anaphylactic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame and shellfish, and severely allergic to dogs, cats and other furry animals. He got eczema from food dyes, had mild asthma and was allergic to grasses, weeds and trees. At 22 years old now, he still has all of these allergies, plus he added fish to his anaphylactic food allergies.

Now that you’re getting older, do you ever go on school field trips without a parent joining in?
Only once so far. It was to a mining museum. I brought along my Epi Pens and Benadryl just in case if something happens. I have chosen on my next field trip, to Bent’s Old Fort in Eastern Colorado, to go with neither of my parents joining.

What do you have to bring in order to be safe? 

I have to bring safe snacks, my own lunch, and of course my Epi Pen. I also bring Benadryl just if I get itchy eyes or something that is mild. I also make sure to have a friend nearby so that he knows what is happening and can tell my teacher to give me my Epi Pen if that would ever be necessary.

What did you experience on a recent field trip that could have been unsafe?

At the mining museum, we panned for gold. I did not participate because from an experience at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. They had a little exploration box where you could dig for dinosaur bones. I could have done it, but on the sign, it said: Sand is made from Walnut Dust. I never did go do that again! At the Mining Museum, there was dirt and things at the bottom, along with gold flakes. I did not want to take risks just in case if the water was some type of oil, or whatever.

Did you feel left out not being able to participate in that?

Actually not. I have to be able to cooperate with my allergies and my life.

What do you plan on doing on your next field trip that goes all day and is 2 ½ hours away by bus to Bent’s Old Fort?

I plan to bring the same things as the Mining Museum trip – snacks, lunch, and my Epi kit which includes all my medicine. I also planned with my teacher that everyone will bring a safe snack and lunch, plus safe things to do, like not trade food things.

Are there any field trips that you wouldn’t want to participate in?

Yes, quite a few. The petting zoo, the cookie factory (if we ever went there), and a lot of other things that wouldn’t be safe for me if they were one of my allergens.

School & Food Allergies

Managing Exposures to Your Allergens at School

Our son, Morgan, was 10 years old when he originally wrote the answers to these questions in March of 2006. This article appeared in a newsletter that we published, long before there were blogs

He was anaphylactic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame and shellfish, and severely allergic to dogs, cats and other furry animals. He got eczema from food dyes, had mild asthma and was allergic to grasses, weeds and trees. At 22 years old now, he still has all of these allergies, plus he added fish to his anaphylactic food allergies.

What would you do if someone brought peanuts or nuts into your nut-free classroom at school?
I would just say, ‘I’m severely allergic to nuts. You can’t bring these into the classroom. Maybe could you bring in something else that is safe?’

Has this ever happened?
Once. One of my friends brought in cooked nuts with sesame seed on top for Chinese New Year. He said all right, but I don’t think necessarily he understood. He was from China.

What precautions are required for you to go on a field trip? Who carries your medications?
You need to make sure that you are going somewhere that is safe for you. K-3 should have a parent/guardian that understands your food allergies and that can administer your Epi-Pen or other medications that are necessary. 4th and 5th graders should be responsible by now to carry their own medication and travel by their selves unless your parents do not feel comfortable with it.

Do you have a full time nurse at your school?
No, I don’t. She usually at most comes in once a week because she works at 4 different schools. She helps write up my Health Care Plan.

Do you participate in meetings to plan your 504 Plan and your Health Care Plan? Why do you think it’s important for you to be there?
Yes, I do. Why? Well, so that I know my future teacher knows what I’m allergic to, and can also handle it. I think it’s important for me to be there because so that they get to know me, and actually understand what can happen if I go into anaphylactic shock. Also, I think I should be there so that I get know them and how it will work out with the classroom rules.

Food Allergies & Asthma, School & Food Allergies

Food Allergies, Trusting and Training Others

Morgan was 10 years old the end of January 2006 when this article was written originally for our February newsletter. He was then anaphylactic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame and shellfish. He is severely allergic to dogs, cats and other furry animals. He gets eczema from food dyes, has mild asthma and is allergic to grasses, weeds and trees.

Where are your EpiPens® kept at school?

Just in case if I have an allergic reaction at school, I can use them. They are not by my side in the school. Two are in the office – one to stay there and one to go out to the playground with the monitor. I don’t think that is the greatest place to put them though because they are locked away. I also have one in each of my classrooms. (Mom’s note: in 2006, it was not legal for Morgan to self-carry his EpiPens, therefore other arrangements had to be made. It wasn’t until 2007 that he began to self-carry).

Do you trust that your teacher would know what to do if you were to have an allergic reaction?
Yes I do.

Do you trust the office staff to know what to do?
Not really. We had a boy a little older than me that had an allergic reaction and they did not use his epinephrine. They thought he had the flu. He did not die thankfully.

When you get older, do you plan on teaching your friends how to administer an EpiPen®?
YES I do! So they know what is happening when I’m in shock and what to do. Usually one of my friends is close by at all times.

What did you teach your Cub Scout Den about emergencies and food allergies?
I taught them how to use the EpiPen® and when to use it. I taught them the process which is put the EpiPen® in my thigh, call 911.

With the recent death of a girl dying after kissing a boy who had eaten peanut butter, what different behavior will you practice when you get older?
I’m never going to date a girl who eats peanut butter all the time. It is just too dangerous.

Will it be difficult to tell a girl what she can eat?
No. Not necessarily. It won’t be that hard just because it is a situation between life and death. I don’t want to risk my life.