Policy Glen Ridge Board of Education

5331 ANAPHYLAXIS TO FOOD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES

The Board of Education disclaims any and all responsibility for the diagnosis and treatment of any illness, including any allergies, of any pupil. At the same time, the Board recognizes a pupil's health and safety may be contingent upon timely administration of medication duly prescribed by a physician. Any administration of medications to pupils in school will be in accordance with Policy No. 5330 and applicable State laws.

The Board recognizes pupils may have anaphylaxis to certain foods and other substances. Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction that can involve various areas of the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system). Symptoms can occur within minutes to hours after contact with the allergy-causing substance and these reactions can be mild to life-threatening. Therefore, it is very important the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of pupils with anaphylaxis to food and other substances inform the Building Principal and the school nurse in the event the pupil may have an anaphylactic reaction while in school. The Building Principal and the school nurse will notify school staff that interact with the pupil.

The Board will permit the self-administration of medication for a pupil with anaphylaxis to food and other substances pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.3 through N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.6 and Policy No. 5330. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of a pupil with anaphylaxis to food and other substances must provide the Superintendent written authorization for the emergency administration of epinephrine via a pre-filled single dose auto-injector mechanism for the pupil in accordance with Policy No. 5330.

The Building Principal and the school nurse will take precautions to ensure the safety of pupils with anaphylaxis to food and other substances.

Based on the school cafeteria's use of government commodity foods and beverages and donations of food and beverages by parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and organizations, the district may not know the exact ingredients used in the preparation of all

food and beverage items served within the school lunch program, by parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and/or by school organizations. Therefore, the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and/or the pupil with anaphylaxis to food should be responsible for the pupil's purchase and consumption of any food products sold or provided by the school and/or by any school related organizations that may not cause an anaphylactic reaction. Upon the request of a parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of a pupil with anaphylaxis to food, the Building Principal, working with the school nurse and school cafeteria personnel, will accommodate a pupil with anaphylaxis to food by offering limited food substitutions that are free of the pupil's food allergy.

There will be occasions where food and/or beverages will be served as part of a classroom experience, field trip and/or classroom celebration. Because the ingredients of these food products may be unknown to the food preparation person and/or server, a pupil with anaphylaxis to food should not consume any food products that he/she is unsure of the ingredients. The teacher will provide the pupil with advance notice of the classroom experience, field trip and/or classroom celebration in order for the pupil to bring a food or beverage from their home so they may participate in the activity.

When a parent/legal guardian informs the Building Principal and the school nurse the pupil may have an anaphylactic reaction to substances other than food while in school, the Building Principal will work with school staff to determine if these substances are on school grounds. The Building Principal will inform and work with the parent/legal guardian and the pupil to avoid the pupil's exposure to these substances if present on school grounds.

The school nurse will provide training to school staff in order for school staff to understand food allergies, recognize symptoms, know what to do in an emergency situation, and will work with other school staff to eliminate or substitute the use of food allergens in the allergic pupil's meals, educational/ instructional tools and materials, arts and crafts projects, or incentives.

N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.3 through 18A:40-12.6

Adopted: 28 June 2004

Revised: 20 June 2005