Date
12 October 2024
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Allergies and learning

Practical approaches to ensure the wellbeing of those at risk of anaphylaxis and allergies. 

Understanding allergies and anaphylaxis

A description of terms to support your understanding of allergies and anaphylaxis.

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An allergy occurs when a person's immune system reacts to substances in the environment. The substance could be something eaten, inhaled, touched, or injected into the body.

Summary of important concepts:

Strategies for action

Four key strategies to ensure the wellbeing of those with allergies and to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis.

Recognise and respond to allergic reactions

Get to know a child or young person’s medical history, avoid allergens, and be prepared for emergencies.

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Allergic reactions are very common. It's important to be able to recognise the symptoms of common allergies, which put learners at risk of anaphylaxis.

Four suggestions for implementing this strategy:

  1. Allergy action plans

    Includes:

    • Resources
  2. Mild to moderate allergic reactions

    Includes:

    • Video
    • Resources
  3. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis

    Includes:

    • Video
    • Resources
  4. Anaphylaxis response

    Includes:

    • Video
    • Resources

Develop and implement health and safety policies and procedures

All ECE services and schools must provide healthy and safe environments.

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“The Board’s/ECE’s policies, processes, and procedures assist everyone involved to make informed health and safety decisions that enhance and improve the school’s or ECE service’s health and safety performance.”

Five suggestions for implementing this strategy:

  1. Review your enrolment policies

    Includes:

    • Resources
  2. Review your incident register

    Includes:

    • Resources
  3. Review food safety policies

    Includes:

    • Resources
  4. Review medication policies

    Includes:

    • Resources
  5. Plan safe trips

    Includes:

    • Resources

Create inclusive systems

Create systems that support everyone to feel safe, confident, and included.

Three suggestions for implementing this strategy:

  1. Develop allergy-aware environments

    Includes:

    • Resources
  2. Provide professional learning

    Includes:

    • Video
    • Resources
  3. Communicate information

    Includes:

    • Resources

Create an inclusive learning environment

Design learning opportunities that minimise risk, reduce anxiety, and support young people to manage their own health and wellbeing.

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View your learning spaces through the eyes of a student with allergies. What supports can help to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction?

Six suggestions for implementing this strategy:

  1. Design for full participation

    Includes:

    • Resources
  2. Create safe eating environments

    Includes:

    • Resources
  3. Reduce airborne allergy triggers

    Includes:

    • Resources
  4. Use the classroom curriculum

    Includes:

    • Resources
  5. Use Te Whāriki

    Includes:

    • Video
    • Resources
  6. Plan safe trips and excursions

    Includes:

    • Resources

Key resources

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Guidelines thumbnail v2

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Guidelines for Schools and Kura

Read time: 37 min

Guidelines to support school leadership, management, and teachers throughout New Zealand to manage allergies and anaphylaxis.

Website

About allergy

Information about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of allergies.

Publisher: Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy

Website

Information for schools and early childhood education/care

ASCIA action plans, e-training courses, and anaphylaxis management guidelines used throughout Australasian schools and early childhood services can be downloaded. Slide sets for teaching primary and secondary students are available as PDF downloads.

Publisher: Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy

Website

Anaphylaxis resources

Downloadable posters, action plans, checklists, adrenaline autoinjector information, anaphylaxis guidelines, ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses, translations of anaphylaxis information, and general allergy information.

Publisher: Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy

File

ASCIA guidelines for prevention of anaphylaxis in schools, pre-schools and childcare: 2015 update

Read time: 21 min

These guidelines from ASCIA provide information about obtaining up-to-date medical information, developing a health-care plan, and reducing the risk of anaphylaxis as part of the enrolment process.

Publisher: Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy

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