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ASTHMA &
ALLERGIES
This year, eleven percent
(11%) of our student population reportedly suffers
from asthma, and two percent (2%) are likely to go into anaphylactic
shock
if they're either stung by a bee or come in contact with a particular
food
product (e.g. peanuts, legumes, etc.). These are startling
statistics!
What's even more startling, however, is that I currently only have a
handful
of Epi-pens and inhalers that I've been cleared to administer in case
of an
emergency. If your child has a severe allergy or may need an
inhaler, it is
important that you provide the school with an Epi-pen or inhaler WITH
a
current doctor's order. Unless your doctor writes on the order
"Student may
carry own medication," these remain locked up and are accessible
to staff
members who have been trained on their administration. We must
have a
doctor's order for the medication in order to administer it.
We think we know our children and how they're going to react to
environmental or food exposures, however--particularly at this age, as
they
start to go through puberty--their reactions to allergens can surprise
us.
Error on the conservative side... cover your child with an Epi-pen or
inhaler BEFORE the emergency. The form that your doctor needs to
fill out
is available in the front office. If you have access to a fax,
you can fax
the form to your doctor and I have provided our fax number on the top
of the
form for your doctor to fax it back to us. Just by taking these
simple
steps, you and your child can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that their
health
needs are covered in the event of a medical emergency. |
