Monday, October 22, 2012

Food Allergies: What School Employees Need to Know | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

Food Allergies: What School Employees Need to Know | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights:


Food Allergies: What School Employees Need to Know

By Nora L. Howley, Manager of Programs, NEA Health Information Network 
The fourth-grade class at Shadyside Elementary is having a birthday party. Selena just ate a cookie brought into the class by parent of one of her classmates.  All of a sudden she notices a rash and gives on her arms. She begins to feel short of breath, so she lets Pam the Paraeducator know that something is wrong 
Next week is Halloween. For many classrooms, it is the first celebration of the year.  But for approximately six million children in the United States who have one or more food allergies, this party could be a life-threatening experience. Is your school ready?
Food allergies are abnormal immune responses.  In a person with a food allergy, the immune system mistakenly responds to a food as if it were harmful. Sometimes these reactions are life-threatening.