How safe are schools if you have peanut allergy.

Peanut Free Schools: 

The concept of peanut free schools didn't exist twenty years ago and so far it doesn't seem like the concept is the way to go. Everyday more and more children are suffering from multiple anaphylaxis allergies.  Teachers don't have the bandwith to watch what every child eats or doesn't eat. Is up to the parents to start teaching the allergic child what they can and cannot eat before the start attending school. 

If you are a parent trying to teach teachers about food allergens it continues to be quite a challenge to say the least, it is still an impossible task. No matter how many years go by, it seems that the only "proven" effective solution is to focus your efforts in teaching your child to live with food allergies instead of trying to change the world. 

Comments from  Moms of children that now are in teens share their story:

"At the age of two, I started taking my daughter to the supermarket almost daily to help her visually learn what she could and could not eat. By age four, she was reading labels and could tell if it was safe to eat the food. "Better safe than sorry" continues to be our mantra. Not eating and staying hungry until you get back home is better than eating something you aren't sure is one hundred percent safe. 

Give and Extra Set of Epipen to School and Caretakers:
Everyone feels that  forcing a child to carry Epipen is like making them carry  an illegal weapon , because most parents continue to focus on educating the schools instead of the child.   Today, thanks to the efforts of some amazing parents, all but five states in the US have passed the "self carry epinephrine legislation". Unfortunately, the majority of food allergic kids are still not carrying their Epipen's on them. 


What experienced moms say about peanut free schools
I am not a fan of peanut-free schools because it can paradoxically lead to a false sense of security, could affect how soon a kid learns how to manage their food allergies in the real world, and it will not help the millions of kids allergic to other foods. “If you walk into a school and start asking teachers if they know what an Epipen is and how to use it, most will answer yes. If you don't say a word and simply show them an Epipen the majority will ask; What is that?

How safe is the school you choose?
Unfortunately, most first aid training given to school personnel do not include when nor how to administer an epinephrine injection. More efforts are needed to teach kids and school personnel about managing food allergies like adequate monitoring of meals and snacks, reading labels, clean up after food is served, creating a not sharing food policy, hand washing, and ensuring children self carry their epipens and school personnel learns how and when they need to administer the injection. 

Do you know how to use an Epipen?  If you haven't practice with an expired auto injector how to use it, believe me, you really don't know how to use it.  
Practice by injecting an expired epi in an orange or an old piece of meat.  Also teach the allergic child, his/her siblings and friends. 

The person with the allergy needs to self carry a set of epineprhine injectors 24.7
Don't let your food allergic child or loved ones step outside your home unless they have the Epipen's; not with them, but ON them. Make it clear and remind everyone that carrying the epipen is a rule that can't be broken, just like going out of the house naked is unacceptable. To ensure 100% compliance get an epicarrier. It needs to be discreet, cool looking, and comfortable. 

For kids and teens, especially boys the most practical solution is an undergarment leg holster or waistband that can be discreetly concealed under their clothes. There are few options out there. I recommend the LegBuddy and WaistPal because I had to create them for my husband and son and they have been using them since 2006. This is not s sales pitch but as a closed friend always tells me, "You need to promote and keep blogging about the OmaxCare Epipen holders... by not doing so you could be denying others from finding a life saving solution". 

Where to find allergy alert clothing accesories that are also epipen carriers suitable for school students: www.allergyneeds.com  www.epicarriers.com   wwwomaxcare.com
Discreet undergarment waist sling to carry epipens that are most suitable for students.