For kids with food allergies, school can be a dangerous place. Classroom parties filled with killer snacks, cafeterias where mystery lunches lurk, and hidden hazards in seemingly innocent beverages.

According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, more than 2 million children with food allergies will be returning to school this September. Keeping those kids safe requires a team effort – among parents, teachers, healthcare providers, school administrators and friends.

Food allergy causes and symptoms

Food allergies can cause everything from minor rashes and stomach upset to life-threatening anaphylaxis, which can be fatal within minutes. About 90 percent of food allergies are caused by eggs, peanuts, tree nuts such as walnuts and pecans, milk, shellfish, fish and soy.

What parents and teachers can do to protect children from food allergies

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network offer the following recommendations to keep your child safe from hidden dangers:

  -  Educate the educators. Every child’s food allergy situation is different, so schedule a parent-teacher-school nurse conference to discuss the matter.

  -  Ask your allergist to create a “Food Allergy Action Plan” for teachers, nurses, school administrators and athletic coaches that includes a detailed list of your child’s allergy triggers and how to treat an attack.

  -  Coordinate with the school nurse to be sure the Epi-Pen is readily available in the event of an emergency; request that students (if age-appropriate) be allowed to carry their own Epi-Pen. Designate places for Epi-Pen storage; make sure all personnel know where it is.

  -  Discuss with school personnel the signs and symptoms your child might exhibit if she is having an allergic reaction. Children do not always know how to describe symptoms in a standard way.

  -  If your child's allergies are life-threatening, be sure the school has multiple doses of medication (such as epinephrine) on hand and a policy in place for quick use in an emergency.

  -  Make arrangements to designate a responsible adult for field trips.

  -  Request that your child be seated at a lunch table that prohibits the offending food, such as a peanut-free or milk-free table.

What children can do to protect themselves from food allergies

Aside from school administrators, your child is also an important part of the Food Allergy Action Plan. Teach her how to:


  -  Recognize her own allergy symptoms and report them immediately to an adult in charge.

  -  Wash his hands frequently, particularly before and after eating. This can prevent transferring allergens from his hands to his eyes, face and mouth, which can cause an allergic reaction.

  -  Understand that sharing isn’t always good. She should never share other children’s food, cups or water bottles, as this could transfer allergenic food particles.

  -  Choose a clean lunch table with no sign of spills, crumbs or unidentifiable food on it; instruct her to never place food directly on the table, but to use a plate, napkin or paper towel.

  -  Refuse any foods that do not have labels listing ingredients; educate him as to what to look for on the label. Avoid classroom party foods; parents should always provide a safe food for snack time and classroom parties.

  -  Wear her medical alert bracelet or necklace.

  -  Never go anywhere alone to administer the Epi-Pen; make sure there are people around to help in the event of an emergency.

  -  Be an educator; let him inform his classmates about his allergy, as the more children understand, the more they can help.