nut free zone!

story by | otmom

As the school year kicks off, both parents and kids are diving head first into the school social scene: play dates are getting scheduled, after school activities are beginning, snack lists are distributed and birthday party invites are soon to arrive. Social calendars and to-do lists will soon be busting at the seams with merriment, laughs and treats. And along with all of this, many of us will receive notice that one of our child’s classmates, teammates or friends has a nut allergy. But rest assured, food allergies don’t mean less fun, not when there is proper communication and we all know the facts to do our part in reducing the risk of reactions.

According to a recent study supported by the Food Allergy Initiative, roughly two kids per classroom have a food allergy. Needing to appropriately manage food allergies in the school social scene requires some conscious consideration when filling up the lunch bags, planning the play-dates, and getting the parties started. Because in the end, we want all our kids safe, right?

Communication and understanding is key for everybody, because managing food allergies cannot be the sole responsibility of the child and his parents – some children are too young to communicate what they need, and parents are not physically at school, on the bus or at play dates all the time. Knowing how to help prevent allergic reactions, recognizing allergic reactions when they do occur, and knowing how to respond to an allergic reaction with the appropriate emergency medicine and procedures to protect that child is information we all need to possess.

We asked Dr. Lara Lunde, Family Practice Physician at Essential Health—Moorhead and Joy Jacobson, Fargo Cass Public Health nurse and liaison for Fargo Public Schools some questions to help us understand, prepare and know what to expect regarding peanut or tree nut allergies.

will peanut allergic children outgrow their allergy?

Recent studies have indicated that approximately 20% of children will outgrow their peanut allergy by age six. The majority will continue to be allergic throughout their lives. With young children, it is worth repeating the allergy test as they grow older to see if there is any change in the status of their peanut allergy. how can you tell if a child is having an allergic reaction? what should you do? can someone allergic to eating peanuts also have a reaction by touching or smelling peanuts?

A child having an allergic reaction can present a variety of symptoms—most commonly, skin hives, redness at area of contact and itching. There can also be swelling and airway affects—wheezing, difficulty swallowing. If a child is having an allergic reaction—first call 911. If you have an EpiPen—which you should be prescribed with a documented history of anaphylaxis—you need to use it right away. Benadryl could be used with milder reactions, but this should not replace a 911 phone call or with mild reactions, a phone call to your provider.

Yes, an individual with a peanut allergy could have a reaction to touch or even the smell of peanuts. This really depends on the level of the allergic response. Most aerosolized exposures result in minor skin reactions. Again, avoidance really is the best policy.

For a nut-free zone, be sure to read products labels and stay away from foods that include statements such as “may contain nuts” or “processed on shared equipment with nuts.” And remember these label reading tips:

• ingredients can and do change over time Don't assume that a food product's ingredients are going to always be the same just because the last time you purchased the product it was safe.

• manufacturing practices can vary from one locale to another Different plants across the country are run by the same manufacturer, but can and do use different ingredients even though the basic packaging looks the same. When searching for products, don't assume that the same product you are shopping for at home has the identical ingredients when you are grandma’s grocery store. It may not.

• different sizes of the same product may have different ingredients Manufacturers also may use different ingredients for different sizes of the same product or different sizes may be made on shared equipment when other size versions of the product are not.

For a list of peanut and tree nut free snacks, visit www.onthemindsofmoms.com/body+being are there ways to reduce the likelihood of allergens in my home or in the classroom? is a child with a peanut allergy safe playing in a friends’ home? what do parents need to do to keep that child safe? A child absolutely is safe to play in another child's home. Education and sharing of information are the best tools to ensuring a safe play environment. If a child has a known peanut allergy, it is best to have those items containing this allergen out of reach. An EpiPen should be with the child's guardian at all times to ensure safety as well. what do schools do to make peanut allergic students safe? sources: kidshealth.org | foodallergy.org | kidswithfoodallergies.org

Most household cleaners and wipes will clean the allergen from most tabletop surfaces. Also, hand soap—bar and liquid—are good at removing it from hands. The gel cleaners are not as good at removing peanut allergens from hands—interesting little tidbit. Also try to practice the avoidance of cross contamination by avoiding use of kitchen tools that may have come in contact with peanuts. If they are cleaned well—dishwasher—you should be fine.

When a parent notifies the school of their child’s allergy, the school nurses begins working closely with the school staff and family to provide education. The playground supervisors and cafeteria staff are also involved in the education process. There is a peanut free table in the lunchroom. It is a goal to make the school life as normal as possible for each student.

The Fargo Public Schools have all the forms related to allergies on their website [www.fargo.k12.nd.us]. An Emergency Care Plan is filled out by the parent and signed by the physician listing a plan of action for an allergic reaction. The school nurse than makes the school staff aware of each individualized plan—prevention and education are the main goals when dealing with peanut allergies in the schools.

Food allergies are manageable, but we all need to be educated and sensitive to the situation. So, let the fun being…whether there are nuts or not!