Peanut Allergy?

My daughter Jordin is six, and she has an extremely severe peanut allergy. She goes into anaphylactic shock when peanut oil is inhaled, and at the school my children go to they're required to bring lunch every day. I told the school about Jordin's allergy, and they asked if I wanted them to alert the other parents about it to make sure their children don't bring peanuts to school. I definately want that, because it's what's best for Jordin, but I've noticed that a large number of the kids need to make their own lunches because their parents work and those children usually bring peanut butter every day because it's easy. I know telling the school to make a no peanut rule would be best for my daughter medically, but is it fair for me to do that to all the other families in our community?

She attends a private school, so there's no law saying they have to ban peanuts for Jordin. They asked me as a parents to make the call and I know it's the right thing medically, but I just need to know if it's fair. And I'm aware she could die from it, but there's 200 other kids that I need to think about as well.

hell no, why the hell should an entire school stop eating peanut butter for one child. that's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard. no strawberries either, or white bread for the kid allergic to flour. don't forget the dairy allergies. no more milk

Yes it is fair, because your daughter's life is more important than their lunch!

Just ask the school to keep it anonymous, and make sure that Jordin, her teachers, and the school nurse know about her Epi-pen and how to use it in case she goes into anaphylactic shock.

If you're worried about it, then you might want to bring it up at the next parent meeting (PTO, etc.). There are several different ways to handle this. My son's school sends letters (from the school nurse) asking parents not to send anything with peanuts/may contain peanuts. However, I know that parents send peanut butter.

You could ask that your child have a seperate area to eat (the classroom, a table in the library, the teacher's lounge, the office, the nurse's office). It might not be the most desirable solution, but at least you wouldn't have to worry about whether or not your child would be exposed to others' foods. Good luck.

Hi Anna-Marie. You are obviously a nice person or you would not have even considered the interests of the other children and parents.

Your child is probably not the only one with a peanut allergy at the school, so for the school to ban peanuts is in the best interests of all the children (and any allergic adults too). The school is keen to avoid a law suit.

what about the kid allergic to strawberries, pears, milk .maybe those kids could go home for lunch if parents arrange it at the school with the prinicpal or they could drop off & pick up at lunch time.

Ask if you could have your child sit in another area with a friend, so they don't get an allergic reaction.

firstly just a note to Joe's mum.... re peanuts and other allergies .. for some reason the allergic reactions to some other foods do not USUALLY seem to be as severe as the reactions of a peanut allergy ....

just minute traces of peanuts are enough to cause death..... and within a most terrifyingly QUICK time

one of my distant cousins died at the age of 15 due to a peanut allergy, several years. It received a fair amount of publicity as she was the daughter of a former AU cricketer.

Now back to the question ... there are many kindergartens and schools that do carry peanut bans .. and yes it might SEEM unfair of you to ask that a no peanut ban be put in place ... BUT what could be more unfair that losing your daughter to a reaction.......

AND also consider this .. I am sure that your child would not be the only child that will come to the school with a Peanut allergy.....

the ONLY other option would be to ask that ALL staff be trained in how to respond to a person suffering from a severe allergic reaction...including the correct method of administrating the required medication.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/st...
(an interesting and informative piece.. please take the time to read )


AND I just found this news story that shows just how risking ANY contact to peanuts can be ...
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/teen-wi...
:
Teen with peanut allergy dies after kiss
November 29, 2005 - 10:02AM

fifteen-year-old Canadian girl with a peanut allergy has died after being kissed by her boyfriend following his snack of peanut butter.

Christina Desforges died last week, a few days after receiving the kiss.

The teenager, who lived in Saguenay, about 250 kilometres north of Quebec City, received a shot of adrenalin immediately after being kissed but did not recover.

The official cause of death was not released.

Dr Nina Verreault, an allergist at the Chicoutimi Hospital in Saguenay, did not want to comment on the case but said peanut allergies were seldom fatal.

About 100 people in the United States die of food allergies every year, most from exposure to nuts. Canadian statistics are not available.

An autopsy is expected to reveal the exact cause of the teenager's death.

It is definitely fair. They are required to make accomodations, even if that means your daughter eats somewhere else. Each exposure makes her allergy worse potentially in the future so it's vital that she avoids being around peanuts. check out the sources below for some tips on talking to your school about peanut allergy. As a teacher with a peanut allergy, I know sort of what you are dealing with, but as an adult I am more able to be vocal and vigilant than a child, so make sure they know.