The homeroom teacher knows, but what happens when she's not in class? Weak points in treating an allergic child
Ahead of the school year, Dr. Yossi Shmiel, a pediatric specialist at Meuhedet, details the weak points in treating an allergic child: substitute teacher, unwrapped treats, trips, and after-school care. He emphasizes the importance of access to epinephrine injectors, recognizing anaphylaxis signs, and preparing the entire educational staff, not just the homeroom teacher, with a medical action plan. Includes a 60-second test to check school readiness.
Ahead of the school year, Dr. Yossi Shmiel, a pediatric specialist at Meuhedet, details the weak points in treating an allergic child. He notes that even with good preparation, exposure to an allergen can occur precisely when routine changes: a substitute teacher enters the classroom, a homemade cake arrives for a birthday, a transition to after-school care, or a bag with an EpiPen left on the bus during a trip. The article emphasizes that safety is created when every staff member knows which children are allergic, how to recognize a reaction, where the injectors are, and how to act without delay. Shmiel details the signs of a severe reaction: respiratory distress (stridor, wheezing, shortness of breath), skin (rash, swelling), digestive (abdominal pain, vomiting), as well as tongue tingling, confusion, or a drop in blood pressure. Anaphylaxis is defined as involvement of at least two systems, and the treatment is immediate adrenaline. He recommends injecting even in case of doubt, as side effects are not as dangerous as waiting. Recommendations include: two in-date epinephrine injectors in every location, accessible to staff and not in a locked cabinet; a meeting before the school year with the homeroom teacher, administration, and health coordinator; transferring the medical action plan to substitute teachers and instructors as well; reading the ingredient list each time anew; preventing cross-contact; and on trips, the injectors travel with the child. He offers a 60-second test: every staff member should know within a minute the allergens, symptoms, location of injectors, who knows how to use them, and who calls MDA. A short training of about 10 minutes can save lives.