06 Nov 2016
It is important to know that allergies and the anaphylactic reactions that they can induce are present amongst the children at St Peters in 2016 and amongst new students that will be attending in 2017. These reactions can be induced by an allergy to a food group and is particularly common for nuts. The reactions can vary in seriousness and can vary from a slight skin reaction to extreme swelling, vomiting, low blood pressure, shortness of breath and if not recognised and treated, death can and has occurred. Not surprisingly, the Department of Education schools take this very seriously and all staff are trained in the recognition, treatment and ultimately the prevention of such reactions occurring. All students with allergic reactions, no matter how mild require an action plan. This plan must be prepared by a doctor and reviewed frequently. In some cases an EpiPen will be prescribed. This pen must be with the student at school and taken on all excursions. The school also has EpiPens that it can use. If your child has such reaction and the school has no plan, please bring one in.
As part of the process of preventing such reactions we request that you keep all nuts and nut containing products such as peanut butter at home. Please replace these food items with something else. The school cannot claim to be nut free and we do teach students hygiene and strategies to avoid food sharing but this does not preclude the issue of accidents happening. We would like to avoid this and thus request the nut containing food is not part of these meals. If you have previously sent these products into school with your children please stop doing this now. Thank you.