Every child has the right to a safe place to learn, without fear of allergic reactions and with safe management of asthma. We work to provide education, training, tools and awareness raising to schools, parents and children to give them safe access to education.
Children spend at least 20% of their waking hours in school. Data show that 18% of food allergy reactions and 25% of first-time anaphylactic reactions occur at school. Anaphylaxis due to food allergy occurs in schools more than in any other setting
Why this matters?
8% of school children suffer from at least one serious allergy, and 20% of serious allergic reactions to food happen while a child is at school.
Every school class is likely to have between one and two pupils who has allergies. Extremely serious allergic reactions like anaphylaxis can happen in minutes and can be fatal, with several recorded fatalities in recent years. Even if it isn’t fatal though, the fear of being in a place that doesn’t manage allergies well or where children experience multiple allergic reactions can be distressing for the child and their families, with each exposure potentially making the allergy worse. Not all staff are trained to identify and respond to allergic reactions, with many first aid courses having allergies as a paid extra that schools choose not to purchase.
Allergy experts call for a ‘Whole School Approach’ to tackling allergies, with Tracey Dunn, Headteacher and Allergy Ambassador saying ‘A whole-school approach to allergy management equips all staff with the skills they need to not only be able to manage an emergency situation but also to ensure that they have the knowledge and understanding to create a safe and inclusive learning environment for all children’.
Children should not be in a situation where they feel unsafe, or where the people who take care of them do not have the confidence, knowledge or skills to prevent allergic reactions or be able to manage an allergic reaction swiftly and effectively.
