Ecole Intermédiaire Macdonald Drive Junior High School	Anaphylaxis Awareness          Handbook
Introduction

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening form of an allergic reaction, which affects approximately 1% of the Canadian population. Allergies occur when the body's immune system becomes misguided and unusually sensitive to substances that are considered harmless for most people (e.g., foods, latex, animal dander). The substances that cause allergic reactions are called allergens. Allergies should be diagnosed by a physician. Diagnosis is based upon a history of previous allergic reactions and the results of skin and blood tests.

Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of an allergic reaction that can result in death. An anaphylactic reaction can occur within seconds of exposure to an allergen (e.g., peanut butter, fish, bee sting, latex, medications) or it may occur as a delayed reaction several hours after the initial exposure. The common symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction are listed in the Appendices. Any person experiencing an anaphylactic reaction MUST receive an immediate injection of epinephrine (adrenaline), usually via an auto-injector (Epipen). Even after the administration of epinephrine, some individuals have died (perhaps due to a delay in administration). If a person with known anaphylactic allergies says they are having an allergic reaction, BELIEVE THEM - they may be experiencing internal symptoms which are not readily seen by an observer. After receiving epinephrine (i.e., Epipen), the individual will require further medical assistance.

There are an increasing number of students in school settings who have been diagnosed with life-threatening allergies. One way to ensure the safety of these students while attending school is to become allergen aware and to develop an environment that will minimize the risk of exposure to allergens. This does not mean that the school has the responsibility to reduce the risk of exposure to zero. In fact, schools that claim to guarantee an allergen-free environment may be setting up a false sense of security for parents and students, since this is very difficult to guarantee. Instead, the school should choose to work cooperatively with teachers, allergic and non-allergic students, and their parents, to produce an environment that balances the rights of all participants.

Even though schools should make efforts to prevent the exposure of anaphylactic students to their allergens, accidental exposure may occur. Therefore, the school should have an emergency response procedure in place to save the life of the student experiencing anaphylaxis, and to avoid a potentially tragic event in the school.

The Allergy/Asthma Information Association recommends three steps to successfully manage anaphylactic allergies in schools: Information and Awareness, Avoidance, and Action. This handbook addresses each of these recommended areas. It has been designed to provide a list of responsibilities for all members of the school community. When each partner in the process is aware of his / her responsibilities, and agrees to work co-operatively, everyone benefits.