Ontario schools will shield children at risk of potentially deadly reaction

TORONTO �?Back-to-school can be stressful enough for parents, children and educators alike, what with new classrooms, new friends, new challenges.

This year in Ontario, you can add to that a controversial new law intended to safeguard children with severe, potentially life-threatening food allergies.

The precedent-setting guidelines must go into effect at all publicly funded Ontario schools on Jan. 1, 2006.

The law �?also known as Sabrina’s Law after Sabrina Shannon who died from food allergies �?will affect the entire school community, from administrators, principals and teachers, to parents and children.

Everyone, whether they want to or not, will share the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the significant minority for whom certain foods can be deadly.

It might mean no peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, or a segregated ‘peanut�?table in the cafeteria. And that will bother, even infuriate, some parents.

The law also might mean a steep learning curve for staff and a change in the entire educational culture. It mandates learning to be more compassionate and caring of others.

For Laurie Harada, whose son, Julian, 11, has a lengthy list of potentially life-threatening food allergies, it will mean less stress while her son is at school.

“When Julian was younger, the first days of school made me very nervous. My heart was always skipping a beat,�?says Harada, executive director of Anaphylaxis Canada.

If Julian ingests even a trace of peanut, tree nuts, chickpeas, split peas, shrimp or soy, he might have a significant allergic reaction �?called anaphylaxis (pronounced ANA-fill-AX-iss).

Symptoms may include tingling in his mouth, swelling of his tongue and throat, itchy skin, hives, abdominal cramps, breathing difficulty, wheezing, vomiting, faintness because of a sudden drop in blood pressure, and �?in a severe anaphylactic reaction �?loss of consciousness and risk of death.

When Kelly Tackaberry first gave her youngest son, Daniel, now 9, a tiny corner of toast with peanut butter at age 1, within minutes his body stiffened, his face flushed beet red, welts sprung up around his eyes, and he started screaming hysterically and jumping wildly in his exerciser. She rushed him to her family doctor close by, who in turn drove them to the Credit Valley Hospital ER.

Middle school principal George Rowell says “anaphylaxis is a tricky (problem) unless you have the co-operation of the school community.�?

Rowell added most children self-monitor themselves well.

Children at risk for anaphylaxis have their photos and details of their food allergies posted in the school office and staff room, so they can be easily identified, Rowell says.

Teachers make note of such students in their daybooks and are trained in first aid and in administering an EpiPen.

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BIGGEST CULPRITS

Ninety percent of serious allergic reactions are caused by the following foods:

�?Peanuts: In chocolate bars, ice cream, cookies, chili, gravy, egg rolls and peanut oils.

�?Tree nuts: Including almonds, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, pinenuts, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, walnuts, filberts and pistachios.

�?Shellfish: Including shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels and scallops.

�?Milk: Including cheese, chocolate and ice cream.

�?Fish: May be anchovies in Worcestershire sauce and in pizza toppings.

�?Soy: In bread, crumbs, canned tuna in broth, and meat-based pizza toppings.

�?Eggs: May be hidden in glazes on baked goods.

�?Wheat: In breads, cereals, falafel, icing sugar, baking powder, paprika and seasonings.

�?Sesame seeds or oils: Bread sticks, bagels, buns, chocolate, crackers, ice cream, lipstick and soap.

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PREDICTING SEVERE DIET IRRITATIONS

There is no proven way at this time to prevent children from developing food allergies, allergist Adelle Atkinson says.

Children are born with a genetic predisposition to developing allergies. If one parent has allergies, there is a 40% to 60% chance each child will develop allergies.

Two allergic parents increase the risk to 80%.

“We believe there may be environmental causes, but no studies as yet have proven conclusive, including restricting a mom’s diet during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.�?

Here are some recommendations:

�?Breastfeed exclusively, preferably for six months, but at least four months.

�?Avoid solid foods until six months of age.

�?If a high-risk baby needs to be supplemented with formula, he or she may be given a hydrolyzed formula (hypo-allergenic).

�?Sun Media

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