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Step 1
Notify your child's teacher, principle, and school nurse that your child has allergies. Make sure they know what the symptoms are and how to treat an allergy attack if one occurs.
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Step 2
Ask the school if there are any special authorization forms you need to sign. Sometimes this is required if the child needs a shot of epinephrine. Signing the documents early will save precious time during an allergy attack.
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Step 3
Check your child's classroom for things that they are allergic to. For example check to see if the classroom has pets. If it does, see that your child is seated as far away from them as possible. Another source of allergens is the chalk board. The dust can cause even mild allergy sufferers to have trouble breathing.
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Step 4
Check the school lunch menu on a daily and weekly basis, especially if your child has food allergies. Make sure that you pack a lunch on days that your child is allergic to items on the school menu. Also talk with the lunch staff to get a list of ingredients for menu items, especially desserts. This will alert you to foods that are made with peanuts if for example your child has peanut allergies.
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Step 5
Begin teaching your child from an early age that they need to be constantly aware of allergens in their environment. With food allergies, teach them to ask about ingredients any time they eat food that is new to them.
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Step 6
Give the school an epi pen specifically for your child. Also notify them that your child will carry one at all times as well. Although the school nurse can administer this with no problem, instruct the child's teacher on how and when to administer an epi shot.
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Step 7
Depending on the severity of your child's allergy, consider having your child wear an emergency bracelet that informs emergency personnel of their allergies.
