(Adapted from ASCIA Patient Information Bulletin)
Parents & family members
" Be alert
" Be careful at home
" Read all labels and learn about food
" Be assertive, educate others
" Plan trips and outings and take a supply of safe food
" Ensure that others can easily recognize your child as being at risk
" Teach your child how to recognize the food allergen and how to identify hidden ingredients
" Never coerce the child with food allergy to eat food he or she rejects
" Learn how to use emergency adrenaline, have a crisis plan.
School teachers and carers
" Acknowledge your duty of care
" Know which children are at risk, and which foods are involved
" Display a photo of the child at risk in a prominent location
" Take note of specialist medical advice in developing avoidance policies
" Listen carefully to parents concern they are the ones who know most about the childs problem
" Never offer the child with food allergy any food not approved by the parents
" Ask the parents to provide safe snacks and treats to enable the child to participate in birthday parties and other special occasions
" Avoid stigmatising the child
" Be vigilant but discreet with supervision
" Learn how and when to administer adrenaline.
Make sure you get a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace for the child to wear. This will provide vital information about the nature of the problem in an emergency.
In the home
" Failure to read food labels carefully
" Continuing to use the allergenic food in the family home accidental exposure can occur from food-scraps, spills, or contamination of kitchen benches, utensils and food containers. In extreme cases cooking fumes may carry sufficient allergens to set off a reaction
Eating away from home
" Careless behaviour by friends and relatives
" Unlabelled / hidden ingredients at fast food outlets and food courts
" Ignorant or dismissive behaviour by shop and restaurant staff
" Contaminated utensils, workbench and spreads in takeaway food outlets
At school or child-care
" Ignorant or dismissive behaviour by staff and voluntary helpers
" Cross-contamination of food during preparation
" Cross-contamination when foods are mixed on plates
" Contaminated surfaces, books and toys by grubby fingers
" Inadvertent use of artwork materials such as milk cartons, egg crates, nutshells and eggshells
" Cooking activities using allergenic food
" Bullying or coercive behaviour by other children using the allergenic food
OTHER TOPICS
