School districts have the challenge of being ready for students entering their doors with life-threatening allergies and for a reaction in those who have yet to be diagnosed.  The number of students in our schools with life-threatening allergies has risen substantially and since 2004, as reported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, approximately 23 percent of epinephrine administrations in schools were given to individuals who did not have a previously recognized or diagnosed allergy.  In an effort to keep all students safe at school from life-threatening allergic reactions and to allow all students full access to their education, it is important to standardize policies and procedures to protect them.

~Mitchell Chester, Ed.D.

  Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education

Parents are encouraged to provide information about their children's allergies with the school nurse before the start of school so a plan can be developed to ensure proper accommodations for preventing exposure to known allergens.  Please contact the Health Administrator 413-412-1071 or your child's school nurse.

Life threatening allergies are increasing and present challenges for schools.  

• Food allergies affect an estimated 4-8 percent of children in the United States.

• Food allergy prevalence among children increased 50 percent during 1997-2011.

• In 2006, about 88 percent of schools had a least one student with food allergies.

• Sixteen to 18 percent of students with food allergies have had a reaction at school

• Respiratory allergies (such as hay fever) are the most common type of allergy among children (estimated prevalence: 17 percent), followed by skin allergies (12.5 percent).

• Other than food allergies, allergies that are commonly associated with anaphylaxis are bee sting allergies (prevalence in Massachusetts Essential School Health Services-affiliated schools: 0.5 percent) and latex allergies (prevalence in Massachusetts Essential School Health Services-affiliated schools: 0.3 percent).

• Twenty-five percent of epinephrine administrations in schools are to students with no previous diagnosis of food allergy.

                                                                                                             ~Managing Life Threatening Allergies in Schools
http://johnstalkerinstitute.org/r/Mng-Allergies.pdf