Experiences with food allergies in Fairfax elementary schools

[Anonymous]

My kids are 9 and 7 and in FFX public. Neither has nut allergies, but both have children in their classrooms with SEVERE peanut allergies (several students, in fact). The parents and teachers are well educated and the parents of these children have taken an active role in educating everyone as well (for instance, by speaking to all of the parents at their child's open house). Each year parents receive an informational letter about peanut allergies as a reminder. The cafeteria has a peanut-free table (funny aside -- my son has been known to sit there even though he is not allergic - simply because he HATES peanuts/peanut butter -- seriously, he gags at the smell! Plus he has friends at the table.) There is a no food sharing rule that is strictly enforced. Therefore all students can bring in peanuts in their own lunches and snacks. The parents of these particular students provide special hand wipes that are known to remove peanut oils and whenever the students come in in the morning or return from lunch, they wipe their hands with these before they even enter the classroom. The desks are wiped with these special wipes at the end of the day by the students as well. All in all, I belive we do the best we can do under the circumstances. I feel for these parents of children with severe allergies. The mom who spoke to us at the open house told us a story about how her daughter came close to dying because she went to get ice cream one time and the person who put sprinkles on her ice cream used the same spoon that had at some point previously been in or near a peanut product. It would be hard to send your child off to school with the knowledge that your child could hold hands with a child on the playground who had eaten a granola bar made in a factory that processed peanuts. I don't know how you prepare for every situation and I don't know how you ever feel at ease - even if your child is always with you. In any event, I personally feel that public schools can do just as good a job keeping your child safe as private. If I were the parent of that child, I would just be sure to take and active role in prevention and education.

[Anonymous]

PP stated most doctors believe if the allergic child can go into the grocery store, the child can go into the school and possibly even sit a a table with someone eating PB.

Let's not blow things completely out of proportion. You can not control the public school system. If it is indeed THAT much of a concern, then you must have the boy in the plastic bubble and you must be forced to home school. Which is exactly what you are going to be told.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP stated most doctors believe if the allergic child can go into the grocery store, the child can go into the school and possibly even sit a a table with someone eating PB.

Let's not blow things completely out of proportion. You can not control the public school system. If it is indeed THAT much of a concern, then you must have the boy in the plastic bubble and you must be forced to home school. Which is exactly what you are going to be told.

This is really insensitive! I know a few families with children who have nut allergies and they're really serious. One child had to be rushed to the hospital once because of accidental contact. Although our school system is not nut-free, we ask as a matter of courtesy and inclusion if there are kids with peanut/nut allergies in the class before bringing in b-day treats. I don't think kids should be banned from having PBJ for lunch because there may be kids with allergies but there is a lot that can be done short of that to make school a safe place.