Food Allergy and Schools
In British Columbia, there is no legislation such as Sabrina’s Law in Ontario, for anaphylactic children. Click here to read Sabrina’s Story.
Bill M2 Anaphylactic Student Protection Act, 2007, a private member’s bill, failed to pass as legislation. Instead, it was passed as a Ministerial Order. The Province of British Columbia, through the Ministry of Education, developed the British Columbia Anaphylactic and Child Safety Framework as a supporting document. For a complete list of documents pertaining to the Ministerial Order, please click on this link. Some useful documents include the Sample Anaphylaxis Responsibility Checklists, Sample Anaphylaxis Awareness/ Avoidance Strategies and Checklists, and Anaphylaxis Incident Review Form.
All school districts in British Columbia are required to develop anaphylactic child safety guidelines. Because each school district has the ability to create their own guidelines, variances occur across districts. In addition, each school within a specific school district has the means to interpret the guidelines created and, as such, variances amongst schools within the same district also occur. For example, you may find one school that has adopted a ‘peanut-free’ policy while another school in the same district has chosen to adopt a ‘allergy aware’ policy rather than attempting to make the entire school ‘peanut-free’.
In order to communicate effectively with the principal and teachers at your child’s school, it is strongly recommended that you first obtain a copy of the British Columbia Anaphylactic and Child Safety Framework as well as a copy of the School District Policy on Anaphylaxis. It is these two primary documents that are needed in order to start meaningful discussions with the school personnel when requesting certain actions to be taken to address the needs of your child. It is important to keep in mind that demanding a school be ‘peanut-free’ for example may not provide the results you desire given that the School District’s have NOT been legislated or even given a Ministerial Order to be ‘free’ of any specific allergen. They have been given a Ministerial Order to minimize the exposure to the allergen and develop appropriate emergency action plans to address anaphylaxis in a school setting.
Parents are strongly encouraged to understand the policies in place and the requirements that have been placed upon the School Districts in order to engage in meaningful discussions with school personnel.
To see a comprehensive list of Canadian National School Policies, click here
Other Helpful Links:
Food Allergy Canada (formerly Anaphylaxis Canada) has developed the following resources to help you and your family – as well as school staff - with back-to-school preparations:
Free Online Anaphylaxis Education: The new online course “Anaphylaxis in Schools: What Educators Need to Know” is now available! Developed by Food Allergy Canada (formerly Anaphylaxis Canada) in collaboration with Leap Learning Technologies Inc. and the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the new course focuses on the prevention, recognition, and management of anaphylaxis. The bilingual course is available now at www.allergyaware.ca and we encourage you to share this link with your school and others to help protect students with potentially life-threatening allergies.
• Updated Guidelines - Anaphylaxis in Schools & Other Settings
For more information regarding preparing your child for school, visit Food Allergy Canada's webpage or the Newly Diagnosed Support Centre.
• Online webinars: Visit Food Allergy Canada's You Tube Channel as well as the Newly Diagnosed Support Centre to watch webinars regarding preparing your child for school (and many other helpful topics).
• For teens and young adults- check out our teen site for safety and management tips-www.whyriskit.com
Canadian School Boards Association – Anaphylaxis: A Handbook for School Boards - A very detailed handbook for managing anaphylaxis in schools, but published in 2001 so some information may be dated.
Links to Anaphylaxis Policies and Regulations for Lower Mainland School Districts:
Please note that links are subject to change. Accurate as of January 23, 2014
Abbotsford – School District 34
www.sd34.bc.ca/district/administrative-procedures/AP300 Scroll down to AP 330 Allergic Shock and click on this link
Burnaby - School District 41
www.sd41.bc.ca/budgets_policies/pdf/policies/51300.pdf
Chilliwack – School District 33
www.sd33.bc.ca/sites/default/files/526%20Pol-Allergic%20Shock%20-%20Anaphylaxis_0.pdf
www.sd33.bc.ca/sites/default/files/526.1%20AR-Allergic%20Shock%20-%20Anaphylaxis%20Guidelines.pdf
Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody & Anmore - School District 43
www.sd43.bc.ca/Board/Policies/Administrative%20Procedures/Administrative%20Procedure%20315.pdf
Delta – School District 37
web.deltasd.bc.ca/files/1578__Procedure317.pdf
Fraser-Cascade – School District 78
Covers areas: Hope, Agassiz, Kent, Boston Bar, Harrison Hot Springs
www.sd78.bc.ca/policymanual/main.htm Scroll down to policy number 7340 and click on link
Howe Sound – School District 48
Covers areas: Sea to Sky (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton)
Policy: sd48seatosky.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/504-9_000.pdf
Regulation: sd48seatosky.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/r504-9_000.pdf
Anaphylaxis Plan: sd48seatosky.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/ap504_9.pdf
Langley – School District 35
School District 35 has anaphylaxis procedures not policy. The procedures are not available online at this time. Please contact the school district directly (604-534-7891) to inquire about these procedures.
Mission – School District 75
Policy: www.mpsd.ca/districtinformation/pdf/procs/AP101.pdf
Forms: www.mpsd.ca/districtinformation/pdf/procs/AP101-Info_Form.pdf
www.mpsd.ca/districtinformation/pdf/procs/AP101-Emergency_Plan.pdf
www.mpsd.ca/districtinformation/pdf/procs/AP101-Management_Plan.pdf
North Vancouver – School District 44
www.nvsd44.bc.ca/Board/PoliciesProcedures/Series300/Policy304/Pages/default.aspx
Pitt Meadows & Maple Ridge – School District 42
www1.sd42.ca/system/files/9610%20-%20Health%20Care%20Needs.pdf
This link takes you to a basic one page policy about health care needs of students. School district 42 is currently drafting policy regarding anaphylaxis management and this link will be posted once it is online.
Richmond – School District 38
www.sd38.bc.ca/board/Board_Policies
Click under section “500-students” and scroll down to 504.3.3 Anaphylaxis
Surrey – School District 36
These links do not work by clicking. Copy and paste links below into your web browser to view.
Policy:
www.surreyschools.ca/departments/SECT/PoliciesRegulations/section_9000/Documents/9601%20Policy.pdf
Regulation:
www.surreyschools.ca/departments/SECT/PoliciesRegulations/section_9000/Documents/9601.1%20Regulation.pdf
Care Plan:
www.surreyschools.ca/departments/SECT/PoliciesRegulations/section_9000/Documents/9610.1%20Appendix%20(Allergies).pdf
Vancouver – School District 39
Emergency plans:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-10-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Physician information form:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-1-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Parent/Guardian consent form:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-2-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Emergency alert form:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-3-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
School lunch ideas:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-4-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Sample letter to parents:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-5-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Links to resources:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-6-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Food avoidance strategies:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-7-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Management of anaphylaxis on field trips:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-8
Insect venom allergies and precautions:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccbe-9-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Regulations, raising awareness, minimizing risk and emergency response:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-r-strategies-prevention-management-anaphylaxis-regulation
Commitment to creating allergy awareness and minimizing risk:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-strategies-prevention-management-anaphylaxis
Responsibility of school personnel for administering medications and treatment:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhcd-administering-medicines-students
West Vancouver – School District 45
www.sd45.bc.ca/about/admin-procedures/documents/AP317-Anaphylaxis.pdf
www.sd45.bc.ca/about/admin-procedures/documents/AP317-Anaphylaxis.pdf
www.sd45.bc.ca/about/admin-procedures/documents/AP317-Anaphylaxis.pdf
In British Columbia, there is no legislation such as Sabrina’s Law in Ontario, for anaphylactic children. Click here to read Sabrina’s Story.
Bill M2 Anaphylactic Student Protection Act, 2007, a private member’s bill, failed to pass as legislation. Instead, it was passed as a Ministerial Order. The Province of British Columbia, through the Ministry of Education, developed the British Columbia Anaphylactic and Child Safety Framework as a supporting document. For a complete list of documents pertaining to the Ministerial Order, please click on this link. Some useful documents include the Sample Anaphylaxis Responsibility Checklists, Sample Anaphylaxis Awareness/ Avoidance Strategies and Checklists, and Anaphylaxis Incident Review Form.
All school districts in British Columbia are required to develop anaphylactic child safety guidelines. Because each school district has the ability to create their own guidelines, variances occur across districts. In addition, each school within a specific school district has the means to interpret the guidelines created and, as such, variances amongst schools within the same district also occur. For example, you may find one school that has adopted a ‘peanut-free’ policy while another school in the same district has chosen to adopt a ‘allergy aware’ policy rather than attempting to make the entire school ‘peanut-free’.
In order to communicate effectively with the principal and teachers at your child’s school, it is strongly recommended that you first obtain a copy of the British Columbia Anaphylactic and Child Safety Framework as well as a copy of the School District Policy on Anaphylaxis. It is these two primary documents that are needed in order to start meaningful discussions with the school personnel when requesting certain actions to be taken to address the needs of your child. It is important to keep in mind that demanding a school be ‘peanut-free’ for example may not provide the results you desire given that the School District’s have NOT been legislated or even given a Ministerial Order to be ‘free’ of any specific allergen. They have been given a Ministerial Order to minimize the exposure to the allergen and develop appropriate emergency action plans to address anaphylaxis in a school setting.
Parents are strongly encouraged to understand the policies in place and the requirements that have been placed upon the School Districts in order to engage in meaningful discussions with school personnel.
To see a comprehensive list of Canadian National School Policies, click here
Other Helpful Links:
Food Allergy Canada (formerly Anaphylaxis Canada) has developed the following resources to help you and your family – as well as school staff - with back-to-school preparations:
Free Online Anaphylaxis Education: The new online course “Anaphylaxis in Schools: What Educators Need to Know” is now available! Developed by Food Allergy Canada (formerly Anaphylaxis Canada) in collaboration with Leap Learning Technologies Inc. and the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the new course focuses on the prevention, recognition, and management of anaphylaxis. The bilingual course is available now at www.allergyaware.ca and we encourage you to share this link with your school and others to help protect students with potentially life-threatening allergies.
• Updated Guidelines - Anaphylaxis in Schools & Other Settings
For more information regarding preparing your child for school, visit Food Allergy Canada's webpage or the Newly Diagnosed Support Centre.
• Online webinars: Visit Food Allergy Canada's You Tube Channel as well as the Newly Diagnosed Support Centre to watch webinars regarding preparing your child for school (and many other helpful topics).
• For teens and young adults- check out our teen site for safety and management tips-www.whyriskit.com
Canadian School Boards Association – Anaphylaxis: A Handbook for School Boards - A very detailed handbook for managing anaphylaxis in schools, but published in 2001 so some information may be dated.
Links to Anaphylaxis Policies and Regulations for Lower Mainland School Districts:
Please note that links are subject to change. Accurate as of January 23, 2014
Abbotsford – School District 34
www.sd34.bc.ca/district/administrative-procedures/AP300 Scroll down to AP 330 Allergic Shock and click on this link
Burnaby - School District 41
www.sd41.bc.ca/budgets_policies/pdf/policies/51300.pdf
Chilliwack – School District 33
www.sd33.bc.ca/sites/default/files/526%20Pol-Allergic%20Shock%20-%20Anaphylaxis_0.pdf
www.sd33.bc.ca/sites/default/files/526.1%20AR-Allergic%20Shock%20-%20Anaphylaxis%20Guidelines.pdf
Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody & Anmore - School District 43
www.sd43.bc.ca/Board/Policies/Administrative%20Procedures/Administrative%20Procedure%20315.pdf
Delta – School District 37
web.deltasd.bc.ca/files/1578__Procedure317.pdf
Fraser-Cascade – School District 78
Covers areas: Hope, Agassiz, Kent, Boston Bar, Harrison Hot Springs
www.sd78.bc.ca/policymanual/main.htm Scroll down to policy number 7340 and click on link
Howe Sound – School District 48
Covers areas: Sea to Sky (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton)
Policy: sd48seatosky.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/504-9_000.pdf
Regulation: sd48seatosky.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/r504-9_000.pdf
Anaphylaxis Plan: sd48seatosky.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/ap504_9.pdf
Langley – School District 35
School District 35 has anaphylaxis procedures not policy. The procedures are not available online at this time. Please contact the school district directly (604-534-7891) to inquire about these procedures.
Mission – School District 75
Policy: www.mpsd.ca/districtinformation/pdf/procs/AP101.pdf
Forms: www.mpsd.ca/districtinformation/pdf/procs/AP101-Info_Form.pdf
www.mpsd.ca/districtinformation/pdf/procs/AP101-Emergency_Plan.pdf
www.mpsd.ca/districtinformation/pdf/procs/AP101-Management_Plan.pdf
North Vancouver – School District 44
www.nvsd44.bc.ca/Board/PoliciesProcedures/Series300/Policy304/Pages/default.aspx
Pitt Meadows & Maple Ridge – School District 42
www1.sd42.ca/system/files/9610%20-%20Health%20Care%20Needs.pdf
This link takes you to a basic one page policy about health care needs of students. School district 42 is currently drafting policy regarding anaphylaxis management and this link will be posted once it is online.
Richmond – School District 38
www.sd38.bc.ca/board/Board_Policies
Click under section “500-students” and scroll down to 504.3.3 Anaphylaxis
Surrey – School District 36
These links do not work by clicking. Copy and paste links below into your web browser to view.
Policy:
www.surreyschools.ca/departments/SECT/PoliciesRegulations/section_9000/Documents/9601%20Policy.pdf
Regulation:
www.surreyschools.ca/departments/SECT/PoliciesRegulations/section_9000/Documents/9601.1%20Regulation.pdf
Care Plan:
www.surreyschools.ca/departments/SECT/PoliciesRegulations/section_9000/Documents/9610.1%20Appendix%20(Allergies).pdf
Vancouver – School District 39
Emergency plans:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-10-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Physician information form:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-1-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Parent/Guardian consent form:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-2-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Emergency alert form:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-3-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
School lunch ideas:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-4-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Sample letter to parents:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-5-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Links to resources:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-6-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Food avoidance strategies:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-7-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Management of anaphylaxis on field trips:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-e-8
Insect venom allergies and precautions:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccbe-9-strategies-prevention-and-management-anaphylaxis-school-setting
Regulations, raising awareness, minimizing risk and emergency response:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-r-strategies-prevention-management-anaphylaxis-regulation
Commitment to creating allergy awareness and minimizing risk:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhccb-strategies-prevention-management-anaphylaxis
Responsibility of school personnel for administering medications and treatment:
www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/jhcd-administering-medicines-students
West Vancouver – School District 45
www.sd45.bc.ca/about/admin-procedures/documents/AP317-Anaphylaxis.pdf
www.sd45.bc.ca/about/admin-procedures/documents/AP317-Anaphylaxis.pdf
www.sd45.bc.ca/about/admin-procedures/documents/AP317-Anaphylaxis.pdf
