Allergy ABC's - Teachers & Education

Teachers

Some resources for Teachers

Teachers, please feel free to use information on this site as an educational resource in your classroom. Our Asthma and Allergies sections have information that is kid friendly.

Online Coloring Book - sponsored by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Scholarship program for those with Asthma - sponsored by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Info for teachers: In School With Allergies and Asthma

In our schools this year, more than 5 million children suffer from asthma while an estimated six million children sniffle and sneeze with allergic rhinitis ("hay fever"). Together they account for more than 10 million missed school days each year, and millions of dollars in medical bills. Teachers have a great role in their students health and are a key to helping ensure a safe and healthy school season.

Your Role with Children
As a teacher you play an important role helping children and keeping them safe and healthy. After all, they are often around you more than their own parents!

There are many things you can do to help make your schools better places for children who suffer from allergies and asthma. Take a walk around your classroom, hallways and grounds of your school to identify potential asthma/allergy triggers. Some key things to look for are chalk dust, plants in your classroom and potential allergic foods in the cafeteria. You may have to be careful about opening up your classroom windows because pollen can flow. Even animal dander brought in on the clothing of pet-owning classmates or mold growth in the school building can cause problems in some children.

As a teacher, you need to understand when and where symptoms worsen and work with the school to implement control measures for sensitive children. If you notice a problem, you may need to seat some children away from an open window, or move a child's seat so they are not sitting next to a child who has a cat at home.

Often, children are not able to express that their allergies are acting up and that they are feeling bad. Be sure to monitor bouts of irritability, temper tantrums, or decreased ability to concentrate. These may be subtle indications that a child is suffering from allergies, or an infection of the nose, ear, sinus or lungs, caused by chronic allergies. If you notice a change in behavior, talk with the child's parents and/or school nurse. If you notice a child that is often absent with respiratory problems, ask the parents if the child has been tested for allergies. A large percentage of children that have regular sniffles and colds are really suffering from allergies, which can be easily treated by a doctor.

Food allergies are potentially the most severe, and all teachers should be aware if a child has food allergies. Teachers should work with the school to establish a no-food trading policy, and set up a "peanut -free" table in the cafeteria. Teachers should talk with all parents about any possible food allergies in their children, and make sure you know who in your school is trained to administer an epinephrine shot in the event of an emergency.

Some food allergy facts:

An estimated 5 percent of children have food allergies.
An allergic reaction may cause hives, asthma, vomiting,diarrhea, cramping, and a fall in blood pressure. They can occur in as little as 1 minute to as much as 1 hour after being exposed.
Eight foods cause 90% of all food allergic reactions. They are milk, egg, wheat, peanut, soy, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.
As little as 1/2 a peanut can cause a fatal reaction for severely allergic individuals and some severely milk-allergic children can have a reaction if milk is splashed on their skin.
There is no cure for food allergies. Strict avoidance (by reading ingredient listings all the time) is the only way to prevent a reaction.
Most children outgrow their allergy, although an allergy to peanuts and tree nuts is lifelong.

(source: Food Allergy Network)

Children with asthma
As a teacher, you should know if a child is allowed to keep inhaled medications in his or her possession. Most doctors advise that the child have their inhaler with them at all times. As a teacher, you need to monitor children with Asthma, to be sure the are using their medication properly and timely. If you notice a child have a severe asthmatic reaction, get help immediately.

If you have children in your classroom with exercise-induced asthma make sure that coaches and gym teachers are familiar with their condition and doctor's recommendations regarding pretreatment and emergency asthma treatment. Ask the child's parents for phone numbers to call with questions, or in case of an emergency.

Talk with your students about knowing his or her own limits. Children need to know that it is important to respond to their asthma symptoms immediately and not ignore an asthma attack.

This site is sponsored by Allergy Care Centers, a complete allergy care facility

This site was created by "Creative Alternatives, LLC", last updated 10/1/99
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