8550.00 | Diet-Related Disability Accommodations Procedures

  1. Each school shall establish a method of identifying students with severe allergies and assuring that relevant information regarding these students is transmitted to all supervising persons. Student nutrition staff shall have a “Prescription for Meals At School” form completed by the parent/guardian and signed by the physician for each identified student. (See forms section.)
  2. A primary concern of the school should be the prevention and appropriate treatment of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
  3. Parents with an allergic child, in cooperation with school staff members, must provide the school with an emergency accommodation plan signed by the student's physician and school nurse.
  4. Students with severe allergies should have some means of identification, such as a medical alert bracelet, provided by the parent/guardian.
  5. Parents should be permitted to review/preview menus in order to select safe foods their child may eat.
  6. Schools should consider the following avoidance strategies due to the fact that risk can never by fully eliminated in the school environment:
    1. Parents should be encouraged to instruct their children in how to avoid contact with substances to which they are allergic.
    2. Students should be encouraged not to exchange foods or utensils with other students.
    3. Food preparation surfaces and equipment should be sanitized of allergy containing foods.
    4. Food personnel should be instructed about necessary measures required to prevent cross contamination during food handling, preparation, and serving of food.
    5. Hand soap ingredients should be checked to make sure they do not contain peanut oils.
    6. Schools should consider a peanut-free table in their cafeteria when they have students with peanut allergies enrolled.
    7. Staff members should be educated concerning food allergies and updated as additional information is available.
  7. In schools where a student with a life-threatening allergy is identified, training for staff in proper procedures for using of epinephrine auto injections and resuscitative techniques should be provided.
  8. Epinephrine should be kept in close proximity to students at risk of anaphylaxis and in all cases where it is administered, the student must be sent to a hospital immediately. (7-18-02)