Back-to-school time means more pressure for students with allergies and asthma.

School-aged and college students are all covered in this detailed to-do list.

Believe it or not, summer vacations from school are already almost two months through in Florida and it’s almost time to get our hands on school supplies, uniforms and doctor’s forms. More pressure is on when it comes to sending your children with food allergies and asthma to school.

This year we have decided to go a bit further than just school-aged students and we have gathered resources, tips, suggestions, forms also for college students, aiming to extend our reach of awareness.

FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

Managing Food Allergies

1. Speak, meet, educate the school‘s employees and caregivers your child will be in contact with. This may take time, pragmatism, patience, diplomacy: just use your best disposition and offer material, information, training when needed.
2. Be sure to have a Food Action Plan filled out by your allergist, as well as your 504 Plan or the health plan that most fits your child’s condition.
3. Your child must be confident that everybody around him knows what to do in case an emergency should arise.

Keeping Asthma (and Allergies) under control

1. Whether your child has been diagnosed with asthma or you doubt that he/she may have asthma symptoms, the first tool available to school nurses and caregivers is the ACT (Asthma Control Test)
2. Don’t let your child attend another year of school with un-diagnosed or misdiagnosed asthma: the number one cause of school absenteeism is asthma.
3. Know that children with allergies, especially food allergies, have a three-fold increased risk of incurring a severe reaction. Don’t underestimate immunotherapy and anything the allergist has prescribed to keep allergies under control.

→ Extra: For more tips on this please refer to THIS blog post.

FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Managing Food Allergies

1. During the selection process: the food services director and the dining room staff have to become your go-to people from the very beginning of your selection process; you need to inform yourself on the procedures of handling food in the kitchens; make sure that food is prepared without cross-contamination.
2. Before moving in: after you have selected the college, you have to extend your reach from the staff strictly pertaining to food handling, to the dorm staff, resident advisor and counselor who will all need a copy of your emergency treatment plan delivered or emailed.
3. After moving in: A) Consider requesting a meeting with chefs, wait staff, food services director to explain the severity of your food allergies and go over the emergency treatment plan. B) Do the same with your roommate(s) to ensure a smooth time while sharing spaces. Educate them on the importance of avoiding the allergen and how to recognize the approaching of an anaphylactic attack. C) Explore the neighborhood to determine where you can purchase your alternative produce. Small grocery stores may be more approachable and willing to special order food than big chains. D) Make sure to visit the health clinic and have a conversation about their protocols on allergy reactions. E) Carry at all times your emergency medical identification (jewelry or tags), insurance card, emergency treatment plan and medication.

→ Extra: you may want to read some successful stories.

Keeping Asthma (and Allergies) under control

• Now that you are free from your parent’s supervision, it may come easy to slip into the habit of not following restrictions and best practices regarding your allergies and asthma. How ‘embarrassing’ was to have your mother handing you the inhaler just before going out with your friends and how natural will come to ‘forget’ it when going out in college?
• First of all you should keep up with the schedule on how your medications have been prescribed. It is known that asthma medications are effective only if taken consistently, not when needed.
• Second, it is important to keep allergies under control. A new environment may put you at higher risk of exposure to dust, mold, smoke, pollen, pet dander which may exacerbate irritation and flare-up  asthma episodes.

We learn with you every day and strive for the highest level of care for patients. By means of our blog posts we aim to provide support and awareness to friends and families affected by the diseases we treat.

One more time, the most compelling tool in preventing emergencies or anaphylactic attacks is knowledge and the strength that comes with it.

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→ Share with us your stories in the comments section.

Resources

1. http://www.webmd.com/asthma/features/coping-with-asthma-at-college
2. http://www.foodallergy.org/managing-food-allergies/at-college
3. http://florida-allergy.com/2013/08/05/back-to-school-allergy-asthma-tips-asthma-control-test/
4. http://sunbutter.com/blog/10-tips-talk-to-your-school-food-allergies/