Food Allergies in Schools and the Law

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Abstract Allergies have always been a safety concern for people. However, food allergies are a growing concern and safety issue that many school districts face. As a second grade teacher, I have not had to deal with any allergies to date within my own classroom. Although, I am aware of several students, in my current building, who have severe allergies and require special services and/or requests. I am uneducated on the legalities and specifics on food allergies within the schools and wanted to examine the topic further. This paper will discuss life-threatening food allergies, highlight special court cases, identify legal responsibilities and limitations, implications for the school and those affected, and offer recommendations for my current district and building. What Are Life Threatening Food Allergies? Many schools face a difficult challenge in the necessity to manage life threatening food allergies for the safety and health of students. A food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating, or coming into contact with, a certain food. Most common food allergies are peanuts, eggs, fish, tree nuts, milk, wheat, soy, and shellfish. Even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as: digestive problems, hives, swollen airways, shortness of breath, reduced blood pressure, coughing, vomiting, or diarrhea. In some people, a food allergy can cause severe symptoms, or even a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis. Emergency treatment is essential and cannot be ignored for anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis refers to a mixture of symptoms affecting multiple systems in the body. As little as a milligram of an offending food can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction. Court Cases Just recently, in 2009, there was a case in which parties were found negligent in the death a child due to a food allergy. In the

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