Nut Aware and Anaphylaxis

With many new enrolments it is a timely reminder to consider the health and safety of all of our students.  Many thanks to those parents/carers who have returned updated medical action plans for the 2023 school year. 

Swansea Primary School is concerned about the safety and well-being of all our students. Many of you will know someone who is affected by anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Our school does its best to be an allergy aware school. Staff have had training in severe allergy management, and we have implemented lots of strategies to help keep students at risk of anaphylaxis as safe as we can. With increased awareness and understanding of anaphylaxis, we are able to help protect those around us.

A food allergy is an immune system response to a normally harmless food protein that the body believes is harmful. When the individual digests food containing the harmful protein, their immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, triggering symptoms that can affect a person's breathing, gastrointestinal tract, skin and/or heart.  Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction and can be life threatening.  It must be treated as a medical emergency, requiring immediate medical attention.   

It is estimated that up to 400,000 (2%) of Australians including 1 in 20 children suffer from food allergies and some of them will experience a life threatening (anaphylactic) reaction.  

Severe allergic reaction - ANAPHYLAXIS

• Difficult and/or noisy breathing
• Swelling of the tongue
• Swelling or tightness in the throat
• Difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
• Wheeze or persistent cough
• Persistent dizziness or collapse in its place
• Pale and floppy (in young children)

Swansea Primary School is a Nut Aware school. Please consider the children with a food allergy when you are packing lunches and please do not send food to school that contains nuts. Children with a food allergy are learning to care for themselves but we need to assist to minimize the risk.  Foods with the labelling statement “may contain traces” can be eaten at school but cannot be shared.  Thank you for assisting us to care for our students at risk of anaphylaxis.