First Day of Camp
Today was my daughter’s first day of camp. I am not sure whose jitters were worse — hers or mine.
Okay. Mine were worse. Far worse. I did not feel completely comfortable that they understood the variety of reactions that could occur and how to handle them. But then we showed up. The teacher and camp director reassured me they took food allergies seriously, showed me the letter they were sending home to ask parents not to send peanuts to school, and promised to wash kids hands after snack. And I felt better. At least for a few hours.
Then, I got a call from the county public health nurse who supervises my daughter’s camp and school. She told me that my daughter’s forms were filled out all wrong. They also rejected my FAAN food allergy action plan because it’s based on symptoms (if you see X reaction, administer medication Y) rather than hard and fast rules. But that’s exactly the problem with food allergies. Some things are cut and dry, but there’s a whole lot of murky in between. Especially with her milder allergies, some of which she can even ingest in small quantities and not get sick. When you are managing multiple allergies with a wide variety of potential reactions, it is hard to have one iron-clad rule of what to do in the case of an allergic reaction.
If you are too cautious in your plan, your child will get epipens unnecessarily. If you are not cautious enough, the school will not administer an epipen even in the throws of anaphylaxis.
What’s a parent to do?
July 8th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I’m not too surprised that they weren’t pleased with your plan just because it makes them have to decide how to treat your child versus them just giving a medication,etc! For them it’s a liability, I’m sure!!!
For now I’ve decided just to keep mine close…my oldest is just 4-yrs old and probably wouldn’t eat anything that was new to her, and she’s gotten pretty good about asking as well about allergen ingredients. But I still am too cautious to even consider leaving them somewhere yet…… maybe if they really wanted to go somewhere I could volunteer int he kitchen or have another staff position, or read by the lake during the day (ha hahaa that is a dream).
We’re currently dealing with this..sort of…. our kids are a part of a VBS and everyday we’re having to check and double check what the snacks are and what our kids can have and not have. Thank goodness we’re there with them serving in other roles… and our snack ladies are soo flexible and willing to work with us;)
July 10th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
You did all the right things. If they reject the FAAN action plan, then they are rejecting the medical standard of care! Hang in there, if enough moms educate them, it will eventually sink in.