Food+Allergy+Awareness

Anaphylaxis Australia is a great organisation supported by funding from the Australian Government which works towards developing nationwide food allergy and anaphylaxis awareness through education, research & support. Their newsletter and website (link below) provides information and resources for teachers to use in order to raise awareness and understanding of food allergies in the school environment and also manage those students who are directly affected by such allergies.

[|http://www.allergyfacts.org.au]

Not only have severe food allergies increased over recent years with at least 1 in every 100 children being allergic to peanuts, but numbers of children diagnosed with severe allergies in school and childcare have increased dramatically over the last 6 years (Said, 2005). With individuals aged 10-19 years at the highest risk of fatality from food anaphylaxis, it is essential that schools directly address this issue (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2001, as cited in [|http://www.allergyfacts.org.au] ). Anaphylaxis Australia encourages teachers to make their students feel comfortable about food allergies and help those with various allergies to fit in as much as possible. With a variety of activities and products available, the website has resources appropriate for students of all ages and abilities. Some ways in which I would suggest incorporating food allergy awareness into the classroom include:
 * Reading books about characters who are dealing with food allergy issues (picture books and novels available online, essays of real-life accounts are popular with teens)
 * Cooking classes which focus on nut/egg/dairy/gluten free recipes (available online with worksheets)
 * Incorporate songs into music classes which put a positive spin on food allergies (CD’s available online)
 * In health classes look at tips for understanding food labels, restaurant menus, etc (information and worksheets available online)
 * Craft activities involving the Anaphylaxis Australia kids characters (available online)
 * Viewing DVD’s to learn about common scenarios and their management (cartoons, animations, and real-life re-enactments available)
 * Using interactive CD ROM’s and computer programs to allow students to make informed decisions regarding food allergies and understand the consequences (available online)
 * Allow students to explore the ‘Kids Corner’ of the website, playing games, reading stories, watching animations, choosing colouring in stencils, all related to food allergy awareness
 * Getting students to create informative posters/brochures/stickers to give out and put up around the school and canteen

Anaphylaxis Australia acknowledges just how students with food allergies and anaphylaxis can be discriminated against in the school environment. Reports of situations where students are being excluded from activities, because teachers are failing to make minor and reasonable adjustments to the environment to allow for safe involvement, are far too common (Said, 2005). With Anaphylaxis Australia’s online resources containing school discussion guides for teachers with ideas, conversation starters, and lesson plans for all age groups, now even the laziest and time restricted teachers have no excuse.

Resources:

Anaphylaxis Australia. (Winter, 2011). News Facts, Quarterly Newsletter. Anaphylaxis Australia Inc.

Said, M. (2005). Media Release: Hamidur’s Tragic, Preventable Death. Anaphylaxis Australia Inc. Retrieved July 7, 2011, from []