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| Kathleen Shanovich |
Just in time for the start of the school year, eSchoolCare content expert Kathleen
Shanovich, NP will be giving pointers and taking questions from school nurses
on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at
10:30am (Central Time).
A Preview of the Webinar is Below
Do children have more
allergies today or is it just my imagination?
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma &
Immunology (AAAAI)
·
The prevalence of food allergy among
children under the age of 18 increased 18% percent from 1997 to 2007.
·
Kids with a food allergy are two to
four times more likely to have conditions such as asthma and other allergies.
·
Allergic rhinitis affects as many as
40% of children.
·
Atopic dermatitis affects between 10%
and 20% of children.
Kathleen Shanovich, a clinician with the University of Wisconsin
Hospitals and Clinics will discuss the impact of this rise in allergic
conditions on school nursing and what researchers are finding out about reasons
behind this surge.
What are the best
practices in caring for children who have allergic reactions?
School staff members often underestimate how quickly an
allergic reaction can escalate into anaphylaxis. For example, an allergic food reaction:
·
Occurs quickly (seconds/minutes to 1-2 hrs.)
following food ingestion
·
Can be life-threatening
·
Occurs reproducibly (each time food
protein ingested)
·
Can occur with tiny amounts of food
protein exposure (250 mcg)
That means school staff need to be trained to be alert for
the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and well prepared to administer
epinephrine onsite without delay. The eSchoolCare resource, particularly its
video showing a child going into anaphylaxis, supports school nurses in their
efforts to build their own and their staff’s confidence. Techniques are demonstrated for administering
epinephrine with an EpiPen® and the new Auvi-QTM auto-injectors. As one school nurse said, “Being able to make
a quick assessment and provide treatment may have saved a student’s life.”
How can I keep kids
with allergies in my school safe?
While we cannot make our environments totally free from
allergens, school nurses can implement policies and practices that make
classrooms as allergy-safe as possible.
For example, simple steps to reduce food allergic reactions are:
·
Students should not share food.
·
Students and staff should wash their hands with
soap and water after eating.
·
If soap and water are not available, hand wipes
can be used. Note: Hand sanitizers and gels do not remove food proteins and are not an effective way to removed
allergens from the hands.
eSchoolCare provides model policies and
guidelines for school nurses on the front lines of leadership in getting
allergies under control so kids can just be kids.
