Connecticut State Department of Education

Managing life-threatening food allergies in Connecticut schools


Introduction


The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) in collaboration with the State Department of Public Health (DPH) has developed Guidelines for Managing Life-Threatening Food Allergies in Connecticut Schools to assist Connecticut public school districts and nonpublic schools (that are served pursuant to Connecticut General Statute [CGS] 10-217a) in effectively managing the health and safety needs of children with life-threatening allergic conditions. Public Act No. 12-198 (HB 5348) An Act Concerning the Administration of Medicine to Students with Diabetes, the Duties of School Medical Advisors, the Availability of CPR and AED Training Materials for Boards of Education and Physical Exercise During the School Day, extends this required educational guideline to also address management of the health and safety needs of students with glycogen storage disease (GSD).  

Each local and regional board of education must therefore:

  • implement a plan based on these Guidelines for the management of students with life-threatening food allergies and GSD enrolled in the schools under its jurisdiction; 
  • make such plan available on such board's Web site or the Web site of each school under such board's jurisdiction, or if such Web sites do not exist, make such plan publicly available through other practicable means as determined by such board; and 
  • provide notice of such plan in conjunction with the annual written statement provided to parents and guardians as required by subsection (b) of section 10-231c of the C.G.S. 

Note:   Epinephrine auto-injector is used throughout this document when describing the administration of epinephrine. It is commonly known in schools as EpiPen.

 

This plan may be adopted into policy and procedures at the district level. Using the district-wide plan as a guide, each school must develop processes to identify all students with food allergies and GSD and develop and implement an IHCP and action plans for each student.

While this document focuses on life-threatening food allergies, treatment of serious allergic reactions and anaphylaxis is the same whether caused by food, insect sting, latex or is exercise induced.