anaphylaxis training for schools and childcare centres

The Age, Christian Catalano, 30 October 2007; The Herald Sun, 30 October 2007

 

New laws will be passed in State Parliament this week to protect children and students who suffer from severe allergic reactions. Victorian Premier John Brumby has said that the new laws would require staff that work with children to be trained to deal with anaphylaxis.

All Victorian school and childcare centre staff members will be trained to protect and respond to incidents of
anaphylactic shock, a sudden and potentially fatal allergic reaction. The initiative will cost $1.3 million.

The Premier said that ‘Australia has one of the highest rates of children who suffer severe allergies and the affliction is becoming more prevalent. If you are a parent you can be confident that the very best plans are in place to maximise
the health and wellbeing of your child.’

The new laws, which are the first of their kind in Australia, will ensure that all schools and childcare centres keep and maintain adrenalin injections that can save children’s lives during anaphylactic shock. They will also be required to put management plans into place to help deal with anaphylactic incidents.

Schools and childcare centres will have until July 2008 to comply with the new laws or face fines of up to $30,000.
‘We’ve got something like 4000 students in our school system who have severe allergic reactions, who are
anaphylactic,’ Mr Brumby said. ‘That’s one in three schools, and the legislation will make it compulsory for training programmes to be put in place.’

The Premier said that Victoria will consider banning allergens such as peanuts and peanut products for schools and childcare centres in the coming years. ‘I think that is one of the things we will have to look at in the years ahead. I
don’t think it’s appropriate at this stage,’ he said.

 

 

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