Anaphylaxis Management in Children’s Services
Information about anaphylaxis management in children’s services is provided under the following headings:
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Up to two per cent of the general population and up to five per cent of children are at risk. The most common causes in young children are eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, cow milk, bee or other insect stings, and some medications.
News
On 14 October 2008 the Children’s Services Further Amendment Regulations 2008 were made by the Governor in Council amending the Children’s Services Regulations 1998 (Regulations) related to anaphylaxis management and the Criminal History Checks. These Regulations and the amendments to the Children’s Services Act 1996 are the culmination of a great deal of work by many key stakeholders and peak bodies, families and the sector in seeking to ensure that all children are safe and can fully participate in children’s services.
The Regulations now prescribe the matters to be included in anaphylaxis management policies in all licensed children’s services, practices and procedures to protect children diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis attending children’s services, and staff training requirements.
Licensed children’s services will have received the Children’s Services Regulation Update - October 2008 (PDF - 136Kb) outlining the regulatory changes and providing links to updated resources.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) - Anaphylaxis Management (PDF - 37Kb) are now available.
For information about the criminal history check amendments, see Criminal History Checks.
Legislation
The current Children’s Services Act 1996 (incorporating all recent Act amendments) and the Children’s Services Regulations 1998 (incorporating the anaphylaxis management and Criminal History Checks amendments) can be accessed from: Children’s Services Legislation.
Resources about anaphylaxis
The following brochures, practice notes, sample policies and checklists provide information about anaphylaxis.
- Practice Note: Anaphylaxis Management (PDF - 48Kb) – This updated practice note describes the responsibility of the proprietor and each staff member of a children’s service under Section 26A of the Children’s Services Act 1996 and the Children’s Services Regulations 1998 to require that all licensed children’s services have an anaphylaxis management policy in place containing prescribed matters.
- Anaphylaxis – A Life Threatening Reaction (PDF - 312Kb) - A brochure from the Royal Children’s Hospital about the management of anaphylaxis in children's services.
- Enrolment Checklist for Children at Risk of Anaphylaxis (Word - 31Kb) - A simple checklist of key items for a children's service to use on the enrolment of a child diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis.
- Sample Risk Minimisation Plan for Anaphylaxis (Word - 83Kb) - Provides suggestions for children's services proprietors to consider when a child diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis is enrolled at the service and a risk minimisation plan is developed in consultation with the child’s parent/guardian or needs to be reviewed.
- Frequently Asked Questions: Anaphylaxis Management (PDF - 37Kb) – Frequently asked questions about anaphylaxis management requirements.
- Anaphylaxis model policy (Word - 7.4Mb) – This updated model policy (September 2009) may be used by a children's service to develop their own service policy that aims to protect children diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis who are enrolled and attending a children’s service.
- Anaphylaxis model policy (PDF - 826Kb)
Training in anaphylaxis management
Administration of the Adrenaline Auto-injection Device
All staff members in a licensed children’s service are required to undertake training in the administration of the adrenaline auto-injection device (EpiPen®) at least every 12 months.
Staff can use the anaphylaxis resource kit (bright orange folder) that was distributed to all licensed children’s services for this purpose. The kit contains an EpiPen® trainer, and a self paced CD on the administration of an EpiPen® produced by CSL Biotherapies that can be used to understand how to use an EpiPen® and to refresh their skills. The EpiPen® Instruction guide CD can also be obtained from EpiClub (http://www.epiclub.com.au).
Anaphylaxis Management
If a child who is diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis is enrolled at a children’s service it is the responsibility of the proprietor to ensure that all staff members on duty when that child is being cared for or educated in the children’s service have completed accredited anaphylaxis management training. There are two accredited anaphylaxis management courses that are recognised by the Secretary and meet this requirement. These are:
- Course in Anaphylaxis Awareness (21827VIC)
- First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis (21659VIC)
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development currently funds The Asthma Foundation of Victoria to provide the Course in Anaphylaxis Awareness (21827VIC) training free of charge to eligible children’s services. Eligible services are those services that currently have a child diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis enrolled at the service. Children’s services may also access ‘fee for service’ training through a Registered Training Organisation offering accredited anaphylaxis management training requirements.
For any queries about the training provided by The Asthma Foundation of Victoria contact: Paula Murray at The Asthma Foundation of Victoria on 9326 7088
- Frequently Asked Questions: Training (PDF - 87Kb) - Frequently asked questions about anaphylaxis training requirements are provided.
Gowrie Victoria has also been funded to provide training sessions for cooks in long day care services where a child diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis is enrolled and attending. Sessions for 2008 are fully booked. Further information related to sessions in 2009 will be provided in early 2009.
More Information
Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS)
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development released a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) examining the costs, benefits and options related to the proposed regulatory amendments, and their impact on children’s services, including children, parents, licensees and staff.
- VCEC assessment of regulatory impact statement (PDF - 305Kb)
- Regulatory Impact Statement: Proposed Amendments to the Children Services Regulations 1998 (Anaphylaxis and Criminal History Check) - July 2008 (PDF - 881Kb)
- Children’s Services (Further Amendments) Regulations 2008 (Exposure draft) (PDF - 548Kb) - This document accompanied the RIS as part of the public consultations.
Media Releases
Children’s Services Regulation Updates
- Children’s Services Regulation Update - June 2008 (PDF - 501Kb) - Anaphylaxis Management
- Children’s Services Regulation Update - March 2008 (PDF - 97Kb) - Anaphylaxis Management
External organisations
- Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) (http://www.allergy.org.au) provide information on allergies. Their sample Anaphylaxis Action Plan can be downloaded from this site.
- Anaphylaxis Australia Inc (http://www.allergyfacts.org.au) is a non-profit support organisation for families with food anaphylactic children. Items such as storybooks e.g. Jeremy’s Cake, tapes, EpiPen® trainers and so on are available for sale from the Product Catalogue on this site.
- Royal Children’s Hospital, Department of Allergy (http://www.rch.org.au) provides information about allergies and the services provided by the hospital.