Health and Wellbeing

Anaphylaxis Management in Schools

anaphylaxis guidelines cover

Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction when a person is exposed to an allergen. The most common allergens in school-aged children are eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (e.g. cashews), cow's milk, fish and shellfish, wheat, soy, certain insect stings and medications.

The key to prevention of anaphylaxis in schools is knowledge, awareness and planning.

The Children’s Services and Education Legislation Amendment (Anaphylaxis Management) Act 2008 received Royal Assent on 4 March 2008 and will come into effect 14 July 2008 (the beginning of Term 3, 2008).

Any school that has a student or students at risk of anaphylaxis must by law have the following in place by 14 July 2008:

  • An Anaphylaxis Management Plan for each student, developed in consultation with the student’s parents/carers and medical practitioner.
  • Prevention strategies for in-school and out-of-school settings.
  • A communication plan to raise staff, student and school community awareness about severe allergies and the school’s policies.
  • Regular training and updates for school staff in recognising and responding appropriately to an anaphylactic reaction, including competently administering an EpiPen®/Anapen®.

Ministerial Order 90 Anaphylaxis- Anaphylaxis Management in Schools clearly out the matters that schools need to ensure are included in their anaphylaxis management policies.

Schools are required to use Ministerial Order 90 Anaphylaxis- Anaphylaxis Management in Schools and the Anaphylaxis Guidelines for Victorian Government Schools to assess and review their current management policies and practices.  

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Ministerial Order 90 - Anaphylaxis Managment in Schools

For information regarding the legislative requirement of Ministerial Order 90, supporting information and resources, see:

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Victorian Guidelines for Managing Anaphylaxis in Government Schools

For information on Victorian Guidelines for managing anaphylaxis in government schools, see:

School received hard copies of the guidelines and additional resources, including posters, brochures and an EpiPen® trainer during term 1, 2007. Schools received an Anapen® trainer during term 1, 2011.

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Anaphylaxis Training Requirements for Government Schools

Ministerial Order 90 - Anaphylaxis Management in Schools requires schools to provide regular training and updates for school staff in recognising and responding appropriately to an anaphylactic reaction, including competently administering an EpiPen®/Anapen®.

St John Ambulance Victoria has been selected to assist the Department to provide anaphylaxis management training to eligible Victorian Government Schools.

St John Ambulance Victoria will provide a three hour training program accredited by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority for staff in schools that have a student enrolled who has been diagnosed as being at risk of an anaphylactic reaction. This course will be valid for three years provided that the school meets the requirements of section 8(d) of Ministerial Order 90 to provide a briefing on anaphylaxis management twice per year to all staff including those who have received training.

St John Ambulance Victoria will train up to 100 staff per session. This will require scheduling staff into sessions located within reasonable distance of a training location and may not be at the staff member’s school. Schools that have not received training in the past 12 months, who have significant numbers of new staff who have not been trained in anaphylaxis management, or students diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis will be given priority for training.

Schools must provide a doctor's certificate (from a GP or immunologist) stating that the student or students have been diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis.

Schools with a student diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis should contact St John Ambulance Victoria on 03 8588 8391 to organise training for staff in anaphylaxis management.

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Presentation for Twice Yearly Anaphylaxis Briefing

Under Ministerial Order 90, all schools with a child or young person at risk of an anaphylactic reaction are required to undertake twice yearly briefings on anaphylaxis management. To help schools ensure they are complying with the legislation a presentation has been developed.

The briefing presentation incorporates information on how to administer both an EpiPen and an Anapen and it is expected all staff will practice with the replica EpiPen and Anapenpreviously provided. As part of the briefing, schools are asked to remind staff of the children and young people in the school at risk of an anaphylactic reaction and their anaphylaxis management plans.

Schools should also watch the anaphylaxis DVD provided in the anaphylaxis management pack as part of the briefing presentation. The DVD has also been uploaded into FUSE.

Any person who has completed course 21659VIC in anaphylaxis management in the last three years (delivered by St John Ambulance Victoria since 2009) can lead the briefing. A facilitation guide and speaking notes have also been developed.

 

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Resources

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For more information about anaphylaxis:

If you require further information regarding the DEECD guidelines for Victorian Government Schools, please contact your Regional Office