Contra Costa Times: San Ramon mother lobbies to spread allergy knowledge

[url="http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/content_syndication/local_news/6825445.htm"]http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/content_syndication/local_news/6825445.htm[/url]

This is one of two follow-up stories in our paper today re:food allergies. This reporter really gets it. The other article isn't on-line at this time, but was titled "Once-rare Malady puzzles scientists", and is focused on educating people about the rise in food allergies! We've talked w/the parent profiled in the article, and look forward to joining forces w/her.

-----------------
Posted on Sun, Sep. 21, 2003

San Ramon mother lobbies to spread allergy knowledge

By Jackie Burrell
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

California's education system struggles with the growing food allergy crisis on a school-by-school basis, but in Massachusetts those discussions are over.

A year's collaboration between the state's education and public health departments, physicians, educators and parents has produced an 84-page guideline for schools dealing with allergic children.

"Managing Life-Threatening Food Allergies in Schools" offers suggestions for classrooms, cafeterias, school buses and every other aspect of school life.

Getting California to sign on has become Leslie Mague's mission.

The mother of a severely peanut-allergic kindergartner, Mague placed her son at St. Isidore's, a peanut-free parochial school in Danville. The mom-turned-advocate is working to educate the public on peanut-allergy issues, especially where they intersect school policy.

Until now, California schools have been dealing with severe food allergies as they arise. Every time a highly allergic child enrolls in a public school, campus administrators, teachers and parents must figure out a policy for that child in that classroom that particular year.

Mague thinks it's time to kick those decisions up a notch.

She met with Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, last year to share the Massachusetts policy and discuss ways to increase awareness of a 2001 California law that permits trained lay people to use Epipens, automatic epinephrine injectors, on campuses.

Schools "need to know what tools are out there," said Mague, a San Ramon resident. "I want to get that Massachusetts system passed in our school system."

The Massachusetts document followed increasing concerns over the prevalence of food allergies in the student population. But it was three heart-wrenching deaths that spurred a coalition of Massachusetts educators and public health specialists to form a food allergy task force for the state's schools, said Katie Millett, Massachusetts Department of Education administrator.

The deaths included a Massachusetts middle school student who had been working on a classroom project involving nuts; a Spokane, Wash., third-grader who ate half a peanut butter cookie on a school field trip; and a cheerleader who died from exercise-induced anaphylaxis after eating a snack food.

"The prevalence of food allergies in mainstream education had to be addressed," Millet said. "We needed to come up with something practical, not a requirement, but recommendations (that would) hopefully assist schools."

The guidelines have been in place since January in every Massachusetts school, spelling out the responsibilities of a student with life-threatening allergies and his parents, as well as school staff.

Using a team approach, the document reminds teachers, specialists and parent volunteers to double-check ingredients in art projects, science labs and other class projects to ensure the allergens are not present.

It suggests rules for dealing with forbidden foods and setting aside a peanut-free table in the cafeteria.

The food service section details potential cross-contamination problems, like using the same spatula to lift peanut butter and sugar cookies. It suggests training cafeteria monitors in assessing the situation surrounding the child, including food trading and bullying issues.

Mague has been unable so far to secure a meeting with California state superintendent Jack O'Connell about the Massachusetts guidelines, but Contra Costa County superintendent Joseph Ovick seemed intrigued. Mague said she plans to meet with him in the next several weeks.

ON THE WEB

A pdf version of Massachusetts' "Managing Life-Threatening Food Allergies in the Classroom" can be found at [url="http://www.healthinschools.org/2002/nov26_alert.asp."]www.healthinschools.org/2002/nov26_alert.asp.[/url]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------