I suppose this is directed more toward those who have had 504s &/or written PA safety policy in place for awhile, but anyone can answer:
What I'm wondering is do you experience a higher level of violations &/or forgetting of safety policy & procedure especially in January after the long holiday?
If so, do some of you work -- by yourself or have school do this -- to have "refreshers" or "reminders" of policy & procedures when you've returned from break??
Also, do you do periodic &/or scheduled "reminders" of some sort (or have procedures for such built into 504) so that in the middle of the year -- when "comfort" and/or complacency set in -- there is less of a chance of a "slip up" or for a potentially dangerous PA situation to arise?
My DH is a pilot. When they learn, for example, emergency procedures, they don't then move on & never revisit them -- they regularly rehearse & retrain. January is a time of cocentrated focus in this regard.
Any experiences & info related to this would be appreciated.
Thanks, as always,
Elizabeth
[This message has been edited by ajas_folks (edited February 01, 2007).]
[This message has been edited by ajas_folks (edited February 01, 2007).]
I think that it is a good idea for refreshers. So far the level of violations has been consistent for us, with the only place that we can see it going is down, though I probably shouldn't say that. I've probably just put into motion some sort of cosmic thing which will make me see that there are still other violations to be made which I have as yet to predict. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
I would say though, that if you are able to get a training refresher or reminders, things that would make you feel as though it would keep the staff on top of things and better able to insure the safety of your children, then absolutely put them in.
Wanted to add, forgive me if these built in refreshers are right there in black & white in the 504s already posted here. I've not gone back to re-read them (but will this weekend) and could not recall this type of provision being built in to any I had read so far.
~Eliz
Elizabeth,
In DS's Kindergarten 504 plan, we addressed that concern:
In the Section under Training and Education-->
..."iii. A reminder letter will be sent after winter break thanking all families for the success of the new food practices and encouraging continued support."
Wanted to re-raise this to see if I might get more input regarding original questions & maybe to put it slightly differently --
HOW do you deal with your (the parent's or PA adult's) *own* (possibly) false sense of security, especially if you manage to go a great while (months or years) without major reaction??
Thanks,
------------------
~Eli[b]Z[/b]abeth,
Mother to 2:
DD age 5, NKA, treated as though PA/TNA
DS age 8, PA, possible TNA
(PA diagnosed & ana reaction 1999)
Member here since 2000
I can tell you how I do this.
(But our situation may be different from most because [i]no matter how careful we are, we ALWAYS have minor reactions. Always.[/i] )
I view it (in my own mind) like living on a major faultline. After a while, you DO become somewhat complacent. It's just human nature. But the next "big one" is just around the corner and [i]will[/i] come without warning. Just like living in earthquake country, you remind yourself of the ways that you are prepared and mentally go through your emergency routine periodically.
We're actually rather fortunate.... like other West Coast residents, we get lots of "little reminders" of where we live. Just like the little bumps from the faults below us, those little aerosol and contact hives are a [i]WARNING[/i] of "where we live." People who are only ingestion sensitive and live for years without 'little ones' are like the midwesterners who live along the New Madrid fault. They have to work harder to maintain awareness because they don't get automatic non-catastrophic reminders.
We're beating the odds by not having had a major reaction in five years-- but that doesn't mean I ever go a day thinking it can't happen.
Do I need to dwell on it? Well, no-- and I don't. At least, no more than I consider the danger of living within a subduction zone that is [i]waaaaaaay[/i] overdue for a major rupture. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
Quote:Originally posted by ajas_folks:
[b]HOW do you deal with your (the parent's or PA adult's) *own* (possibly) false sense of security, especially if you manage to go a great while (months or years) without major reaction??[/b]
I guess we've just have gotten used to life with a peanut allergy. Our routine has been pretty much the same for 12 years now. It hasn't been hard to maintain our level of vigilance because that is really all that we know.
When she was much younger (4ish) she regularly had contact reactions. . . about every other week. Those often triggered her asthma, so it was difficult. I kept a log and remember that year year before Kindergarten she had 25 or so. Her 3 anaphylactic reactions were all before age 5. I felt much more general anxiety about living with pa than I do now. I remember having a conversation with a college friend who made the analogy that it was like having a stalker. . . I never knew where it would be.
She still has contact reactions, but they're fewer. . .about 6 at most each year. And she just recently had an ingestion reaction to Campbells soup just recently.
I have acepted our situation and what it requires. I don't feel that looming anxiety that I used to always feel, although it's still there. I don't feel a stalker any more. We just do what we need to do. It's our routine.
With regard to school, our 504 plan addresses those 'reminders'. For example, any time there is an event such as a field trip, new extracurricular activiy, or in-school event (e.g. festival or fair) the counselor and nurse write a separate plan. Last week, for example, there was a "Limelight Festival" that featured visiting performing artists throughout the day. The plan addressed everything from who would wash the cafeteria table (since lunch was at a different time), to asking Mariah if she wanted to volunteer with the jugglers because the equipment would need to be washed, what staff would have the epi-pens, etc. Our 504 plan requires that a plan be created for each event.
Our 504 also requires that any food used in the classroom must be pre-approved by 2 of 3 staff (nurse, counselor, and/or director of food service).
Because my dd is in Middle School, she has can have different teachers the second semester. The nurse, of course, trains the all new staff and last year asked that all staff attend as a refresher at to share their knowledge and experiences.
Does that address your question?