Beaver Dam Unified School District Student Health Services
Kristin Chitko RN, BSN, MSN
Health Services Supervisor
Health Bulletin
Food Allergy Implementation Measures-Nuts and Mint
This school year the High School will continue to implement measures to protect students with severe life-threatening food allergies. Over the past several years the number of BDUSD students with severe allergic reactions to food has increased. In many cases the food does not need to be eaten by the student but simply the close proximity and smell can trigger an allergic reaction.
In order to prevent a life-threatening allergic reaction, the following measures are being implemented at the high school:
Students and staff are asked voluntarily not to bring any food item into the high school that contains nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, tree nuts (almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios), or nut products.
Any food items that contain nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, tree nuts (almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios), or nut products should be opened and eaten in the common lunch area only ---not in classrooms, hallways, etc.
Students and staff who eat nut or peanut products are reminded to wash their hands after eating /touching such items as the protein residue that causes the allergic reaction can be transferred to objects and allergic individuals can inadvertently place it into their eyes/ mouth resulting in a life-threatening allergic reaction. Use of hand sanitizer does not work for food allergies.
Emergency Care Plans are written for all students with a known severe allergic reaction history. School staff are trained how to respond quickly in the event of an allergic reaction.
We are asking that foods (including gum) containing mint or mint flavoring not be brought to school or consumed in the High School.
Staff and students who choose to eat and consume foods and products which contain mint need to realize that the smell of the product or their breath while or after consuming the product places those with allergies to the substance at risk of an allergic reaction.
If we can decrease the likelihood of exposure to nuts and peanuts the less of a chance we will have to implement that emergency plan. As students, parents and staff, we are sure you share our desire to create as safe an environment as possible for our students.
