So, how do you communicate to everyone the warning signs and the potential dangers of allergic reactions that could affect your campus's guests? Here are a few tips.
First, communicate with your Facility Manager and other faculty members about all the possible risks. Does your school have a food allergy policy? Are you serving snacks that may contain peanuts or shellfish, two common allergies? Is there an area that has been damaged by water and holds a potential threat to those allergic to molds? Does your tour pass by any flowerbeds favored by bees, or is there a hive thriving near any of your entrances?
Second, have an emergency plan established in case someone has a reaction. Not all allergic reactions are serious. However, some are life threatening and you will want to be prepared in case you're faced with a serious situation. People who are allergic to bee stings and peanuts, for example, can become very ill very fast. Have several, if not all, of your school's faculty and staff educated about the signs and how to respond in case of a guest emergency.
And third, have a written guest policy. Putting policies into writing protects you and your school from legal risks. Most people who suffer from severe allergies are accustomed to carrying their medications and are well aware of their limits, but it's always better to have a written policy than to operate on faith. Risk management is proactive—always a better option than having to be reactive.
Going beyond protecting your guests, there is more and more concern every day about the threat of a serious allergic reaction in students. Stay tuned next month for guidelines on how to protect your student body from a serious event, but we'll leave you for now with some additional resources found across the Web.
Additional articles discussing student allergy concerns in schools:
On WebMD, "Relief for Allergies at School"
From msnbc, "Treating Asthma, Allergies at School"
An article in USA Today about the dangers of peanut allergies, "Uniform Allergy Plans Sought for U.S. Schools"
