Severe allergies: Teachers must be trained

July 23, 2007

All WA teachers and childcare workers should undergo compulsory first aid training in handing severe allergic reactions, the AMA (WA) said today.

"Nut allergies in particular are on the increase throughout the world and in extreme cases they can be fatal for some children," said association President Prof Geoff Dobb.

"People responsible for the care of children should know how to administer first aid for anaphylactic shock, including how to use auto-injecting devices - known as Epipens - to inject adrenalin and treat a severe allergic reaction."

Prof Dobb said that as children returned to school next week, thousands of WA parents would be fearful of what could happen if their child suffered an attack and school staff had no idea of what to do.

"The WA Government should follow the lead of Victoria which has agreed to introduce anaphylaxis kits and to legislate to provide legal protection for staff members who need to take emergency action," he said.

"Teachers and carers have to know how to act when children suffer from severe allergic conditions; they need training to be able to administer vital medication in life-or-death emergencies.

"However it is important that these Good Samaritans, who may need to use an Epipen to treat a child, do not have concerns about legal action against them afterwards."

Prof Dobb said each at-risk child should have an emergency plan, developed with their doctor and school or child-care centre, including guidelines for using medication.

"We also need to create greater awareness in the community and amongst GPs about the severity of some of these allergies and the consequences for young children who suffer from them," he said.

"Ideally, there should be a national focus on the condition with appropriate education programs.

"Some schools already do a great job in caring for students who suffer severe allergies, but we need to ensure all students in WA have the same level of care."

Prof Dobb said the AMA (WA) would be writing to Health Minister Jim McGinty encouraging him to follow the example of Victorian Premier Steve Bracks who had recently introduced compulsory first aid training for teachers and child carers.

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