Child with peanut allergy controversary

March 17, 2011

Despite protests by angry parents, a school in Florida is standing behind

its decision to implement new regulations to protect a first grade student

suffering from a severe peanut

allergy<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stands-\

tough-new-peanut-allergy-regulations/#>

..

Students at Edgewater Elementary are required to wash their hands and rinse

their mouths out before entering the classroom each morning and after lunch.

Teachers, who monitor the daily rinsing, must also ensure that desks are

being continually wiped down with Clorox wipes. The school has banned all

peanut products, eliminated snacks in the classroom and prevented outside

food at

holiday<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stands-\

tough-new-peanut-allergy-regulations/#>parties.

And last week a peanut-sniffing dog was brought into the school.

District spokeswoman Wait of Volusia County Schools said the school is

legally obligated to take these safety precautions because of the Federal

Disabilities Act.

“It would be the same thing as putting a handicap ramp for a student that is

physically disabled. The only difference with this is that is affects other

students,” she told FoxNews.com.

But some parents are saying it is taking away from their children’s learning

time.

“On average, it’s probably taking a good 30 minutes out of the day. That’s

my child’s education. Thirty minutes could be a while subject,”

Starkey told FoxNews.com.

On Thursday she and other parents protested outside the school, picketing

with signs that said, “Our Kids Have Rights Too.”

Experts say the school may have gone too far and that there are easier ways

to protect the child.

“I have never seen anything like this,” said allergist Dr. Sicherer

with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network or FAAN, an organization that

monitors national food allergy issues. “There are many guidelines on how to

manage food

allergies<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stand\

s-tough-new-peanut-allergy-regulations/#>in

schools… things like no food sharing. There are plenty of relatively

simple things the school could put in place that aren’t burdensome,” said

Sicherer.

But , the father of girl with life threatening food allergy,

says that if his daughter even smells peanuts, her reaction could be fatal.

" We've fought very hard to put certain things in place… to keep her alive…

in school, " he told MyFoxOrlando. " She's already a cast-out. She can't do

things that most kids can do. "

While the school’s actions may seem drastic and invasive the school says it

must protect the

health<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stands-t\

ough-new-peanut-allergy-regulations/#>of

the student.

“It may seem like an inconvenience but this student registered her

disability at the beginning of the school year and we have to do these

things to give her a safe learning environment,” said Wait. Since the

protest was held last week, parents will be looking for some sort of

compromise from the school administration.

“We understand that they need to protect this girl, but these measures are

just extreme. Procedures need to be set in place, but not procedures that

will take away from our children’s education,” said Starkey.

Read more:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stands-tough-ne\

w-peanut-allergy-regulations/#ixzz1GudxZ7HK

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

*The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

ebillme.com: Don’t want to use a credit card? I gave it a

try<http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=16713>The

Frugal Dietitian Giveaway contest: Poppy Field Photo frame from Kirklands

Ends 3/19 8PM <http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=16791>Made my own " funny but

real " movie: Me interviewing a " potential " Dietetic

student<

*Healthy Diet at any Age: We are NOT just looking

*

*at the years people have behind them but also the

*

*quality of the years ahead of them.*

March 17, 2011

Wanted to add this note a protesting parent wrote:(Friend from Florida sent

it to me)

" I want to thank the supporters of this. I am one of the mother's that was

protesting but I want to add you guys still don't have the whole story. We

are wanting to protect all of the/cold children not just our children or the

child with the allergy. The school board's legal department has approved

Clorox Bleach wipes to be used on our children's faces and we are not going

to stand for that. This is not about attacking the parents or the child but

this is about getting measures in place we all can live with.

We took all of the proper steps and could not get the answers that we

needed. Please keep in mind the school have not communicated anything with

us except that there is a child with a severe peanut allergy. My child's

face was breaking out and we could not figure out why or what was causing it

and come to find out it was the soap the school was using on her. I would of

gladly sent in soap that would not hurt her face if they had of taken the

time to tell me what they were doing with my child.

If you want to fault me for loving my children and wanting to protect them

go ahead but my child means just as much to me and their child does to them.

We are working with parents who have children with the same allergies to

gete a resolution to this matter. They have made many wonderful suggestions.

The parents of the child has refused to try anything that we have suggested.

The father's exact words were " absolutely not " , need I say more. This baby

did not asked to be born this way but it's also not fair to other children

when the peanut child's mom brings in homemade cupcakes and goodie bags for

her daughter's class and I have to explain to my daughter why they were not

allowed to have their party. If the no food rule is going to be in place it

should go for everyone, not a select few. As for apples the lady commented

about earlier, we are not allowed to even send in fresh fruit. If a child

takes their lunch to school, it is set on a cart and put outside( yes, I

mean outside in the open air in the heat/cold weather while the peanut

child's lunch is tucked safely away in her cubby. What if someone does

something to these lunches. It could happen.

The classroom door opens up right on the the parking lot. The mother has

been on facebook bragging about eating peanut butter and when someone asked

if everything was okay and the she said " you know, the baby " and the mother

replied " fine...lol " . When is what we do enough and why aren't the parents

doing more. These are the questions we have. They take this baby out

trick-or-treating to strange houses but my kid can't have a banana in the

class? It just feels like we as parents and the school are doing it all and

the parents are not doing anything. This child has never had a reaction at

school but she's had several reactions at home according to her mom. Why are

we (our children) having to suffer? When is enough, enough? "

> Despite protests by angry parents, a school in Florida is standing behind

> its decision to implement new regulations to protect a first grade student

> suffering from a severe peanut

allergy<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stands-\

tough-new-peanut-allergy-regulations/#>

> .

>

> Students at Edgewater Elementary are required to wash their hands and rinse

> their mouths out before entering the classroom each morning and after lunch.

> Teachers, who monitor the daily rinsing, must also ensure that desks are

> being continually wiped down with Clorox wipes. The school has banned all

> peanut products, eliminated snacks in the classroom and prevented outside

> food at

holiday<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stands-\

tough-new-peanut-allergy-regulations/#>parties. And last week a peanut-sniffing

dog was brought into the school.

>

> District spokeswoman Wait of Volusia County Schools said the school

> is legally obligated to take these safety precautions because of the Federal

> Disabilities Act.

>

> “It would be the same thing as putting a handicap ramp for a student that

> is physically disabled. The only difference with this is that is affects

> other students,” she told FoxNews.com.

>

> But some parents are saying it is taking away from their children’s

> learning time.

>

> “On average, it’s probably taking a good 30 minutes out of the day. That’s

> my child’s education. Thirty minutes could be a while subject,”

> Starkey told FoxNews.com.

>

> On Thursday she and other parents protested outside the school, picketing

> with signs that said, “Our Kids Have Rights Too.”

>

> Experts say the school may have gone too far and that there are easier ways

> to protect the child.

>

> “I have never seen anything like this,” said allergist Dr. Sicherer

> with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network or FAAN, an organization that

> monitors national food allergy issues. “There are many guidelines on how to

> manage food

allergies<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stand\

s-tough-new-peanut-allergy-regulations/#>in schools… things like no food

sharing. There are plenty of relatively

> simple things the school could put in place that aren’t burdensome,” said

> Sicherer.

>

> But , the father of girl with life threatening food allergy,

> says that if his daughter even smells peanuts, her reaction could be fatal.

> " We've fought very hard to put certain things in place… to keep her alive…

> in school, " he told MyFoxOrlando. " She's already a cast-out. She can't do

> things that most kids can do. "

>

> While the school’s actions may seem drastic and invasive the school says it

> must protect the

health<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stands-t\

ough-new-peanut-allergy-regulations/#>of the student.

>

> “It may seem like an inconvenience but this student registered her

> disability at the beginning of the school year and we have to do these

> things to give her a safe learning environment,” said Wait. Since the

> protest was held last week, parents will be looking for some sort of

> compromise from the school administration.

>

> “We understand that they need to protect this girl, but these measures are

> just extreme. Procedures need to be set in place, but not procedures that

> will take away from our children’s education,” said Starkey.

>

> Read more:

>

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/amid-protest-florida-school-stands-tough-ne\

w-peanut-allergy-regulations/#ixzz1GudxZ7HK

>

> --

> Ortiz, MS, RD

> *The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

> Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

> ebillme.com: Don’t want to use a credit card? I gave it a

try<http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=16713>The

> Frugal Dietitian Giveaway contest: Poppy Field Photo frame from Kirklands

> Ends 3/19 8PM <http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=16791> Made my own " funny

> but real " movie: Me interviewing a " potential " Dietetic

student<

>

> *Healthy Diet at any Age: We are NOT just looking

> *

>

> *at the years people have behind them but also the

> *

>

> *quality of the years ahead of them.*

>

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

*The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

ebillme.com: Don’t want to use a credit card? I gave it a

try<http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=16713>The

Frugal Dietitian Giveaway contest: Poppy Field Photo frame from Kirklands

Ends 3/19 8PM <http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=16791>Made my own " funny but

real " movie: Me interviewing a " potential " Dietetic

student<

*Healthy Diet at any Age: We are NOT just looking

*

*at the years people have behind them but also the

*

*quality of the years ahead of them.*

March 17, 2011