When there is no school nurse--are teachers prepared for students with peanut allergies?

Peanut allergies account for the majority of severe food-related allergic reactions and affect 1% of Americans today. Therefore, food allergies among students are one of the most common healthcare conditions that must be addressed in the school setting. With the lack of full-time school nurses, teachers feel overwhelmed when the responsibility is placed upon them to care for these students. This article will discuss the prevalence of peanut allergies in schools and acknowledge the difficulties faced by teachers when dealing with a student with a peanut allergy. It is imperative that teachers receive a comprehensive educational program on peanut allergies when no school nurse is available. Ultimately, we want teachers and school staff responsible for student supervision to recognize quickly what symptoms might indicate anaphylaxis and know how and when to get help. This knowledge would increase their awareness of their own role in preventing allergy-related deaths.