PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is intended to ensure that Kids Come First has established an anaphylactic reactions protocol in accordance with the Child Care Early Years ACT (CCEYA), the York Region District School Board Anaphylactic Reactions policy and Sabrina’s Law, 2005. For the purpose of this document anaphylaxis/anaphylactic means a severe reaction that can be fatal due to exposure to allergens such as insect stings, medicine, latex, exercise and food.
POLICY
INTENT
All children and staff of Kids Come First Child Care Services (Kids Come First) are entitled to a safe and healthy learning environment in our programs. This is especially crucial for students and staff who have life-threatening allergies (anaphylaxis). While Kids Come First is committed to creating an environment that is safe for all children, these strategies do not guarantee that the premise is void of any of the allergens documented in the Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan.
It is understood that this policy will be implemented for the safe guard of all children and staff/volunteers attending Kids Come First programs. This policy will ensure that all permanent and temporary staff are made aware of their responsibilities.
Kids Come First will make every effort to ensure that the premise is allergen safe, acknowledging that we cannot eliminate all allergens. Kids Come First will work with parents to limit or reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents in the child care program.
This plan will ensure that all children at risk are identified, strategies are put in place to minimize the potential for exposure and all staff/volunteers are appropriately trained.
In order to provide a safe environment for anaphylactic students and staff at Kids Come First will ensure that strategies are developed in conjunction with parents and/or physicians to minimize exposure for children to life threatening allergies. These strategies can include food avoidance, reducing of causative agents, purchasing of foods through an approved source, diligent reading of food labels, and training of staff to educate families, students and volunteers to be aware of allergen triggers.