EMERGENCY PROTOCOL

Every situation, in which a child has symptoms that are listed in the Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan, must be treated as an anaphylactic reaction. The anaphylactic form indicates non-life threatening symptoms and life-threatening symptoms that staff must be aware of. In the event that a child has a life-threatening reaction to an allergen, staff will follow the following emergency procedure:

• One staff will stay with the child at all times. The staff should be familiar to the child and should be able to remain calm. If the child cannot be moved to a quiet area away from other children, all other children and staff should be removed from the area.
• A second staff should call for help/call 911. (If a staff is on their own, Epinephrine will be administered prior to leaving the child to call 911.)
• Epinephrine will be administered at the first sign of an allergic reaction in accordance with the plan. Staff must note the time the EPI-Pen is given and must give the used EPI-PEN to the ambulance attendants.  
• Parents must be called and asked to meet at the hospital the ambulance is scheduled to go to.
• The child must be transported to the hospital by ambulance as soon as possible even if the symptoms have stopped.
• The child’s file along with the individual plan must accompany the staff who will travel to the hospital until the parent/guardian has arrived.

REVIEW OF THE CHILD’S INDIVIDUAL PLAN AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Kids Come First will ask the parent/guardian to review the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis as well as the Emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a child having an anaphylactic reaction with the Supervisor or her designate upon enrollment or when the allergy has developed. The Staff that has reviewed the information with the parents will train all other staff, students and volunteers. The Child’s individual plan will be reviewed with all child care staff, students and volunteers upon enrollment of the child, with any changes in the child’s individual plan or treatment and annually. The plans will be reviewed with all new staff, volunteer or student prior to their first day of employment. 

Kids Come First staff are also trained in current CPR and First Aid practices.  Anaphylactic reaction protocols are reviewed each year with Kids Come First or by a trained EMS professional. The training includes signs and symptoms to look for in the event of an anaphylaxis reaction as well has how to administer epinephrine (EPI-PEN/). 

Prior to employment and annually thereafter all staff, students and volunteers will review the anaphylaxis reaction binder. This binder will include the centre’s policy for anaphylaxis reaction, the communication plan and the child’s individual plan.

The anaphylaxis reaction binder will be reviewed annually with all staff each fall or sooner if required.  When new children are enrolled, the child’s individual plan will be reviewed with all staff, students or volunteers prior to the child’s attendance. 

FOOD PROVIDED BY KIDS COME FIRST AND/OR PARENTS

Kids Come First will ensure that snack/meals that are prepared in the Centre take into account any allergies that children may have. Parents and Kids Come First will work together to ensure children who have allergies/anaphylaxis to certain foods are provided with an appropriate replacement at snack/meal times. 

Unless otherwise noted by the Parents, Kids Come First provides morning and afternoon snacks for all the children in the programs and lunch for the preschool and toddler children. On days when Kids Come First provides a full day program for the school age children, children may bring a bagged lunch/snack as per our Bagged Lunch Policy.

Kids Come First ensures that all food served considers all allergens in the program that must be avoided. Parents that send in food due to allergies or food restrictions must follow KCF guidelines. Unless otherwise noted, no outside food is allowed in the program.