Jacob is entering grade 5 at a new school this year, and for the first time in his life, he’ll be riding the school bus to school. This is not a small matter for a child with food allergies, and I am in touch with several families who have experienced very serious difficulties with school bus accommodations.
For example, earlier this year a bus driver was fired because she refused to pick up a food allergic student: She simply drove past him and left him standing at the curb because of his allergies. For the full story, click here to read “Peanut Allergic Kindergarten Student Left At Curb By School Bus Driver Finds Justice.” Another family reached out to me because they were told that due to their child’s food allergies, he has to ride the special ed bus. The parents were stuck between a rock and a hard place, needing accommodations to keep their son safe, and wanting to let their son ride to school on the same bus as his friends. I also know families who are distressed because their bus company only authorizes its drivers to pull over and call 9-1-1, should a student have an allergic emergency. We all know that every minute counts when treating an allergic reaction, and the company’s refusal to train and authorize its drivers to administer an EpiPen to save a child’s life is unfathomable.
I’ve been wondering if I have everything properly arranged for Jacob to bus safely to and from school. At the end of last year, I filled out the bus company’s Emergency Administration of Epinephrine Form, and I was beginning to wonder if I should follow up, since school starts in about four weeks. I was thrilled to come home earlier this week to this wonderful letter from the bus company: http://blog.onespotallergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/EpiPen-School-Bus-Forms-2012.pdf
They included this nifty backpack tag with the letter. It’s a little juvenile for a ten year old, and it’s not necessary since Jacob wears his EpiPens and doesn’t keep them in his backpack, but I appreciate the safety forethought very much.
When I reflect on the accommodations I get in Ontario without even asking for anything, I feel terrible for my readers who have to fight for a bus ride to school, for that ride to be integrated, or for someone to administer medication should their child be fighting for his or her life during an allergic reaction.
Our bus company, Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services, serves as an excellent example of how to accommodate allergic students. They’re not required to do this, they choose to do this for the inclusion and safety of allergic students and the preparedness of their drivers. You may view their allergy policy statement by clicking here. Highlights are that:
- Should they need to administer an EpiPen, they do so in loco parentis (as a parent would) rather than filling the role of a health care professional.
- Each bus driver receives training to handle basic emergencies on the bus, including basic first aid, CPR, and how to administer an EpiPen if required. The bus company is responsible for providing this training and the bus driver is responsible for receiving it.
- Parents must complete and submit an “Emergency Administration of EPIPEN Form” completed by a physician and with a recent photo of the student attached.
- Parents must ensure the medication is located on the student’s person. Perfect!
- Parents must ensure that students in JK – grade 8 who carry an EpiPen sit in the front seat immediately to the right of the bus driver each day.
- No students is allowed to eat on the school bus. As they state on their website, children can not eat on the bus because it is a shared environment and due to the potential for severe allergic reactions of other students.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if students everywhere were treated this well? Let’s hope that day will soon come.
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This is a very important article for all parents with allergic children to read and prepare for. My 4-year old tree nut allergic daughter went into anaphylaxis on the school bus last school year (with no known cause – we suspect a nut oil of some sort on the hand rail of the bus). The bus driver noticed something was wrong, he called the paraprofessional to administer to her immediately. She always carries two epi pens in her backpack wherever she goes. The bus personnel were trained on epi administration. It took both epi’s to get her out of the reaction. The bus company now has a car seat dedicated to my daughter only, they wash down the hand rails each and every time my daughter rides the bus.
I just wanted to say how important it is to have an emergency plan in place and to have bus personnel trained. It saved my daughter’s life!
Lisa
GREAT post! My son is starting school at the end of the month and honestly, I hadn’t even though about the school bus being an issue. This was an eye opener for me. Thank you. I will definitely discuss busing with the school now.
Jennifer
http://itchylittleworld.wordpress.com
Elizebeth what a great article to post before school gets under way. Every student whether a food allergy or not should be able to ride the school bus knowing the person in charge will care for them in a emergency situation. Sounds to me that you have everything in place for your child. Good luck to your son and hope he has a wonderful school year.