How should public authorities treat anaphylaxis in school students?
https://www.9news.com.au/world/2018/09/20/14/54/uk-schoolboy-dies-after-classmate-puts-cheese-down-his-shirt?app=applenews
The case of a school child dying from anaphylaxis after cheese was shoved down their shirt raises the issue of risk management. In Australia, parents are supposed to declare allergies to schools, and the school has a management plan. This is partly a result of the death of Hamidur Rahman in 2002. Aspects of the plan to limit risk are often unrealistic, and the result has been children die.

Anaphylaxis is serious and tragedies result from it. That is inevitable. It would be wrong to isolate children. But risk management cannot be placed in the hands of learning institutions at the expense of parental decision making. Children behave in ways with unexpected consequences, and for similar reasons, we don’t send kids to school with knives or guns, even though most could be responsible with their handling.

Since the death of Hamidur in NSW, children have died despite the new measures brought it. Because the new measures don’t work perfectly. Schools and churches don’t have peanut butter available, but what about eggs? Or wheat? Or dairy? Schools have management plans, but what of temporary employees? I’m a teacher at a few learning institutions where there are plans and kids have allergies. I’m aware of issues, having known Hamidur. I’m in the habit of offering chocolate or sweets to kids. One child says “I can’t have egg whites.” “What can I get that doesn’t have egg whites?” “Lindt!” (They aim high).

Thing is, the arrangements are not about helping children with allergies manage their risk, it is about politicians and public service covering up their culpability over the death of Hamidur. The coroner had investigated, and come to the erroneous decision that the parents had contributed to the tragic accident by not informing the school of the issue. Only the parents had. The school was aware because the right people had been told (Welfare head teacher and responsible Deputy Principal), but the coroner chose not to ask them after the death happened at a camp, and a year adviser took the lead in welfare. Subsequently, the Principal retired.

The Education Department became aware of the truth of Hamidur’s death and took steps to prevent the coroner finding out. In recent years the school involved has been sold off and moved from city to country. In order to address the issue, without admitting culpability over the child’s death, recommendations were made which cover the learning institution’s failure and make tragic accidents something that parents cannot address.

Parents need control of the fate of their child until their child reaches majority. A better way of addressing the growing issue is to involve the parent with an advisory panel of specialists and professionals for such children showing options, which may include mainstreaming, or home schooling, or special arrangements. This is preferable to draconian legislation and banning wholesome produce from mainstream schools.

https://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com/2021/09/20th-sept-review-of-historical-and.html