Allergies: What Caregivers Should Know

Dealing with food allergies can be overwhelming, but it is especially challenging when you're caring for a child with allergies—perhaps even more so if you are not the parent. Parents learn the ins and outs of their child's allergies, reactions and how to treat them, but caregivers will need to be provided with that information in advance.

Whether you are a parent or a caregiver (teacher, volunteer, etc.), here is a quick checklist of information you should have for any child who has known food allergies.

• What food is he/she allergic to?
• For each allergen: is a "trace" amount enough to cause a reaction? Should caretakes avoid giving the children food that has been prepared in the same place as an allergen? For example, if the child is allergic to peanuts, must he/she avoid anything that was made in a factory that uses peanuts even if it's not in the food itself?
• For each allergen: What is the child's normal reaction so the caregiver can recognize it quickly (e.g. swelling, hives, etc.)?
• For each allergen: Along with alerting the parents right away, is there any immediate action the caregiver should take if the child experiences a reaction?
• Should the caregiver have allergy medicine or an EpiPen (provided and authorized by the parents) on-hand to use if needed?

Both parents and caregivers should call 911 immediately if they suspect a child is having an anaphylactic reaction. To read more about allergies and reactions, visit WebMD's article here.

Each child's allergies can be unique. Along with the checklist above, parents should be sure to inform caregivers of any other concerns or particulars. Caregivers, in turn, should strive to provide children with an allergy-free environment and be prepared to assist children should they experience any allergic reactions.
 

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