PILOT PROGRAM PROTECTS PUPILS FROM PEANUTS

Teachers will be trained to protect kids from killer peanuts and deadly bee stings as part of a new pilot program in Queensland schools.

An estimated 1700 Queensland students are anaphylactic, which means they suffer from severe allergies to things like nuts and bee stings that can kill without proper treatment.

For a number of years many schools in Queensland – a state famous for its peanut growing prowess - have banned peanut butter to combat the growing problem.

Now teachers and other state school staff will be trained in the management and treatment of the allergies as part of a pilot program in south-east Queensland.

Premier Anna Bligh has said she welcomed the program which will improve education services to affected children and put the minds of their parents at rest.

“Like the rest of Australia, Queensland is seeing an increase in the number of students with this condition, with almost 1700 state school students identified as anaphylactic or potentially anaphylactic,’’ she said.

“These students have severe allergies to foods and other things, including bee stings, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, cow’s milk, insect stings or bites, latex or certain medications which can cause anaphylactic reactions.

“West End State School in my own constituency has six students with anaphylaxis and most of the teachers in the school have already received training in dealing with the deadly allergy.

“We focused on improving services and we want to put the expertise in place to care for the safety of these children across the state.”

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said more the 1500 teachers would be trained in the program and it was important that state school staff had confidence in how to treat and manage reactions.

“This pilot program has been designed to help staff in the management and treatment of students with anaphylaxis or potential anaphylaxis,’’ he said.

“It will run until the end of June, targeting four of our education regions in the state’s south-east.”

The four regions to be targeted are Greater Brisbane, Moreton, South Coast and Sunshine Coast.

“The pilot program will be assessed at the end of June, to determine opportunities to further expand the program to other areas of the state,” said the Minister.

The Queensland Ambulance Service will provide the training, which will include instruction on anaphylaxis management, including the administration of medication such as an EpiPen, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

“Our Government is taking this situation very seriously and will ensure our schools are prepared to cope with anaphylaxis emergencies,” Mr Welford said.

“I also encourage schools to continue to communicate with parents and carers whose support is vital to the management of students’ health.”

Education Queensland will continue to develop a range of information and resource materials to inform school staff about the management and treatment of anaphylaxis.

The Interim Anaphylaxis Guidelines for Queensland Schools includes information for Queensland schools on how to manage and treat students with anaphylaxis.

Full details: www.education.qld.gov.au/schools/healthy/anaphylaxis.html

Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000