Health & safety
Anaphylaxis / Allergies
Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, requiring an EPIPEN. Up to two per cent of the general population and up to five per cent of children are at risk.
The most common causes of allergic reaction in young children are eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, cow’s milk, bee or other insect stings, and some medications.
If your child has been diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis or has allergies, requiring medication, you will be required to provide the kindergarten with an approved individual medical management plan for your child signed by the medical practitioner who is treating your child. This will be stored with your child’s enrolment form and on display in the service for the information of all staff.
More information is available at https://www.education.vic.gov.au
There is at least one educator at all times who has current and approved, anaphylaxis management training.
Asthma
If your child has Asthma it is important that our educators are advised of the condition. As part of the enrolment process you must provide an Asthma Care Plan which needs to be completed in consultation with, and signed by, a medical practitioner. Please ensure children with asthma have reliever medication and a spacer (including a child’s face mask, if required) at all times your child is attending the service. Ideally, this would be left at the kindergarten, however if families choose to bring medication back and forth, it is important they take responsibility to take the medication out of the bag and put it in the medication area and also to collect it at the end of the day to take home.
At least one educator who has current approved Emergency Asthma Management (EAM) training is on duty at all times.
A Risk Minimisation and Communication Plan will also need to be completed for any child with a plan, in consultation with educators.
All plans must be current (within 6 months of child commencing kindergarten) for compliance and best practice.
