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Latex Precautions at School
GUIDEANCE FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND SCHOOL NURSES:
LATEX PRECAUTIONS AT SCHOOL
Background Information:
Latex allergy is an emerging health issue believed to affect
5-10% of health care workers. While statistics are
unavailable for the prevalence of latex sensitivity or allergy
in the general population, it is estimated that between 1and
6% of the general population may be affected. Symptoms
can range from mild to severe and can be potentially life-threatening.
There is no "cure" for this health condition.
Avoidance of latex-containing products is the only way to
prevent a reaction.
The most common "culprits" in causing allergic reactions
among latex-sensitive persons are: balloons, gloves, and condoms.
Latex precautions are not in place in all LPS building locations.
When a student or employee has a concern about latex
exposure, they must notify the school nurse or building administrator.
The school nurse will assist the parent/guardian of
the affected student with developing an individualized health
care plan. The building administrator will oversee
modifications or accommodations in the school environment
and/or the student's education plan. Employees, and
supervisors of employees, with latex concerns should contact
Human Resources for assistance.
Individualized Health Care Planning for the Child
with Latex Allergy:
The key components of the individualized health care plan
for the individual with latex allergy or sensitivity are:
Assessment , including medical information about
the student's condition, previous exposures, response to medical
interventions, the student's knowledge level, self-care skills,
and communication skills.
Planned Interventions including: latex identification
and avoidance in the school environment; enhancing the student's
own knowledge level and self-care needs with regard to latex
identification and avoidance, as well as effectively communicating
onset of symptoms of reaction; education of school personnel
on measures to take in the event of suspected or apparent
exposure; and the development and implementation of an emergency
medical response plan in the event of reaction.
Completion of the Anaphylaxis/Severe Allergy Information Action Card. To be completed by parent/guardian annually. Please turn completed form into school health office.
Information for Administrators on Establishing and
Maintaining Latex Precautions at School:
School personnel should be educated about latex-containing
products in school settings, and the appropriate planned response
if an exposure is suspected or apparent.
Communications for the school community of parents and families
may be appropriate to make them aware that a child is (or
children are) in attendance for whom latex poses a potentially
severe health hazard. The individual affected child
should not be named to individuals other than school personnel
unless specifically requested and consented by the parents
of the student with the health concern.
Post signs on school entries refusing receipt of balloons
(except mylar type): "Latex precautions are in place
here".
Locations where latex products may commonly be found at school
include: kitchens, custodial closets, athletics, art, and
science labs. Useful web resources to identify latex-containing
products commonly found in schools and suitable alternates
include:*** At LPS, custodians and nutrition services workers
may be using latex-containing gloves unless specific precautions
are in place to provide alternate products.
Only non-latex gloves and non-latex bandaids are in use in
school health offices. The School Nurse will be responsible
for identifying and replacing a latex stethoscope, latex CPR
mask(s), latex containing tubing and mask for emergency response
to breathing emergencies in a building where latex precautions
are in place.
Parents/guardians of the student affected by latex allergy
should be aware that with "latex precautions", the school
will make an effort to identify latex products, remove or
replace them with a non-latex substitute where feasible and
reasonable, assist in helping the student learn to avoid exposure
to the extent possible, and assure that qualified school personnel
are available to implement planned emergency medical response
in the event of exposure.
The school cannot guarantee complete removal of latex from
any environment. The emphasis of the student's IHP
is on teaching the child successful self-care and communication
skills to obtain appropriate and effective assistance immediately
in the event of reaction.
Key Points for Administrators, Teachers, and School
Nurses:
Parents/guardians cannot and should not be assured that the
district will be responsible for protecting their child from
ANY or ALL potential latex exposures.
School Administrators may choose to work in their school
communities to remove and replace latex products to the extent
that is feasible without creating an unreasonable burden for
the school.
The director of student services is, with district legal
counsel, available to consult with district administrators
concerning the reasonable limitations of latex precautions.
The most important assurance that must be in place for the
latex-allergic child is the emergency medical response plan.
Please see the school nurse for more information.
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