School Nurse

Food Allergy Week is an initiative of Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia and is dedicated to promoting community understanding of food allergy, to help protect those at risk of anaphylaxis.

Australia has one of the highest rates of food allergies in the world, with more than 1.5 million Australians living with a food allergy. We also have one of the highest rates of hospital anaphylaxis admissions in the world. There has been a 51% increase in anaphylaxis presentations to emergency departments in a 5-year period, growing to more than 11,500 per year.

A food allergy is an immune system reaction that happens soon after eating a certain food. Even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger symptoms such as digestive problems, hives, or swollen airways. In some people, a food allergy can cause severe symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Pacific Lutheran College aims to be an allergy aware environment. Food items containing nuts or cooked with nut oil should not be brought to school. However, families of students suffering from nut allergies are reminded that although it may be possible to minimise exposure to potential allergens at school, students suffering from these allergens should use preventive measures as they would in other environments.

Mrs Sigrid Davis & Mrs Julie Clucas, College Nurses