Lunch Box Check-Up!

Lunch Box Check-Up!

Australia has one of the highest incidence of food allergy in the world and this is increasing at an alarming rate; in fact, one in ten babies born in Australia will develop a food allergy. With no known cure for food allergy, awareness and education is of utmost importance, as a severe allergic reaction and/or anaphylaxis can rapidly become life threatening and must be treated as a medical emergency.

Pacific Lutheran College currently has 21 students (Prep-Year 12) who have a life-threatening allergy. The causes vary and include peanuts, eggs, soy, various seafood and many other nuts. We take this opportunity during Food Allergy Week to remind teaching staff, parents and students of how we can keep everyone safe whilst on campus.

It is up to all of us to be allergy aware-to know how to minimise the risk of a reaction, to know what to do if a reaction happens, and to understand and support family, friends and colleagues living with food allergies.

REMEMBER

• Take food allergy seriously
• Know what allergies are present in your school community and chose not to send high risk foods in lunch boxes
• Talk to your children about never sharing food
• Promote hand-washing before and after eating

Mrs Sophie Morton – School Nurse