Food Allergy and Asthma Educational Resources
This page contains links to videos, training materials, 504 Plan information,
Action Plans (food allergy and Asthma) and downloads! Many are free too!
Note: As always, consult with your physician before you make changes to the management of any health condition. Gratefulfoodie does not endorse any of the businesses or organizations listed and has not received payment to list these resources. My goal is to help you find tools that might make life easier.
Food Allergy Education Resources
Living with food allergies: for Educators – this link to the the FARE website and is a one-stop-shop kind of resource for all aspects of managing food allergies at school.
Managing Food Allergies in School – what staff needs to know is an on-line video that is about 40 minutes and incredibly concise and detailed educational piece. The video was created by and narrated by Michael Pistiner, MD, of Harvard Vangard Medical Associates. He also teaches at Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School.
Pulse Uniforms – offers several anaphylaxis and Celiac related links on their allergy resource page..in addition to selling uniforms!
National Association of School Nurses – Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis NASN tool kit-The Centers for Disease Control has worked with NASN, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and the National School Boards Association to develop comprehensive guidance and resources for food allergy and anaphylaxis management in the school setting.
School Nutrition Association – has an interesting link that offers pods casts (and transcripts) on the following topics that are directed at school food service professionals:
• Legal and Regulatory Requirements for Managing Food Allergies in Schools
• Guidance for Managing Food Allergies in Schools
• Team work is key to Successful Management in Schools
• Food Safety Considerations and Food Allergy Management Best Practices for School and Food Service
In addition…the School Nutrition and USDA offer a three part Managing Food Allergies in Schools Webinar.
NOTE: see below for 504 Plans
Food Allergy Action Plans
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan– available in English and Spanish from Food Allergy Research and Education
AAAAI Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan–from the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
Food Allergy Guidelines
Safe at School Ready to Learn Food Allergy Policy – developed by the National School Boards Association-
Food Allergy Guidelines for Clinicians and Patients-the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (a department of the National Institute of Health) has created a formal federal guidelines standard of treatment and management for food allergies. This is the Patient’s guide to these standards. It is a tad long, but well worth the read. This guideline will help keep all of us on the same page of information.
Asthma Resources
Asthma in Schools – created by the American Lung Association is a strong resource! You are able to download a back-to-school checklist, learn the basics and be ready for school.
Asthma and Physical Activity in School – a very comprehensive e-booklet regarding the management of school in general, plus additional information about physical activity produced by The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Learn about asthma triggers, inhalers and emergency plans.
Asthma Friendly Schools Tool Kit – this is a complete working instruction manual…for free…from the American Lung Association.
Open Airways For Schools -this is American Lung Association program offered, for free, that directly teaches kids with asthma how to manage their disease. Asthma educators will come to your school and over a six session course, and teach the students everything from understanding triggers, the difference between maintenance and rescue medications and how to ask for help.
Classroom environment and teaching tools
What is a food Allergy Slide/video presentation: this video is directed at preschool to elementary aged children that explains exactly what a food allergy is! It was created by Michael Pistiner, MD of Harvard Medical Associates. The video discusses cross contact and the dangers of food sharing very well.
Binky GoesNuts (PDF) – preschool and young elementary aged teaching unit created by PBS from the hit show Arthur. I really enjoy this unit since it is available in Spanish, offers classroom activities, has letters home to parents, coloring pages, finger puppet templates etc.
Be A P.A.L program…which stands for Protect A Life! This is a fabulous 5 step programs geared towards the elementary aged student. I always refer back to this program–it’s a favorite.
Andy and Ally’s Asthma Activity book (PDF)–created by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, this coloring/activity book is designed for children and their families to learn how to manage asthma and allergies.
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504 Plans
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network – offers a solid explanation of 504 Plans.
Students with Food Allergies: the Law, now this isn’t a download, but a booklet you can buy from the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network…but it is well worth it! The booklet helps with ideas of what types of items are often included in a 504 plan.
Dr. Robert Woods: this is a link to his Food Allergies for Dummies Website, where he references 504 plans
The Food Allergy – Initiative also explains 504 plans
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) – from the US Department of Education
Resource links from Food Allergy 504 Experts, Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed and Laurel Francouer, Esq.
Medical ID and Awareness Jewelry
Medic Alert– If 911 is called, emergency responders can have immediate access to your child’s medical information and history by calling the phone number on this bracelet (or necklace). I prefer Medic alert since one phone call reveals this data. I know many folks who are very pleased with simple food allergen ID bracelets too
Lauren’s Hope offers a very comprehensive line of medical ID bracelets ranging from flat out elegant to hip and young! Just beautiful!
Allermates sells darling awareness tags and bracelets that are quite popular with the young ones including restaurant cards
Allerbling is another style of bring food allergy awareness bracelets focused on younger children.
I hope that information was helpful
Please Note: As always, consult with your physician before you make changes to the management of any health condition. Gratefulfoodie does not endorse any of the businesses or organizations listed and has not received payment to list these resources. My goal is to help you find tools that might make life easier.
Gratefulfoodie
Speaker | Food Allergy Industry Consultant
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..