Sample anaphylaxis policy for schools
Policies help to guide practice and make sure that everyone understands how the school plans to manage allergy.
This sample anaphylaxis policy has been provided to help schools to develop a site specific anaphylaxis policy.
The range of anaphylaxis prevention and management strategies implemented may vary between schools and between primary and secondary campuses, therefore the school's policy needs to be site specific.
This sample policy does not include all required information (e.g. risk minimisation strategies to be implemented) and therefore is to be used as a guide.
In some jurisdictions, overarching policies are developed by the state Education Department and these should be followed by schools in those jurisdictions rather than developing a site-specific policy. Schools should check the requirements in their specific state and territory.
Purpose of this policy
• To increase safety and make sure students at risk of anaphylaxis can join in the full range of school activities.
• To raise awareness about allergy, including anaphylaxis and how the school plans to reduce risk.
• To work with parents/carers of students with serious allergies to support these students and help keep them safe.
• To make sure staff know about allergies and understand that allergies can be life-threatening.
• To make sure staff know the school’s guidelines and procedures if a student has an allergic reaction.
Putting this policy into practice
• Staff will meet to discuss the new or reviewed policy, what it includes and when it will be put in place.
• Enough time will be given for staff to discuss how the policy will work and to ask questions before the policy is accepted and followed.
Knowing which students have allergies
• Before enrolment, or as soon as an allergy is diagnosed, the school will develop an individualised anaphylaxis care plan for the student.
• The student’s individualised anaphylaxis care plan will be developed in consultation with the student’s parents/carers and signed by the school and the parent/carer. The plan will include written permission to display the student’s ASCIA Action Plan on the wall in the staff room and other appropriate places (such as the school canteen) and share the information in the plan with school staff.
• The student’s individualised anaphylaxis care plan will be reviewed at the start of each school year in consultation with the student’s parents/carers to make sure information is up to date and strategies to reduce risk remain age appropriate.
• The individualised anaphylaxis care plan will also be reviewed:
- when a student’s allergies change
- after exposure to a known allergen while attending the school
- before any special activities (such as excursions, camps) to make sure information is up to date and correct. Any new procedures for the special activity should be included.
• Whenever a student at risk of anaphylaxis is enrolled at the school, or newly diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis, all staff will be told:
- The student’s name, year and classroom/classes (primary/secondary school).
- Where the student’s adrenaline device and ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis are located (if the student has a prescribed adrenaline device).
- Where the student’s ASCIA Action Plan for Allergic Reactions is located (if the student does not have a prescribed adrenaline device).
• Staff will help students at risk of anaphylaxis feel safe while they are at school by:
- Talking to the student about signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction so they learn to talk about these symptoms and how to tell staff when they are having an allergic reaction
- Taking the student’s and their parent’s/carer’s concerns seriously
- Making every effort to address any concerns they may talk about.
• New, relief and casual staff will be given information about the student’s allergies during the orientation process before the student is in their care.
Adrenaline devices
Prescribed adrenaline devices
• Students prescribed with an adrenaline device will be required to make one device available to the school during school terms. Parents/carers are responsible for supplying the adrenaline device and making sure it has not expired.
• Staff will be informed of the location/s of the prescribed adrenaline devices.
• The student’s adrenaline device (and any other medication) must be labelled with the name of the student and placed in a location easily available to staff (not locked away), when the student with the allergy is at school. The adrenaline device will be stored at room temperature (not in the fridge) away from direct heat and sunlight.
• A process is in place to make sure prescribed adrenaline devices and ASCIA Action Plans are taken whenever the child goes to off-site activities.
• A process will be in place to regularly check (each term) that students prescribed adrenaline devices have not expired and do not need to be replaced. School staff will inform the parents/carers if the adrenaline device needs to be replaced (if used or about to expire).
General use adrenaline devices
• The school will have at least one general use adrenaline device. Staff will be informed of the location of any general use adrenaline devices. A risk assessment will be undertaken to determine how many general use devices are required by the school and where any general use devices are located, including whether they will be taken on off-site activities. An ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis will be stored with all general use device.
• The general used adrenaline device can be used if the student does not have their prescribed adrenaline device; if their device is not administered correctly; if the student requires a second dose; or if a student has not been prescribed an adrenaline device.
• A process will be in place to regularly check (each term) that general use adrenaline devices have not expired. General use adrenaline devices will be replaced before they expire.
• A student (or staff member/school visitor) with no history of anaphylaxis may have their first anaphylaxis whilst at the school. If school staff think a student/staff member/school visitor may be having anaphylaxis, the general use adrenaline device should be given to the individual immediately, and an ambulance called. If the general use adrenaline device is not available, staff will follow the ASCIA First Aid Plan including calling an ambulance.
Staff training
• All staff will be trained in the prevention, recognition and emergency treatment of anaphylaxis, including the use of adrenaline devices as this is considered best practice. ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for schools will be undertaken at least every two years.
• All staff will also undertake ASCIA anaphylaxis refresher e-training twice yearly. The school will have adrenaline device trainers available to allow staff to have hands-on practise with the devices during training and refresher training.
• The Canteen/Tuckshop Manager, food technology staff and boarding school chefs and cooks (where relevant) will undertake the National Allergy Council All about Allergens for Schools food allergen management training for food service at least every two years.
• A staff training register will be kept.
Planned emergency procedures
• Signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction to food usually occur within 20 minutes and up to two hours after eating the food allergen. Severe allergic reactions to insects usually happen within minutes of the insect sting or bite.
- Where it is known that a student has been exposed to whatever they are allergic to, but has not developed symptoms, the student’s parents/carers will be contacted and asked to come and collect their child.
- The school will carefully monitor the student following instructions on the ASCIA Action Plan until the parents/carers arrive.
- Staff should be prepared to take immediate action following instructions on the ASCIA Action Plan should the student begin to develop allergic symptoms.
• Anaphylaxis emergency response will always include transport by ambulance (where possible) for medical monitoring (a hospital where possible), as the student needs medical care and observation for at least four hours after being given the adrenaline device.
• Anaphylaxis emergency response drills (like a fire drill) will be practised and assessed twice a year to make sure staff understand the anaphylaxis emergency procedure and know what to do.
• After an allergic reaction/anaphylaxis, the individualised anaphylaxis care plan will be reviewed to determine if the school’s risk minimisation strategies and emergency response procedures need to be changed/improved.
Reducing risk
• Strategies used to reduce the risk of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, for individual students will depend on what the student is allergic to and the developmental stage of the student.
• Wherever possible, the school will reduce exposure to known allergens.
• The following risk minimisation strategies will be implemented as whole of school strategies:
[Insert risk minimisation strategies based on what allergies the school needs to manage. These can be selected from the Examples of how to reduce the risk of allergic reactions in schools document.]
Educating students about allergies
• Staff will educate students about allergies and the risk of anaphylaxis, including signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and what to do if they think their friend is having an allergic reaction.
• Considering each student’s development, staff will talk about strategies to help keep students with food allergy safe, such as students not sharing food, drinking from their own water bottle and washing their hands after they have eaten something that their classmate is allergic to.
• Staff will include information and discussions about food allergies in the programs they develop, to help students understand food allergy and to encourage care, acceptance and inclusion of students with food allergies. Curriculum resources are available.
Reporting procedures
• If a student is exposed to a known allergen, an Incident Report will be completed. A copy of the completed form will be kept in the student’s file. The Principal will inform staff about the incident. Any other state or national reporting requirements will be undertaken.
• If a student has had an allergic reaction to a packaged food or to a meal provided by the school such as the canteen or camp provider, this will be reported to the local food authority for investigation. If the reaction is to a food sent from home, it is the parent’s responsibility to report the reaction.
• Staff will be offered a debrief after each incident. An emergency can cause staff and other students distress especially if the event was life-threatening. Help should be provided to staff and students as needed, including offering counselling or psychological support. The student’s individualised anaphylaxis care plan will be reviewed to identify if further risk minimisation strategies are needed, or some strategies need to be adapted. It is important to understand what went wrong, to learn from each incident and to put plans in place to help prevent the same accident from happening again.
The law and who is responsible
• Fear of legal action should not stop someone using an adrenaline device. All school staff need to understand that any staff member who provides emergency treatment to students having anaphylaxis, according to information on the ASCIA Action Plan, are doing what they can to save the life of a student.
• The school will make sure personal information given by parents/carers is collected, used, shared as needed, stored and destroyed (when no longer needed) according to the relevant Privacy Act in that state. The school needs to get written permission from the parents before the student’s ASCIA Action Plan is displayed in public areas at the school.
Content updated July 2025.
