Posted on 09/27/2007 2:22:06 PM PDT by UKrepublican
Boy with nut allergy banned from school because he is a 'health and safety risk'
Like anyone with a nut allergy, George Hall-Lambert had always assumed it was the food that caused the problem – not him.
His new school didn't agree. Concerned that none of the staff was trained to cope if the 11-year-old had an allergic reaction, the headmaster banned him – on health and safety grounds.
George, who was diagnosed with a nut allergy at 18 months, carries an emergency adrenaline injection, known as an EpiPen, and wears a medical tag to alert carers to his condition.
When he began at Howden School in East Yorkshire, his mother informed the comprehensive about the allergy.
A file with medical notes was forwarded from his primary.
If the boy went into severe anaphylactic shock it could render him unconscious and he would need assistance using the EpiPen.
He had been at school for only four days when the head summoned his mother for a meeting.
He told her George must go home as no policies were in place to deal with his condition.
Judith Hall-Lambert, who has three other children, said: "Howden School is saying nobody could take charge of his EpiPen because staff don't know how to use it.
"They won't let him back in school until everything has been sorted out and he is classed as safe.
"If he went back now they say he would be a health and safety risk."
George, who was near the top of his class in his SATs tests, is receiving 15 hours a week tuition at home.
But Mrs Hall-Lambert, 37, of Eastrington, near Goole, added: "George is being discriminated against because he has a nut allergy.
"He is a bright kid and this could set back his education."
She dismissed an offer for him to attend the inclusion unit at the school, as it is predominantly for children with behavioural problems.
"George is well-behaved and there is no reason for him to be in that unit.
"He is entitled to a mainstream education like everyone else," she added.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council said arrangements had been made to send him to school full-time, but his mother had decided not to send him.
"The school is following guidance from the local authority and the Government in ensuring that George can access his entitlement to education in a safe environment."
Head Andrew Williams said staff were working towards an acceptable solution.
"My main concern is to ensure that we meet the health and welfare needs of all students in our care."
No, what’s absurd is when the school bans all nuts, anytime, on the whole campus, because one little darling is allergic. That’s absurb, and it happens on our side of the pond.
Sad. And, in fact, abhorrent. But true.
I was thinking that no one had to be unhappy if a little common sense were employed. Do everthing humanly possible to minimize exposure to the allergen and educating people, while neither banning the allergen (which can’t be done anyway) OR the boy (which IS truly absurd).
If you ban the boy it sets a precedence on airlines...after all they serve nuts on planes...
the malls...yup nuts in there too...
grocery stores...ditto...
in fact, he could NEVER come to my state (Georgia) let alone meet and shake Jimmy Carter’s hand...
Conversely, if you ban nuts from schools...that long list above would work in reverse until peanuts are eventually eliminated from existence...
along with wasps/bees...
milk...
shellfish...
well you get the picture.
If ANYTHING should be banned, it should be kneejerk reactions that lead to... *****BANNING*******!!!!!
Sadly I don’t see that conclusion being reached anytime soon though. :(
As embarrassing as it is to say, here in L.A. at my childs school, they don't allow Peanut Butter sandwiches because of a kid from the past who had this allergy. So, my child isn't going to have a peanut butter sandwich at school until she gets to 7th grade, at which point she probably won't even want one. This is the world we live in today, and what a damned shame.
All the muzzies need to do is spray the countryside with peanut butter.
I was thinking the same thing. I'm not that old and I went to some fairly large schools when I was growing up. It seems like only the last ten years or so that we suddenly have all these kids who are allergic to nuts. I can't recall any concern over food allergies when I went to public schools during the 1970s and 1980s. nor can I recall anyone ever having an allergic reaction to food in one of my classes.
Now I'm not denying that these allergies exist but suddenly it seems to have become such a crisis that schools are banning PB&J.
Oh, no. That would stigmatize him and deprive him of the socialization process a public school provides. I do believe the only workable alternative is to build a seperate, special school for each different food allergy. And don't make them ride the small bus, it's humiliating!
When did these nut allergies become as common as they are now?
I’ve purchased gluten free pizza for a family member and it’s expensive but they say it’s good.
Nut allergies(including peanuts) used to be rare — or so it seemed. But my husband has severe tree nut and peanut allergies and he is now 80. At the time he thought he was a wierdo having them. He went thru the school system and was able to take care of himself by using his head. No one had to change their behavior. No Epi-Pen then.
And my daughter, now 49, has both peanut and tree nut allergies, —— and fish and shellfish allergies. She too learned real early in life what she should do to avoid a problem. I’m sure the school was full of PB sandwiches and brownies, but she was the one who adjusted. No Epi-Pen there either.
The nut allergies have always been there. People just no longer take responsibility for themselves. My brother was diagnosed as being allergic to chocolate fifty years ago. Mom simply made sure that he didn’t eat chocolate. I have a coworker that is allergic to nuts. He simply tries not to eat nuts. He accidentally ate a cookie with nuts. We went down to his truck and he used his Epipen.
Apparently it hurts a bit as this Afghanistan war Veteran complained about the pain. At least he quit swelling up and could breath again.
Sometimes it's like this ~ my nextdoor neighbor is this insufferable screamer ~ and she's deathly allergic to bee stings. So, do I kill the bumble bees that live on my property, or talk to them gently and encourage them to propagate ~ even, maybe, grow wildflowers they particularly like?
Neighborliness has real limits. So do nut allergies ~ which is why the person with the allergies really needs to avoid dangerous situations.
In the afternoon, though, they all fry those breaded fish things in what we all hope is the third vat to the right ~ but sometimes they screw up and drop them into the french fries vats.
I know it every single time (within half an hour) if I eat frenchfries.
The prophylaxis here is to instruct the cooking staff, in Spanish, English and Farsi, HOW TO COOK THE FISH.
Then, don't buy the fish because the breading is a killer.
Thanks for the tip on the lactose. Didn't help me. Still don't have enough production of lactase to make a serious difference. However, yoghurt and saurkraut, with meals, works fine.
In truth, the things you mentioned ( which seem to almost be the norm, today) are far more odious than removing the kid.
Did you realize that after a lifetime of eating wheat and rye crackers that a year and a half deprivation makes white, whole kernal, cornchips taste great ~ with peanut butter, cheese, and so forth.
In our school I have a second grader. We just received a letter stating that during their snack time (which we have to send in as well as their lunch) there is to be no nut products. No peanut butter crackers or anything that has nuts in it or is made with nuts or peanut oil. Now I have to read labels and distinguish what I can send in because someone in her class has a nut allergy. She cannot take PB&J for lunch either. If she does she has to tell the teacher and sit away from the others. Something does not seem right to me about that.
Nanny state BUMP!
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