School Bus making stops at McDonalds on way to school?

[Hbgchick]

I sent her a note back telling her to take a freaken claritin.

YOU go too, tybee! :dance:

 

[Gozgals]

To cite once again, I do believe the school bus driver should take the kids to MACs. Brought up the peanut issue as an example. As one stated, maybe letting others know of an emergency situation is fine, (in a peanut situation) had nothing to do with the bus driver. As stated, before all the applause, Nothing to do with said bus driver. Had no clue anyone ban peanut butter in schools --as also stated- many enjoy eating organics and follow an organic lifestyle.

High schoolers are able to make their own decisions on these situations. I think they are old enough. I mean, are they do doing drugs, no- going to Macs, or for ice-cream.

 

[CyberLaw]

Peanut allergy is one of the most common, way ahead of mustard......

After two children in Ontario died from severe reactions to peanuts during the summer of 1994, The Canadian Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology joined with provincial affiliates and allergy organizations to issue recommendations on managing anaphylaxis in the public schools. The goal was to reduce children's exposure to allergenic foods in the classroom, particularly to peanuts. The group concentrated on education about allergies, focusing on the primary grades. The guidelines suggested no trading or sharing of foods, encouraged hand washing, and stated that food-allergic children should only eat lunches and snacks that had been prepared at home. The group saved its strongest statements for the youngest ages, recommending complete restriction of peanuts and peanut butter from nurseries, day care centers, and early elementary grades in Canadian schools to reduce the risk of accidental exposure.

In 1994, a student on a field trip to Algonquin Park died from trace amounts of peanut butter which had been transferred to a jam jar.
That same summer, a child attending camp in Montreal died after eating a cheese sandwich that had been stored in the same bag as a peanut butter sandwich. The amounts of peanut butter that killed these children can be measured on the head of a pin. Some children are so sensitive that even the smell of peanut butter can cause problems

Peanut allergies have doubled in the last five years and it is WAY ahead of mustard allergies.
At least in schools, which is a safe and daily environment, measures are taken to keep all children safe from harm........staff is trained in the use of EPI pens and everyone is well aware that if a child is exposed to a LIFE THREATENING allergy, the EPI pen may save his/her life. Peanuts and peanut products are not allowed.

These allergy measures in schools was implemented by a Law, called Sabrina's Law, named for a 13 year old girl who died in school, after eatting french fries contaminated with her life threatening allergy - dairy.

Who would think that french fries could be 'accidently" contaminated with a dairy product. But this unknown accident and unknown contamination cost a young girl her life.

My friends transferred their child to another daycare, because even though parents were informed that peanut products were not allowed, many choose to disregard this. The parents felt that they could not risk their child's life because that is what parents who disregard the no peanut policy are doing, risking the life of another child and accidental contamination is always a risk. Unfortunately, that risk may result in the child's death.

So it is better to reduce that risk and ban all peanut products, that way there is no risk.

In regards to the teenager who died at camp......her friends cradled her as she lay dying on the ground, pleading with God not to let her die, pleading with her to just try to breath, they were crying, in shock....disbelief, as it happened so fast..........all because someone who used peanut butter, did not wash the knife, only wiped off the knife before they put it in the jam jar.

These were 13 year old children......who had to watch their friend die, because of a very simple mistake.

 

[Hbgchick]

Peanut allergy is one of the most common, way ahead of mustard......

After two children in Ontario died from severe reactions to peanuts during the summer of 1994, The Canadian Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology joined with provincial affiliates and allergy organizations to issue recommendations on managing anaphylaxis in the public schools. The goal was to reduce children's exposure to allergenic foods in the classroom, particularly to peanuts. The group concentrated on education about allergies, focusing on the primary grades. The guidelines suggested no trading or sharing of foods, encouraged hand washing, and stated that food-allergic children should only eat lunches and snacks that had been prepared at home. The group saved its strongest statements for the youngest ages, recommending complete restriction of peanuts and peanut butter from nurseries, day care centers, and early elementary grades in Canadian schools to reduce the risk of accidental exposure.

In 1994, a student on a field trip to Algonquin Park died from trace amounts of peanut butter which had been transferred to a jam jar.
That same summer, a child attending camp in Montreal died after eating a cheese sandwich that had been stored in the same bag as a peanut butter sandwich. The amounts of peanut butter that killed these children can be measured on the head of a pin. Some children are so sensitive that even the smell of peanut butter can cause problems

Peanut allergies have doubled in the last five years and it is WAY ahead of mustard allergies.

How would you feel if you sent your child to school with a peanut butter sandwich and another child died as a result. Or a granola bar........

Parents of children who have a peanut allergy, have to be viligent each and every moment, of every day of what their child is exposed to. If a child is going to a sleepover, out to a restaurant, birthday party, dinner at a friends, hidden peanuts, a person who may have just eaten peanuts, going to school, a party..........because a minute amount of any peanut product could mean the end of their life.

At least in schools, which is a safe and daily environment, measures are taken to keep all children safe from harm........staff is trained in the use of EPI pens and everyone is well aware that if a child is exposed to a LIFE THREATENING allergy, the EPI pen may save his/her life.

These allergy measures in schools was implemented by a Law, called Sabrina's Law, named for a 13 year old girl who died in school, after eatting french fries contaminated with her life threatening allergy - dairy.

Who would think that french fries could be 'accidently" contaminated with a dairy product. But this unknown accident and unknown contamination cost a young girl her life.

My friends transferred their child to another daycare, because even though parents were informed that peanut products were not allowed, many choose to disregard this. The parents felt that they could not risk their child's life because that is what parents who disregard the no peanut policy are doing, risking the life of another child and accidental contamination is always a risk. Unfortunately, that risk may result in the child's death.

So it is better to reduce that risk and ban all peanut products, that way there is no risk.

I obviously only brought up the mustard allergy as an example. I think pretty much everybody knows that peanut allergies are more common.

Do you have any information on what, if any, follow up there was to this 1994 article, (a link to the actual article would also be nice) that also recommended...

• ... reduce children's exposure to allergenic foods in the classroom, particularly to peanuts.
• ...suggested no trading or sharing of foods, encouraged hand washing, and stated that food-allergic children should only eat lunches and snacks that had been prepared at home.

I'm not sure which parts of this you are saying are part of an article, or which parts are your opinion, but I'll answer this bit at least:



"How would you feel if you sent your child to school with a peanut butter sandwich and another child died as a result. Or a granola bar..."

I'd feel terribly, of course. ESPECIALLY after I'd instructed, very carefully, that my child NOT share his/her food with ANYONE. If somehow, some way, that ONE child got ahold of my childs granola bar, and then after being carefully instruced themselves and knowing full well that they have allergies and should not ingest said granola bar and then did anyway, I would still feel terribly. Does it make me think we should ban peanuts? No way.

"Parents of children who have a peanut allergy, have to be viligent each and every moment, of every day of what their child is exposed to. If a child is going to a sleepover, out to a restaurant, birthday party, dinner at a friends, hidden peanuts, a person who may have just eaten peanuts, going to school, a party..........because a minute amount of any peanut product could mean the end of their life."

Absolutely. And have had to for the past however many years. I'm guessing you're one of those parents (or know someone who is) a parent of a child with peanut allergies? It is a terrible tragedy when a child dies of ANYTHING. Banning them from interacting with life does not save all of the children who die every DAY. If only that were so.

 

[Casshew]

I feel bad for kids with this terrible allergy & their families. Imagine sending your child out the door every day knowing that something so simple and common can kill them. It must be a huge worry.

 

[angelmom]

I believe Angelmom does has a point - the bus driver should let someone know where they are in case of an emergency. However, it could be that the school was aware of the weekly trip and it was just this particular mother that was not.

Phew! Some relief for the crazy one (that would be me )

Anyway, to get back on topic, perhaps my example of the diabetic child was not the best, just one from my own experience. The peanut allergy (or any medical history) is more on target because I seriously doubt if the bus driver has that information. If a child became ill from something that the parents had no idea they were eating, and the bus driver did not have that information for the first responders, it could be horrible.

This is why I would bet everything I own that the school and the bus company were not aware of these little jaunts and that the bus driver has probably been ordered to stop them (at the very least), if not reprimanded or fired. She took the kids safety into her own hands without any regard for any other issues.

I am really surprised by the reaction on this board. I truly believe that if we were reading about one of these kids and some harm had come to them while they were at the McDonalds or walking to and from the bus, one of the first things that would be asked is "why were they stopping at McDonald's anyway?"

Oh, and the classroom I work in is a dairy, nut, and wheat free zone b/c of a child with severe allergies. None of the other parents has objected at all, knowing that this child's safety is more important than Susie Q having Go-gurt for snack, even though it's her favorite!

 

[vanillasky]

The peanut allergy is a lot more serious than people think... a good friend of mine, her daughter has it, and they are right now in the process of making her school peanut free because of it. She will be starting school there next year, that's why they're working on it now. I do not have a problem with this - if it will save a child's life, then it's worth it for my child to forgo a peanut butter & jelly sandwich for lunch, or have any snacks, etc.. containing peanut products. I realize some people will say if it's that severe, then maybe the child shouldn't be sent to school - but it's really not fair for a child not to have a normal childhood when the school can take preventative measures. JMO of course.

My brother in law has this allergy as well - and it is very, very severe. No one in the house can have or touch anything with peanuts either - just a simple kiss on the cheek from someone who has ingested peanuts that day can put him into shock and possibly cause death. And yes - they do have an Epipen in the house, just in case.

 

[Hbgchick]

I wonder if anyone has done a study on:

How many school aged children have peanut allergies now vs. 25 years ago?
How many school aged children died each year from peanut allergy accidents occuring in schools this year? In the year 1980?

How about other allergies?
How many school aged children have dairy allergies now vs. 25 years ago?
How many school aged children died each year from dairy allergy accidents occuring in schools this year? In the year 1980?

How many school aged children have mustard/other allergies now vs. 25 years ago?
How many school aged children died each year from mustard/other allergy accidents occuring in schools this year? In the year 1980?

If someone can quantitatively prove to me that there...
A.) are significantly more children with peanut allergies now than in 1980
B.) are significantly more allergy accidents (not necessarily resulting in death) occuring this year than in 1980
C.) are not significantly more dairy/mustard/other allergies this year than in 1980
D.) are not significantly more dairy/mustard/other allergy accidents this year than in 1980

Then MAYBE I could support the idea of making schools peanut-free. But what about the kids allergic to mustard/other? To dairy? To bees? To God only knows what? Just wait till the school is peanut free and a poor child dies from a bee sting on their property. I can see the lawsuits now...Suzie was protected from death because of a peanut-free environment, but Johnny died because there was not a full-time bee exterminator present.

Please people, I am ABSOLUTELY NOT saying that it is not a tragedy when ANY child dies, of course it is. But let's keep it in perspective, shall we?

 

[Hbgchick]

As far as the McD's trips are concerned...I say let them continue as long as the parents and school give permission. As long as everyone knows where they are, no one objects to the extra 15 minutes, and everyone's dietary needs are met, go for it.

They should have asked the parents permission in the first place, which was a mistake. If they had, the parents would probably have been ok with it and it would have not been an issue - it's just an issue because one mom went ballistic because her precious little (15 year old, mind you) baby was out of her complete control for 15 minutes and God knows WHAT could have happened!! Likely death! Or dismemberment!! :banghead: .

But now everyone knows, and they can decide whether or not to let their kid ride that bus on Fridays. I'd just hate to see an act of kindness and bonding like this one between a driver and their students go punished.

 

[angelmom]

As far as the McD's trips are concerned...I say let them continue as long as the parents and school give permission. As long as everyone knows where they are, no one objects to the extra 15 minutes, and everyone's dietary needs are met, go for it.

They should have asked the parents permission in the first place, which was a mistake. If they had, the parents would probably have been ok with it and it would have not been an issue - it's just an issue because one mom went ballistic because her precious little (15 year old, mind you) baby was out of her complete control for 15 minutes and God knows WHAT could have happened!! Likely death! Or dismemberment!! :banghead: .

But now everyone knows, and they can decide whether or not to let their kid ride that bus on Fridays. I'd just hate to see an act of kindness and bonding like this one between a driver and their students go punished.

This is my point. Clearly the mother didn't know or approve. The school didn't say definitively, but from their statement I don't think they knew either.

 

[JBean]

The peanut allergy is a lot more serious than people think... a good friend of mine, her daughter has it, and they are right now in the process of making her school peanut free because of it. She will be starting school there next year, that's why they're working on it now. I do not have a problem with this - if it will save a child's life, then it's worth it for my child to forgo a peanut butter & jelly sandwich for lunch, or have any snacks, etc.. containing peanut products. I realize some people will say if it's that severe, then maybe the child shouldn't be sent to school - but it's really not fair for a child not to have a normal childhood when the school can take preventative measures. JMO of course.

My brother in law has this allergy as well - and it is very, very severe. No one in the house can have or touch anything with peanuts either - just a simple kiss on the cheek from someone who has ingested peanuts that day can put him into shock and possibly cause death. And yes - they do have an Epipen in the house, just in case.

This is my understanding about the peanut allergy. I thought it was very often fatal, which is why it is taken so seriously. Most food allergies are not this devastating.
With that being said, if it only saves one life, why would anyone question it? I would be more than happy to have made sure my kids were peanut free if it saved anyone. I just feel lucky that I do not have any kids allergic to peanuts.

As far as the bus goes, I just don't underatand why the bus driver wasn't on the up and up in the first place?

 

[CaliMom]

I agree about the peanut allergy. My son goes to a preschool where they have a nutritionist on staff to supply the food. There is a little girl in his class that has a very bad peanut allergy and we have all been warned on many occasions to not send snacks or anything that contains certain additives, there is a really long list. Her mother brings her a special cupcake to birthday parties, so that she can still enjoy herself and have a treat while the other children eat the cake. We are all careful to take these extra precautions because we would want the same thing done for our child.

Her and her family have a hard enough time controlling her environment, why would I want to do anything to make it harder for them if I don't have to. If my son wants a PB&J sandwich for breakfast before going to school, we make sure he washes his hands and face really well before going into school. It's not a big deal to take the extra time to ensure that this little girl is in a safe environment. I do have to say that having the school provide the safe snacks and meals is a BIG help though, because the list of things that are No No's was sooooo long and I would have never thought some of the foods were dangerous to a person with peanut allergies.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Casshew]

In some local communities near where I live they had started having one school in the district peanut-free and the others normal. Some kids have to be bussed to the peanut free school where they could have walked to the closest school.

There are pros and cons to the situation but many are grateful the option is there.

As a parent I have absolutely no problem following peanut free rules to save a childs life. I believe their life is more important that what my child may want to eat or my lunch budget for supplying an economical sandwich.

 

[narlacat]

I just gotta say, it could only happen in America!!
The school bus stopping for Macca's...you gotta be joking.
Have you guys not seen Supersize Me??

 

[CyberLaw]

I obviously only brought up the mustard allergy as an example. I think pretty much everybody knows that peanut allergies are more common.
Do you have any information on what, if any, follow up there was to this 1994 article, (a link to the actual article would also be nice) that also recommended...

• ... reduce children's exposure to allergenic foods in the classroom, particularly to peanuts.
• ...suggested no trading or sharing of foods, encouraged hand washing, and stated that food-allergic children should only eat lunches and snacks that had been prepared at home.

For your information: Please refer to
http://www.oma.org/phealth/allergy.htm - OMA = Ontario Medical Association

http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/bills/381/3381.htm - ONTLA = Ontario Legislative Assembly

www.livingwithout.com/feature_peanuts.htm

From the Toronto Star, May 16, 2005 - On average, there are seven anaphylactic children in every elementary school and 17 anaphylactic students in every high school(In Ontario) .

From Livingwithout.com

The Anaphylaxis Network of Canada was founded in 1990 by Marilyn Allen, after her 15-year-old daughter, Robyn, died from anaphylactic shock after accidentally ingesting peanut butter. Playing volleyball at her high school, Robyn had used a knife that someone else had used earlier to spread peanut butter. The knife had been wiped, but a minute trace of peanut butter remained, enough to trigger a fatal reaction. Since its founding, the Anaphylaxis Network has been dedicated exclusively to enabling its members to live safely with life-threatening allergies

I'm not sure which parts of this you are saying are part of an article, or which parts are your opinion, but I'll answer this bit at least:

The first two parargraphs are part of an article up to an including the line: Peanut allergies have doubled in the last five years.

"How would you feel if you sent your child to school with a peanut butter sandwich and another child died as a result. Or a granola bar..."

I'd feel terribly, of course. ESPECIALLY after I'd instructed, very carefully, that my child NOT share his/her food with ANYONE. If somehow, some way, that ONE child got ahold of my childs granola bar, and then after being carefully instruced themselves and knowing full well that they have allergies and should not ingest said granola bar and then did anyway, I would still feel terribly. Does it make me think we should ban peanuts? No way.

How about this scene: The allergic child knows that any type of OBVIOUS peanuts could sentence them to death. But your child did not wash their hands and/or the table was not properly cleaned. Another child sits down to the table and takes out their lunch and gets the peanut residue(the amount is smaller then the head of a pin)and their lunch/food is cross contaminated with the granola bar that your child just ate.

Most of exposure and deaths for children with peanut allergies come from sources that they don't know and are unaware about. They have no idea how to avoid peanuts and peanut butter if they can't see or be aware of it.

In the case of Robyn, she had no idea that the knife had previously been used to spread peanut butter. If there was no peanut butter, then there would have been no exposure.

"Parents of children who have a peanut allergy, have to be viligent each and every moment, of every day of what their child is exposed to. If a child is going to a sleepover, out to a restaurant, birthday party, dinner at a friends, hidden peanuts, a person who may have just eaten peanuts, going to school, a party..........because a minute amount of any peanut product could mean the end of their life."

Absolutely. And have had to for the past however many years. I'm guessing you're one of those parents (or know someone who is) a parent of a child with peanut allergies? It is a terrible tragedy when a child dies of ANYTHING. Banning them from interacting with life does not save all of the children who die every DAY. If only that were so.

But dying from a peanut allergy in a school setting is aviodable. Just make sure there are no "life threatening" items like peanuts in the daily school setting. Food is surposed to substain life, add enjoyment and pleasure, but for some it is the "kiss of death" and that is a daily occurance in life for these children. You can make sure children avoid strangers, watch for cars, and "guide and inform" them of "streetproofing" meansure to keep them safe. But how can you know if another person will "accidently" expose your child to peanuts(when they are not aware) and cause them to die, which would be preventable. You child's life depends on the adherence to school policy.

So you walk your child to school, the school has security and metal detectors, teachers are screened, you check out their friends, you are a viligent Mom to make sure no harm comes to your child. But all it takes for an allergic child - one person mistake that can cause your child to die. A handshake, accident, cross contamination, a whiff of peanut butter, all it takes is one unknown accidental expose. How do you protect your child from the unknown. Well if they are at school from 9-4 everyday 5 days a week, 10 months out of the year, ban peanuts this way there will be no occurances of your child dying because a parent sent their child to school with a peanut butter sandwich or any accidental exposure ot an unknown peanut source.

Both of the 1994 cases were due to accidental exposure, the child knew not to have peanuts. But they cannot control the actions of and unknown third party, who stores a cheese sandwich with a peanut butter sandwich or who does not clean off a knife properly. In both of these two cases, if there was no peanut butter allowed, both of these two children would be alive.

You can protect yourself from the known and obvious, but for a child who has a life threatening allergy to peanuts, they have to be protected from the unknown and "accidental" actions of others. Hence if there is no peanuts in the school setting the child is just as safe as the other children who attend the school.

 

[SewingDeb]

I think this woman just lives for something to complain about. She is likely pissed about something else and is using this to gripe about. I could somewhat understand a complaint if the children were young (under 12) but these are all high schoolers. Maybe she could have just driven her kid to school on McDonalds day rather then ruining it for everyone and targeting her son for harrassment by his peers.

What an egghead.

I agree with you, Tybee. Why ruin it for all the rest?
OT, but what a sweet trick or treater!

 

[mindi77]

I just wanted to say something about the ban on peanut butter at some schools. While I understand that some children are at risk but how can you just ban it for everyone. I mean if they have a peanut allergy forever will there workplace adapt this rule.

What about the kids that go to there school who's parents don't have alot of money and peanut butter goes along way. I wouldn't want any kid that has a peanut allergy to get ahold of it but If they know they have this then I imagine they will.

I see both points but I don't agree with making no kids be able to bring it. I remember when I was a kid there would be times I didn't have any money for lunch and nothing else to take but peanut butter. What should I have done? Not eat.

It does suck I mean maybe there would be away to help but not ban it.

 

[Hbgchick]

I just wanted to say something about the ban on peanut butter at some schools. While I understand that some children are at risk but how can you just ban it for everyone. I mean if they have a peanut allergy forever will there workplace adapt this rule.

What about the kids that go to there school who's parents don't have alot of money and peanut butter goes along way. I wouldn't want any kid that has a peanut allergy to get ahold of it but If they know they have this then I imagine they will.

I see both points but I don't agree with making no kids be able to bring it. I remember when I was a kid there would be times I didn't have any money for lunch and nothing else to take but peanut butter. What should I have done? Not eat.

It does suck I mean maybe there would be away to help but not ban it.

Exactly.

 

[vanillasky]

It really has to be an all or nothing ban - as other posters have said this morning, such as CyberLaw - all it takes is a minute amount to kill a child with this allergy. As I said before - I have a good friend whose daughter has this allergy, as does my brother in law. It's not a run of the mill allergy that causes a rash or sneezing - it can easily cause death. I see nothing wrong with a school becoming peanut free - if it saves a child's life, then why even question it?

 

[Hbgchick]

Both of the 1994 cases were due to accidental exposure, the child knew not to have peanuts. But they cannot control the actions of and unknown third party, who stores a cheese sandwich with a peanut butter sandwich or who does not clean off a knife properly. In both of these two cases, if there was no peanut butter allowed, both of these two children would be alive.

You can protect yourself from the known and obvious, but for a child who has a life threatening allergy to peanuts, they have to be protected from the unknown and "accidental" actions of others. Hence if there is no peanuts in the school setting the child is just as safe as the other children who attend the school.

Where do you draw the line then? So you ban peanuts. What about the kid who dies from the bee sting, or the drop of milk that got into the baked beans or whatever that caused the death of the kid with a dairy allergy? Or some kid made his cheese sandwich with a knife his sister used for her peanut butter sandwich at HOME, the boy takes the cheese sandwich to school and the allergic kid eats the cheese sandwich?

Another poster made the point about the workplace...will these children grow up and expect their high schools and colleges and workplaces to be peanut free too?