Allergy Aware Schools : Inspiration Across Canada

Kyle Dine and friends at Sacred Heart Catholic School

Recently, we held the Allergy Aware Challenge contest, to support the launch of the mobile-friendly version of our “Anaphylaxis in Schools” online learning tool (visit allergyaware.ca). Prize packages included $1,000 for programs and resources as well as an Anaphylaxis Tool Kit.

We were delighted to hear that Sacred Heart Catholic School in Niagara Falls, Ontario used the prize to purchase allergy awareness resources for staff and students and to bring musician Kyle Dine to the school. Parents and community members were invited, and students were a part of this inspiring performance!

Principal Irene Ricci, school staff and the school nurse at Sacred Heart all worked together to make the event happen and to plan for more allergy education in the fall. Thanks to all for your efforts.

At Muriel Clayton Middle School (Airdrie, Alberta), staff also used prize money to further allergy awareness. They purchased safe snacks to keep in the office for their students with allergies, several carrying cases for auto-injectors and an EpiPen^® for a family that needed one. They expect to purchase several more EpiPens^® for families in need.

Two students who are leading the way in raising awareness at Muriel Clayton are Allie Bleichert and Ashleigh Stewart, both 10-year-olds who have food allergies. They have spoken to all of the grade 5 and 6 classes and most of the grade 7 classes about the signs and symptoms of allergic reactions and how to respond and use the EpiPen^®. “Allie and Ashleigh hope to complete the training of the older students by the end of the year. That’s around 750 kids,” says their teacher, Suzanne Krienke. “I am certain that they will continue to make a difference and possibly save lives.”

Other Allergy Aware school winners were École Notre-Dame-de-Fatima in Lac-Mégantic Quebec; Captain Meares Elementary Secondary School in Tahsis, British Columbia; and École Mont-Carmel, Sainte-Marie-de-Kent in New Brunswick. We would like to thank all participants — and all educators who have visited allergyaware.ca to learn about food allergy and anaphylaxis.

We have just launched a new contest – Allergy Aware Champions  – in support of our latest online tool, “Anaphylaxis in the Community” for people with life-threatening allergies and those who care for them. This new contest is open to anyone 14 years of age and older. Enter for a chance to win an iPad Pro.