Anaphylaxis at school. Are we prepared? Could we improve?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Public Health and School Safety
• Emergency Medical Response Training

Background:

• Food allergy is common, with anaphylaxis being a severe risk, often occurring in schools.
• Prompt treatment by school personnel is critical during anaphylactic reactions.
• Assessing and improving school staff's knowledge of anaphylaxis management is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the existing knowledge of school staff regarding anaphylaxis management.
• To determine the impact of a training session on their knowledge and confidence.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study using pre- and post-training questionnaires administered to school staff.
• Comparison of participant knowledge before and after the training session using McNemar's test.

Main Results:

• 53 school staff (teachers and canteen staff) from 3 schools participated.
• Pre-training: Only 41% recognized anaphylaxis, and few knew adrenaline administration guidelines.
• Post-training: 93% recognized anaphylaxis, 95% knew the correct treatment, and all felt improved knowledge and confidence.

Conclusions:

• School staff's initial knowledge of anaphylaxis management was inadequate.
• A simple training intervention significantly improved their knowledge and confidence.
• Universal, compulsory training programs are recommended for all school staff.