Dear Parents/Guardians,
There are children in the Bridgewater Raritan Regional School District who have allergies to nuts, peanuts and peanut based products. We have learned through consultation with our pediatric allergists as well as through our own research that nuts and/or peanuts can cause an allergic reaction that is among the most severe of any food allergy – ranging from hives and itching, to difficulty breathing and possibly cardiac arrest. The seriousness of the allergy is compounded by the fact that the food does not have to be ingested to cause a reaction. Simply touching someone or something that has had contact with a peanut based product can result in severe consequences. Even trace amounts of residue of peanut material (e.g. on a table or toy) may induce a reaction.
This letter is to inform you that there is a student in your child’s class who has a severe allergy. This student is highly allergic to nuts of any kind, and to peanuts and all peanut products. Due to the severity of this situation it is imperative that this child avoid these foods completely. This allergy is so severe that if he/she comes in contact with any of the above foods he/she may suffer from a severe, life-threatening reaction, which may require immediate emergency medical attention.
Please be aware that it is extremely dangerous for this child to even come in close proximity to the offending foods. When you wish to send in a snack for all students in the classroom, it is your responsibility to please notify the teacher in advance so he/she can ask this child’s parents to send in a ‘’safe snack/food’’ for the allergic student.
At this time we are requesting that all snacks or treats that are brought into the classroom for any reason do not contain nuts, peanuts, or peanut butter. Please carefully check the ingredients if you have any doubts.
One other important item to acknowledge is hand washing. By frequently washing your hands you wash away germs that you have picked up from other people and/or from contaminated surfaces. When dealing with food allergies, hand washing with soap and water is an essential detail. We ask that you have your child wash his/her hands prior to getting on the bus or entering the school from home to help prevent any reactions.
We thank you in advance for your cooperation with this situation.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Binford
Principal