By YUCHEN FAN
Staff Writer
A recent student allergy emergency has prompted the nurse’s office to advise both students, teachers  and administrators to take further precautions to prevent another occurrence.
These precautions were taken after a student suffered from a severe reaction off campus after consuming food. Due to the severity of the reaction, the health office was forced to call emergency services.
“The office has instructed teachers on the procedure should another anaphylaxis occur, including briefings on how to correctly use EpiPens and other tips,” Mr. Josh Davis (Latin) said.
“We [send] reminders to teachers to make sure [students] know not to bring allergens,” Ms. Azita Ghaderifard (Health) said. “We re-educate, or remind teachers, to encourage them [to wash hands] and also we do carry plans [for more allergic students] so each teacher gets a complete care plan of what’s going on, what to do, what to act [and] what medication [to administer].”
Alicia Hans (So.) is one such example who suffers from food allergies to peanuts and oranges and environmental allergies to grasses, trees, wheat, mold, dust mites and animal hair.
“If you have a very serious food allergy you really do have to be careful when you’re not eating at home.” Han said. “I usually have my allergy medicine with me and I also have an EpiPen here at school and one at home.”
This is because the school neither has the ability nor the funds to provide such medication.
“We’re not allowed to give any medication.” Ghaderifard said. “We encourage parents to bring medication to school with a doctor’s form and we make sure teachers are aware of what medication students [need].
Students also have the choice to keep medicine in the Health Office in case of a medical situation on campus. However, the office cannot prescribe medication to students without parental permission unless there is an emergency.