Annual Allergy Drills - The new requirement of the DfE's Allergy Safety Guidance

Several clients have asked Handsam Ltd what they are meat to do in order to fulfil the new recommendation to undertake an annual allergy drill which features in the DfE's statutory Allergy Safety Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/allergy-safety-in-schools

Page 20 of the guidance states:

It is good practice for schools, colleges and early years settings to conduct allergy safety drills, in the same way as fire drills or in an active training exercise. A simulated case of anaphylaxis can be used to test out how staff respond, without risk to any individual. The results of the drill should be recorded in a similar way to an incident or “near miss” and used to inform the ongoing review of the allergy safety policy. In some cases, it may be appropriate to include children and young people in such tests, for example where one of their peers has a high risk of anaphylaxis. If so, the child or young person should be involved in the planning of the drill to avoid a negative impact on their wellbeing. This can support the person at risk of anaphylaxis and provide reassurance to them and their family.

Also, page 64 states:

Some settings have used simulated drills, active training and role play to test out how staff would respond to a medical emergency or case of anaphylaxis, without putting individuals at risk.

What Needs To Be Tested?

The key considerations are:

• Do staff recognise anaphylaxis when it occurs?

• Can they communicate to get help and have the spare autoinjectors delivered to wherever they are on your site?

• Can this be achieved within the maximum of 5 minutes from the person suffering the anaphylactic attack?.

What Should We Do?

Handsam recommend, therefore, that you rehearse with small groups of staff, using the opportunity to test each of the three bullet points above with each group. The first is likely to be the most difficult to put into place, but consideration should be given to confirming that staff know the signs of a severe allergic reaction and then know to act. The second will highlight any times or places from where it is difficult for them to communicate back to base, while the third may show that you need further spares kits strategically positioned around site.

How Often Should We Undertake a Drill?

The requirement is annually. However, in order to be effective we recommend considering having a number of small drills, potentially in departments depending on your setting, which allow each group or team to discuss what issues there are for them - for example those working in PE or Forest School might be more remote around site.

How Do We Prove We Have Done A Drill?

Very simply, keep a record. To help with this Handsam have produced a new Quick Guide: AM20 Allergy Drill Template, which is downloadable from the Quick Guides Library now using the tag 'Benedict's Law'. There is also a task in the Handsam system which can be diarised to your first drill date to which you can upload evidence.

It is also worth noting that the guidance also states that 'A serious incident or “near miss” is therefore a prompt to consider whether the school, college or setting’s policies should be reviewed and revised.' This allows a 'real' incident to be treated very much as the same learning experience. It should therefore be recorded in the same way.

HANDSAM RESOURCES

All these resources are available to HANDSAM clients via our system

• AM12 Supporting Pupils with SEND and Medical Conditions on School Trips

• AM08 Supporting Pupils at Risk of Anaphylaxis

• AM12 Supporting Pupils with SEND and Medical Conditions on School Trips

• AM16 Adrenaline Pens: Letter of Advice Template

• AM19 Benedict’s Law: Checklist for Governors

• AM20 Allergy Drill Template

• DfE: Allergy Safety in Schools

• RAS107 Risk Assessment Template: Managing Allergies

• POL-AM03 Allergy Policy Benedicts Law and Natashas Law