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Anaphylaxis Australia website
S.A.F.E Program (Support Allergic Friends Everywhere)
Medic Alert Bracelet/Pendant
Special Food Shopping in Singapore
Recommended Doctors & Obtaining Epipens
Checklists for families with anaphylactic students
The "No Nut" Issue
Other Useful website links
The AISS Allergy & Anaphylactic Support Group represents and brings together parents and guardians of children attending AISS with allergies from mild to life-threatening (anaphylactic).
Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of an allergy. It can be life-threatening and up to 10 Australians die each year from Anaphylaxis, where as thousands more need urgent medical attention. The current statistics show that 1 in 20 children have an allergy and 1 in 200 have Anaphylaxis.
There are 21 anaphylactic students in the current Year attending AISS, ranging from Pre-school age to Year 12. The main allergens of anaphylaxis are food related, and there are just 8 foods (Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Sesame Seeds, Soy, Crustaceans, and Fish) that cause 90% of these life threatening reactions, but in some cases, the allergen may be a bee or wasp sting, latex or medicine. For more information about anaphylaxis, please visit the Anaphylaxis Australia website (www.allergyfacts.org.au).
Our objectives vary from providing practical and emotional support to families living with allergies and anaphylaxis by way of meetings held on a regular basis, providing education to the school community about anaphylaxis, and working closely with the School on all issues regarding allergies and anaphylaxis within the school community.
If you need any further information, have any suggestions, or would like to join our group, please send an email to aissallergysupgrp@hotmail.com or contact the school nurse.
Stephanie Lazar, Contact for the Allergy & Anaphylactic Support Group
Contact for the Allergy & Anaphylactic Support Group
 S.A.F.E. Program (Support Allergic Friends Everywhere).
During May 2007, the Allergy and Anaphylactic Support Group ran an Anaphylaxis education program throughout the whole school. We plan to run another program in 2008 to coincide with Anaphylaxis Awareness Week in May.From Pre-school to Year 12, we discussed What is Anaphylaxis, What causes Anaphylaxis, What Happens during an Anaphylactic reaction, An Action Plan, and how the students can help a friend who has Food Allergies. Of course, the material was adapted for the relevant age groups, Pre-school met two bears called Anna and Phil, and we showed them how Phil supports Anna with her anaphylaxis. Overall, the same message was passed on to every student:
- Take Food Allergies Seriously.
- Know What Your Friend is Allergic To.
- Get Help Immediately if your Friend feels sick, especially after eating something.
- Don’t pressure your friends to eat any foods.
- WASH YOUR HANDS after you’ve eaten.
Simple steps you can take to help prevent anaphylactic reactions in your children’s classmates
- Encourage your children to never share their food.
- Instil in your children the habit of washing their hands before and after eating.
Please help your children be responsible about supporting their anaphylactic friends.
 Medic Alert Bracelet/Pendant
The simplest option is a Medic Alert Bracelet. These can be obtained from the following sources. (Parents in the past have suggested that the Medic Alert USA is the best option.)
No Need for Doctor's authorisation
Delivery within 2 – 3 days
1800 Number – World Wide
Doctor's authorisation required
Delivery about 2 weeks
Australia Number only ( Adelaide)
Doctor's authorisation required
Delivery about 2 weeks
 Where to find ‘friendly’ foods and health supplements in Singapore
Brown Rice Paradise , 3rd Floor, Tanglin Mall. They usually stock the white Spelt Flour, good selection of gluten free products, egg replacer, as well as organic foods. Also stock probiotics and a wide range of natural health supplements.
SuperNature : 5 mins from Tanglin Mall. It's the corner of Tomlinson Street and Orchard Boulevard at the base of a condo building. Turn in from Orchard Boulevard. It has a great stock of organic and alternative foods. Also stocks probiotics and a wide range of natural health supplements. Good rice pastas too, especially Tinkyada and Lundberg brands. They also have a good selection of frozen non-wheat breads mainly from the US. Parking is free.
Cold Storage (Parkway Parade & Great World) & Market Place (Tanglin & Paragon) Supermarkets stock Bob Mills products which have a large array of gluten free flours like Buckwheat, tapioca, rice flour, quinoa, sougham, garbanzo
Carrefour at Suntec City and Plaza Singapura. Stocks Bob Mills products which have a large array of gluten free flours like Buckwheat, tapioca, rice flour, quinoa, sougham, garbanzo as well as spelt flour
Organic Paradise , China Town, Temple Street. This is cheaper than the other places - but not too much of gluten free stuff. Quite a lot of grains. Also stocks probiotics and a wide range of natural health supplements.
Vivo City, Basement - Organic Supermarket.
GreenCircle.com - Organic Farm in Singapore with some hard to find products at good prices and fresh fruit and vegetables. Home delivery too. http://www.greencircle.com.sg/sales/index.htm
You can also get cheap rice flour from most supermarkets as it's used a lot in Asian cooking.
Gram flour is also gluten free and can be purchased in Little India at a minimal cost.
 Doctors
The current two doctors that are recommended by the group are:
- Dr Lee Bee Wah at The Child and Allergy Clinic, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, #11-11 – T: 67360533, 67360577.
Dr Lee Bee Wah is a paediatrician. She is very popular and comes well recommended by parents at the school. She is excellent with asthma, eczema, and allergies and has a pleasant waiting room with toys and books. You can organize blood tests and scratch tests through her. An appointment is recommended, but she can do ‘walk-ins’ but get their early as you may have to wait a few hours.
- Dr Lynette Shek at National University Hospital – T: 67792777
EpiPens
These can only be purchased by prescription in Singapore. Chemists will need to be contacted before hand as they do not usually carry stock. Some doctors may have their own supplies for purchasing, but are usually more expensive. Known chemists that supply EpiPens (with prescription) are:
- Mount Elizabeth Hospital Pharmacy (not the Guardian Chemist)
- NUH ( National University Hospital) Pharmacy.
The best option is to buy your EpiPens in Australia, as they are not always available here in Singapore.
 Recommended Checklist, by Support Group, for Families of Anaphylactic students before commencement of school.
- Ensure Appointment with School Nurse is made.
- Prepare Action Plan. We suggest you supply a letter from your current doctor detailing the required action for your child’s condition.
- Current photo of child for Action Plan. This can be a passport size.
- Medic Alert Bracelet. The school would like you to wear some form of identification i.e. bracelet, necklace etc. We have listed suppliers of these above.
- Ensure relevant Medication is clearly labelled for handover to school nurse. You will need to provide the school with any prescribed medications your child may need during school hours (routinely or in case of emergency). In the case of anaphylactic students, t he number of EpiPens is determined by the Year they are attending. The School Nurse will advise, but on average, this is usually 2 EpiPens.
- Make an Appointment with Teacher (as early as possible to the start of school). You will need to contact your child’s teacher; this may not be known till after the first day of school. At this meeting, you can discuss any concerns you have including birthday cakes in class, school excursions, and relief teachers, and even run through the Action Plan.
Recommended Checklist, by Support Group, for Families of Anaphylactic students during time at school.
- Maintain medication is in date. Please take a note of expiry date of all medication and replace with the school when required. This should be checked by the school, but it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of your child.
- Informing the School Nurse of up-dates or changes in contact details, treatments, action plan changes, or health issues.
- Informing the School Administration of any contact changes.
- Supporting the Staff, especially in Secondary and Year 5 and 6, where your children go away on camps and are required to carry their own pen. Plan with teachers in regards to camps and day trips, especially where specific foods are required or avoided. Emergency Procedures would need to be thoroughly confirmed.
- Collect Medical K it, along with a copy of the Action Plan, at the end of each year and review the response plans prior to returning them on Day 1.
The ‘No Nut’ Issue.
The school supports those students with severe and life threatening allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, by encouraging all students, and their families/guardians, not to bring nuts* or nut* products to school. In some students, the simple act of touching a small amount or breathing the airborne particles of peanuts or nuts is enough to trigger a relatively severe reaction.
Did you know that:
- Peanuts are not a nut, they are a Legume. The ‘No Nuts’ request does include peanuts.
- Coconut is not a Tree Nut, and is not included in the ‘No Nuts’ request.
- MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF NUTS . This is a warning placed on packaging to release manufacturers of their legal liability in case that product accidentally contains nuts from their manufacturing line. As long as the Ingredient List does not contain a Nut* product, then these products are not included in the “No Nuts’ request.
Nuts* |
Nuts* |
Common foods containing nuts* |
- Peanuts
- Hazelnuts (Filberts)
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Brazil nuts
- Gingko
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- Almonds
- Macadamia
- Pistachio
- Pine nuts
- Chestnuts
- Pecans
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- Peanut butter
- Nutella
- Muesli bars
- Orange cake (almond meal)
- Carrot cake (walnuts)
- Marzipan
- Nougat
- Peanut Butter Oreos
- M & M’s (Plain or Peanut)
- Toblerone and other chocolates
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Lunch Box suggestions
The group, repeatedly, has had requests for ideas for lunches, especially from families where Peanut Butter, or Nutella has been the favourite source of sandwich filler.
IDEAS FOR MORNING TEA
- Fresh fruit - apple, grapes, banana, blueberries, cut-up water melon/rock melon,
- Dried Fruit - sultanas, dates, banana chips
- Plain crackers/biscuits - e.g. rice crackers, ryvita
- Seeds - Pumpkin seeds
- Scones with jam (can make a batch, freeze and defrost as required)
- Cut up cheddar cheese into cubes
SPREADS FOR SANDWICHES
- Roast Beef & lettuce
- Ham & cheese
- Cheddar Cheese
- Cream cheese
- Ricotta cheese
- Jam/marmalade
- Honey
- Vegemite
- Bacon and lettuce
OTHER LUNCH IDEAS
- Home made quiche (can make a big one, freeze, defrost)
- Cut up carrots/celery/green beans.
- Baby tomatoes
- Left-overs from dinner. E.g. a piece of chicken; plain pasta
We offer these ideas for lunches and recess, as suggestions only. These are only seen as a replacement for nut* products. Many of the anaphylactic students at AISS are not allergic to peanuts at all, and some are allergic to peanuts as well as many other allergens, including items that we have listed above. These food allergens include: eggs, milk, sesame seeds, soy (& soy products), and shellfish.
Useful resources about anaphylaxis.
Now available in the School Library:
Everyday Health Magazine. This contains articles on: food allergy or intolerance; eczema; Meniere's Disease; diabetes; coeliac; gluten-free recipes; vegan, vegetarian food; teens and food allergies, etc.
Anaphylaxis Australia:
http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/
Sydney Morning Herald Allergies Page:
http://www.smh.com.au/health-fitness/health-in-focus/allergies/
EpiPen Info Sheet, e.g. how to tell if your EpiPen has gone off, the best way to administer etc:
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/e/epipen.htm
Food Translation Cards ( for travelling to foreign countries):
http://www.selectwisely.com
NEW TO SINGAPORE – Food Allergy Network (Singapore). Please join this! A mum from UWC has just started the group and aims to have talks relevant to parents with allergic children in Singapore as well as networking opportunities with other allergic parents across Singapore. The first talk had the dietician Karen Wright. She has also secured discounts at some of the organic stores in Singapore. If you or your kids have allergies, definitely join.
www.foodallergysingapore.org
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