WA: Teenage peanut death prompts WA health team

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2006
WA: Teenage peanut death prompts WA health team

PERTH, Feb 17 AAP - Western Australia will set up a specialist team to advise schools
and childcare centres on potentially deadly allergies.

The death of a NSW teenager from an extreme allergic reaction to peanut butter has
prompted the state government to form the team.

Hamidur Rahman, 13, died from an anaphylactic reaction at a school excursion in March
2002. The NSW coroner then recommended staff at NSW schools and childcare centres receive
allergy awareness training.

Now WA health minister Jim McGinty has announced the team will help staff at schools
and childcare centres deal with children suffering from potentially fatal allergic reactions
known as anaphylactic symptoms.

Mr McGinty said the team of general practitioners, nurses, dieticians and other medical
professionals would develop a comprehensive plan for the management of anaphylaxis in
schools and childcare centres.

"There are almost 250,000 children in Western Australia's state schools - so two per
cent amounts to about 5,000 kids who are at risk," Mr McGinty said.

"Anaphylaxis can be fatal so it is vital that school and childcare staff have the necessary
skills to deal with a life threatening emergency."

The Anaphylaxis Expert Working Committee will work on systems to train community health
nurses, teachers and childcare workers on how to identify children at risk of anaphylaxis
and how to treat a child who suffers a severe allergic reaction.

The committee will also consider introducing life saving adrenaline pens (EpiPen) to
first aid kits in schools and childcare centres.

AAP tc/drp/de

KEYWORD: ALLERGIES

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