‘Peanut-Sniffing Dog’: Parents Peeved at School’s Draconian Peanut-Allergy Precautions
- Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:21pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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Parents in Edgewater, Florida are up in arms about draconian measures their children will have to endure in order to protect those few students who suffer from deathly peanut allergies in the school.
After one student suffered an allergy attack, the school decided to ban all outside food from holiday parties, to ban all peanut products on school premises, and to require all students to rinse their mouths and wash their hands before entering their classrooms, according to My Fox Orlando. And if that doesn’t do it, the school has also recruited the help of a peanut-sniffing dog. Meanwhile, teachers are stocked with Clorox bleach wipes that they continually use on desks and other public spaces (but not on students, they’re quick to note).
The parents of the non-allergic children have had enough. They rallied outside of the school with sign saying “Our Kids Are Special Too,“ and ”Where is the Happy Median?” protesting the school’s regulations.
Shannon Layshock, the mother of a boy who is allergic to peanuts, said at the rally, “This little kid is 8 years old. If he gets one touch of peanut oil, peanut butter, peanut anything, he’s dead in an instant, and you‘re gonna worry about a Clorox wipe that’s not even allowed to be used on a child’s face. It’s embarrassing. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.”
At one point, another parent chimed in, telling Layshock, ”You can’t take peanut butter and jelly away or any right away from my child. You can’t do that.” That exchange is pictured above.
“You‘re saying it’s OK for you to give that right to my child to die,” Layshock asked:
“No, but keep your child at home,” the parent responded.
To watch a video of this story, click here.
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Comments (249)
nephewofdboone
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:25pmIf your kid’s gonna drop d e a d at the sight of a pb&j sandwich, then your kid shouldn’t ever leave your home. Don‘t take it out on millions of kids who won’t.
Report Post »integrican
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:25pmMy kids have an extreme allergy to the front bumpers of cars.
Therefore: I do not let them play in the street!!!!! I do NOT try to outlaw cars!!!!
Just one more example of the rights of the few superceding the rights of the many!!!!
Report Post »Small Town
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:24pmWe are missing somethi here. Finally there is something that is not Bush’s fault–IT IS CARTER’S FAULT.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:09pmIf her child will die in this scenario, then why is she even taking a chance on sending him out to school let alone into the world un-protected.
We have become a nation that lives in fear of everything. What happens when her kid passes along the whooping cough to others. Are we then going to send the virus/disease sniffing dogs out. If so then we should demand that this be done as well. There will be no end to the reactionaries we’ve all become. No end.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:21pmSo let me get this straight, instead of teaching her child to “live in fear” by going to school on a daily basis and asking others to just not intentionally bring peanuts in that could harm her, you would have her keep the child at home under lock and key and not be allowed to mingle with society. Oh sure, that won’t teach her to live in fear at all!
Report Post »justsaying
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 12:43pmThe child will not die in this situation. To go into anaphylactic shock it must be ingested. The child could have an allergic reaction, however.
Report Post »MotherofTwo
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 12:01amI don’t think most people realize just how many are allergic to peanuts and just how serious it is. Here are some facts and statistics about peanut/nut allergies.
Report Post »from Medicinenet:
Peanut allergy is the most common cause of deaths
over 3,000,000 people suffer from a peanut allergy
As many as one-third of peanut-sensitive patients have severe reactions, such as fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis.
There is no cure for peanut allergy and no therapies that eliminate or reduce the severity of peanut allergy. Current treatments only address the symptoms of an allergic reaction once it has taken place.
Reactions can begin and proceed rapidly, in extreme cases proving fatal within minutes. Severe sufferers must use epinephrine (i.e., adrenaline) to help prevent anaphylactic shock. If administered in time, an injection of epinephrine may reverse the anaphylactic condition by quickly constricting blood vessels, increasing the heart rate, stopping swelling around the face and throat, and relaxing muscles in the lungs. Once administered, immediate hospital follow-up is required.
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=15618
And from the Mayo Clinic:
Exposure to peanuts can occur in different ways:
* Direct contact. The most common cause of peanut allergy is eating peanuts or peanut-containing foods. Sometimes direct skin contact with peanuts can trigger an allergic reaction.
* Cross-contact. This is the unintended introduction of peanuts into a product. It’s generally the result of a food being exposed to peanuts during processing or handling.
* Inhalation. An allergic reaction may occur if you inhale dust or aerosols containing peanuts
Peanut allergy is common, especially in children. Peanut allergy symptoms can range from a minor irritation to a life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis). For some people with peanut allergy, even tiny amounts of peanuts can cause a serious reaction.
If you or your child has had a reaction to peanuts, tell your doctor about it. Peanut allergy is one of the most common causes of severe allergy attacks. It’s important to get even a minor reaction to peanuts checked out. Even if you or your child has had only a mild allergic reaction in the past, there’s still a risk of a more serious future reaction.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peanut-allergy/DS00710
The other thing is that there are more then one child in this school with a life-threatening peanut allergy.
LadyIzShy
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:09pmOK so this is a tad too far.. if there is an allergy the school should not allow that in the class for parties.. enough said.. I have had kids in the school be allergic to things and the teacher ALWAYS made every parent aware of this and everthing that was brought in was monitored.. saying NOTHING can be brought in is overboard and saying ALL kids must wash there hands and mouth before class is way overboard
Report Post »JAGonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:07pmDon’t these people think they have gone a little too far? If it is as bad as the mother makes it out to be, I am surprised the kid doesn’t indeed live in a bubble. What if a child is deathly allergic to chlorophyl or polymers, then what? Are they going to remove any and all vegetation or plastics from the school?
Report Post »KellyR
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:57pmWe have experienced the “Peanut” issue at our daughters’ school also. I have to say, it’s been difficult to make sure nothing with, or nothing processed in a facility that also processes peanuts, is sent with them. We got a letter sent home outlining what BRANDS of snacks we could send in lunches, and which one’s were not allowed! I’m sorry for the children and their families who are living with this condition. We have a child who has a chronic medical condition, and there are certain things we have to be very careful about. That’s my point, I guess……“WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL” If you have a child with special needs, you cannot expect everyone else to be forced to accommodate those needs. As a parent, that is your job.
Report Post »lisalake
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:58pmExactly—it’s the parents job to educate their own child whom has the allergy.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:50pmShall we ban rattlesnakes black widows and scorpions too? Perhaps avoidance is in order.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:06pmDon’t forget bees, flying around with their black and yellow suits on, watching, waiting… to kill your kids! Death to the bees!
Report Post »ilovethiscountry
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:22pmI hear broen recluses are even worse.
Report Post »Annie Fields
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:47pmThis HACKS me off. I’m the parent of an autistic child and I am VERY sensitive to her challenges NOT IMPACTING THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF ANY OTHER CHILD. Sometimes people have to just DEAL. Sometimes it just SUCKS TO BE YOU. These kids with life-threatening allergies have a DISABILITY. If it’s too dangerous for them to be “in the general population” THEY SHOULD STAY HOME. Perhaps the county can come up with a Little House on the Prarie one room school house for all the similarly challenged children but dammit, I don‘t ask ANY OTHER PARENT to CHANGE THEIR LIVES ONE WHIT to accommodate my child and I have been VIGILANT that my child’s disability did not interfere with the NORMAL SCHOOL DAY or ANYBODY’S LEARNING. And for those of you who might shoot back “Well, compassion is a good thing to learn” YES. It is. I WILL TEACH IT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONSIDERATION and LEARNING TO SUCK IT UP are also good lessons too! Damn! This upsets me!
Report Post »HornsFan96
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:16pmYou are a fantastic mother. Thanks for your wonderful attitude. It brings tears to my eyes.
Report Post »krjones
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:27pmExactly correct.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:43pmI agree your a great Mom Annie. Your child will be blessed.
Report Post »YellowFin
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:28pmThe Best Comment Award goes to………….Annie Fields!
Report Post »MrsNix
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:32pmIf I weren’t already married, straight, and living overseas, I would totally wanna date you.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:59pmWith all due respect, does the school not offer your child special needs classes and teachers? If you choose not to use them or to homeschool thats your decision but they offer them. For many people homeschooling is simply not an option. How would you feel if you took your kid to school one day and the other parents were outside protesting that the school should not offer those special needs accomodations and your child was not welcome there if he could not “suck it up” and cope with the other kids and regular classes. Would you feel the same way?
I do not want my daughter to be a burden on the rest of society, and some day she will be old enough to watch out for herself, but in the meantime I would hope that other people in society would not intentionally put her in harms way. If the allergy is known I don’t uderstand why people would even want to take the chance of hurting her because they are too insensitive to leave their PB at home. Seriously, is that really so much to ask?? If I knew you had a bee allergy, I would not bring a bee to school and let him loose in the classroom and say “well its just a chance you gotta take, sometimes there‘s bee’s get over it!” While I realize a bee, or peanut, could get in and make my child deathly ill, is it so unreasonable to ask that others not intentionally let a bee, peanut, loose in the classroom?
Report Post »ilovetheusa1
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:47pmLayshock, take your kid out of school and home school him. if he is that sick. why do you have to ruin everyone else’s life because of your sick son.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:54pmGotta love that “I have a problem so, everyone has a problem” attitude.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:45pmthe boy in a bubble, thank goodness it wasnt cigarettes
Report Post »geonj
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:44pmin cases like this, where a child’s life is at stake, the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many.
Report Post »a kid can get all the peanut butter he/she needs at home. school lunch was made for bologna.
HornsFan96
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:14pmThat’s ridiculous. Peanut allergies do NOT kill people “in an instant” from merely touching peanut oil or peanut products. In almost all cases, the kids would have to eat something to get sick. The incidental contact cases are suspected to be psychosomatic illness. In other words, his mom has scared the heck out of him, and now he‘ll act like he’s dying if he smells the scent of peanut butter. Let’s actually rely on some science here, not some nutty (ha!) mother who wants HER kid to be “special.”
Report Post »Zorba53
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:22pmOh my, does this mean we have to ban Charlie Brown and Lucy????
Report Post »Lucy Larue
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:42pmGEONJ,
Report Post »Enuff alreadfy! Are you kidding me?! Are you freaking kidding me?!
Majority rules!
Peanut Allergy People can home school or send their children to a progressive private school that recognizes the sensitivities of ALL children! UGH!
This whole stupid peanut controversy is FUBAR! I’m willing to bet that 50% of these kids could suck down, dare I say, an M.andM. PEANUT and actually survive the deadly ordeal!
Kansas Mom
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:47pmMy kid wouldn’t eat meat. He would have starved without pnb. The allergy kid should be home schooled.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:59pmHornsFan96
You are so wrong! It is well documented that some kids can not even be in the room with peanuts. My daughter was only 2 and walked in the kitchen where my husband was eating PB toast and her eyes swelled shut! Don’t you tell me that was in her head at 2 years old!! I have to get off this site, you people are so insensitive I am losing faith in my freedom fighting friends! This is not about “freedom’ its about common decency!! Have a heart people!!
Report Post »CTHULHUWILLEATYOUFIRST
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:44pmShut up, Lucy. Men are talking. Go make us a sandwich.
Report Post »ilovetheusa1
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:42pmlet’s see what executive order the king issues for this problem.
Report Post »Seth Patriot
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:13pmKing? I thought he was an Emperor. My bad.
Report Post »jesternhell
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:39pmWhat does this kid do when he goes out in public? What if he gets a gov’t job are they going to ban all peanuts for that place also?
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:38pmIf they are allergic to candles and air fresheners, they can work in Nevada with no worries!
Report Post »7.62AirMailComeGetIt
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:39pmDEMOCRACY A.K.A POLICE STATE Says “ If it can cause harm to 1 the rest MUST SUFFER hum hum hah ha ha”
I Will Happily keep MY CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC
TIME TO WAKE UP AND TAKE A STAND—- For CONSTITUTION and COUNTRY
FALL of the REPUBLIC youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU
POLICE STATE 4 (FULL VERSION HQ ) youtube.com/watch?v=fXBNRxUIZBM
I N F O W A R S.com
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:38pmSo what if one of these kids wants to go to a Yankees game? Call ahead and clear the stadium?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:51pmAnd I thought “Hand Gun Night ” at Yankee Stadium was dangerous. Rumor has it that All Yankee Fans are NUTS. Go Sox
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:03pmI would not take my daughter to a Yankee game, I have even had to leave Birthday parties after discovering peanut butter cookies or the like, but kids need an education. Not everyone is in a position to homeschool and I don’t think the kid should be forced to live in a bubble, you people are so unreasonable I’m shocked. This is about the life of a child! Is it really so much to ask that you don’t bring peanut butter to school? Seriously, have a heart!
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:23pmKansas Mom
If your child “chose” not to eat meat thats fine, he can eat cheese, jelly, fruit, veggies etc, he would hardly starve without PB. If he is that picky of an eater that is a choice, my daughter doesn’t have a choice. I thought we got to a place in society where we didn’t shun people for being handicapped or banish them for being different. Why should my child be denied an education because of an allergy she can not control? In my case I do homeschool but thats because the communist propaganda in our schools, not because of my daughters allergy. I don’t think its unreasonable for people to ask that you not put their children in harms way intentionally. If there is a known child with this allergy, I think it just common courtesy not to expose them to it deliberately.
Report Post »Zorba53
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:36pm“Dead in an instant”????? Wow, even a rattlesnake won’t kill you that fast. Must be some STRONG peanuts in Florida!!!
Report Post »pap pap
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:53pmA Rattle snake usually doesn’t kill you. Only about 1% of the time I believe.
Report Post »Zorba53
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:12pmok, Pap, how about an Inland Taipan. They kill quickly, but my point was “one touch” of a peanut is enough to cause immediate death? I understand and sympathize about the allergy, but that sounds a bit overstated!
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:34pmIts been known to happen. While its rare, is that really something you want to test out by trial and error with your child?
Report Post »justsaying
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 8:32amSaying “in an instant” is slightly overstating it, although it can happen quickly. It is the reaction of the body to the allergen so there is some time to act. But I need to stress that it has to be taken internally. The child will not touch peanut butter and die.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 11:27amI do believe your right about it needing to be injested, however peanut allergens can be airborn and inhaled. So yes if in the room with peanut butter it can become airborn, inhaled and therefore injested. Somebody posted some very good information on this at the end of the comments if you want to go to the last page of comments. Its very informative.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 11:31amI’m sorry, its lower down on this page, not the last page. She pulled it from the Mayo Clinic website and it says in part * Inhalation. An allergic reaction may occur if you inhale dust or aerosols containing peanuts. But the whole post is very good.
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:35pmI’m allergic to progressives. Ban them from public exposure.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:08pmI second the motion.
Report Post »krjones
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:23pmDitto. They are killing me.
Report Post »PatriotComeLately
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:00pmEvery time I hear a progressive open their mouth my blood pressure soars, so I guess the allergy too. Lets send them all to Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, China or Russia. (See I am even pro-choice – of destination)
Report Post »Keluvan
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:34pmI agree with the majority of the parents, these measures are over the top. I have a disabled child who is confined to a wheelchair and is very susceptible to illness so instead of insisting that the school force all the kids to wash their hands and to not come to school sick (which would never happen) we keep our daughter home and homeschool her. I would never put her welfare in the hands of school administrators.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:48pmI hardly think thats the same thing. You can’t ask people to please not bring germs to school. But a simple request of not bringing peanuts is not a big deal. I can’t believe this is even an issue. I find it hard to believe that if the school didn’t propose a ban but instead just sent a letter home telling parents “We have a student who is severely allergic to peanuts and just ask that you not bring anything with peanuts to school” how many parents would say “oh thats rediculous” and pack a PB&J sandwich in their kids lunch. Could you do that? I couldn’t, just being a decent human being.
Report Post »WTFnorm
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 1:06am@USAMAMA
I think the problem, or contention, here is that it is not a request. It is mandated by the school’s policy.
I have a feeling that most of the people on this site, regardless of which side they take in the peanut allergy argument, would voluntarily keep peanuts out of their kids’ lunches.
Again, the problem is the slippery slope.
Report Post »navychick
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:34pmYou know some times there is nothing better than a pbj. But I understand both sides of the arguement. My nephew is allergic to peanuts also.
Report Post »Midwest Blonde
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:33pmAs a mother of a child with a nut allergy (not peanuts) I can sort of sympathize with the allergic kid’s mom. HOWEVER, the kid should be given an eppi-pen from the doctor and be taught how to use it. The teacher should also have one, and be taught how to use it. Same goes for the office. There’s no need to take peanut-butter away from all students. Allergies can be life-threatening but these gestapo tactics are over the top.
M daughter ate a chocolate chip cookie at school that had walnuts. They were brought in by a student for her birthday. My daughter called me to come pick her up due to the allergic reaction. I stopped by the classroom to ask the teacher who brought the cookies – I needed to contact the mom to verify there were walnuts in the cookies. Teacher refused info. As did the office. The office KNEW who the kid was and refused to phone the mom for me either. When I picked up the phone and dialed the police (not 911). the office agreed to give me the students info so I could talk to the mom. Yes there were indeed walnuts in the cookies, therefore I took my daughter to her doctor. Her allergies weren’t life-threatening so the ER was unnecessary. Had we not known that the allergen was walnuts, we definitely would have gone to the ER.
Report Post »truthncharity
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:46pmThanks Midwest Blonde…..a voice of reason. I understand the dangers of allergies, but you hit the nail on the head…it‘s the parent’s responsibility to teach their children to avoid those things they are allergic to and how to treat themselves should they inadvertently ingest any; and to let the teacher and the school know and be prepared to treat it if necessary. Common sense…what a novelty!
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:27pmThats great, and your very fortunate, however many are not. My daughter is only 3, how does she know if that cookie has a peanut in it? Of course, being so young she isn’t in school, but this kid in question is what, 6? 8? Not only that, but if they got a peanut you would not have time to get to the school, discuss the cookie with the teacher, call the parent and see the doctor. The kid would be DEAD by then. Even an epi-pen, while helpful, only buys you about 20 mins to get to the ER. Its not something you just give and move on. As I said above, I think it boils down to good old fashioned curtousy for our fellow human beings. While I understand you can‘t ban bee’s and you can’t ban everything people are allergic to, if I know someone is allergic to bee‘s I wouldn’t intentionally bring one to school! Will a nut slip in, maybe, we can’t avoid it all together, but I don’t think its unreasonable to ask people not to bring them and take precautions so that if someone does it does not kill the other kid. I can’t believe you people treating this kid like your freedom to eat a PB sandwich is so much more important then her life. And that you would actually be willing to put her in harms way because your too stubborn to give up peanut butter for a few hours in the day.
If you are not for a school imposed ban, fine. But would you not at least consider a self imposed ban just for the sake of not putting an innocent child in danger? We really do live in an “its all about me” world these days :(
Report Post »MissCherryJones
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:50pmUSAMAMA wrote: We really do live in an “its all about me” world these days :(
Report Post »Do you realize that that is exactly what this mother is doing? It’s all about her and her kid. So yes, we DO live in an “it’s all about me” world.
USAMama
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 1:26amMissCherryJones
With all due respect, I am a freedom loving American. I am totally against the nanny state telling everyone what they can do, say or eat. But I think that our freedoms have been under such attack lately that we may be becoming a little hyper sensative to it. Its like a sunburn, when your skin is sunburnt the littlest touch makes you scream out in pain. A gentle hug meant for good can make you cry out. I think our “freedoms” have been so severely damaged or “sunburnt” that any perceived threat to them can make us cry out in pain “Stop! You are hurting my freedoms!”
I wonder if, instead of these drastic measures, the mom just went to the other moms and said to them “I don’t know what to do, I’m in a tough spot. My daughter is severely allergic to peanuts and can’t be anywhere near peanut butter. My husband and I both work just to make ends meet and homeschooling just isn’t possible. I don’t want to keep her locked up in the house, I want her to be able to experience life and all it has to offer without fear that the kid sitting next to her at lunch may open his lunch box and send her into anaphylactic shock“ how many moms would stand up and say ”You know what, we want to help. Your kid should be able to have a normal childhood and you shouldn’t have to spend every day worrying that you will get that call to meet her in the ER. We’ll do what we can, we will not send peanut butter to school with our kids. We’ll make sure they wash their hands and brush their teeth before school. We want to do our part to help lessen your burden.” Would that have a better reaction? Because I certainly am not trying to impose rules and regulations on everyone else. I think there are reasonable compromises though, and the attitude that you should just not allow your child to associate with public and I’m just going to send PB to school anyway bothers me. Even if it were not my child, I would not have a problem helping out a fellow mom in this situation without making her feel like she is somehow a bad person for trying to protect her child.
Report Post »Rev. John
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 5:13amNow, I have a problem with perfume ( really). I gag, choke and cannot breath, and must leave
Report Post »the room, building, etc. or pass out. Maybe I should just hose the people around me down.
How long do you think will work???
USAMama
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 11:36amRev. John,
I sympathize, I do. My mother has COPD and is the same way, she has had someone else’s perfume send her into a full blown asthma attack more then once. She can’t go to the mall because of the perfume counters. And so because I love her and don‘t want to harm her I don’t wear strong perfumes around her. If I worked with you and were aware of your situation I would not wear strong perfumes around you. I would not need the company to put a ban in place, I would just do that for you, because I am a nice person who doesn’t want to intentionally harm you :)
Report Post »justsaying
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 8:03amA child with a nut allergy WILL NOT go into anaphylactic shock if another child has a peanut butter sandwich. The allergen has to be ingested. I take issue with the mom saying that her child will die if someone brings peanut butter to school. I have a child with a severe nut allergy. He has been educated by me, his nutritionist and allergy doctor from a very young age. He WILL NOT put anything in his mouth w/o knowing exactly what it is and what is in it. I am very comfortable with the food allergy-policy at his school (there are several children w/ severe allergies there). Children with food allergies are not allowed to be given any food at school unless it is in an unopened package w/ the ingredients listed. This solves the problem of moms sending in birthday treats which are possibly contaminated. I keep a box of treats for my son at school and when someone brings in a treat, he is allowed to have one of his. At lunch, there are three tables which are “nut free”. This solves the problem of peanut butter residue on the tables. My son has to learn to live in a whole where there are possible allergens all around. He has other allergies besides nuts and has asthma which can be triggered by pets. He had an attack at a soccer game which I think was triggered by a friend’s dog. I cannot keep him in a bubble but I can educate him, myself, and others and BE PREPARED.
Report Post »GdavidH
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:33pm“No, but keep your child at home,” the parent responded.
Problem solved.
Report Post »What’s next?… A scorched earth policy eliminating all peanuts and peanut products everywhere?
Which section of the population needs to be in the bubble?
Hobbs57
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:30pmHe touches a peanut and he DIES .. You got t be kidding me ..
Report Post »Midwest Blonde
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:34pmNo, they’re not kidding. Peanut allergies are swift and deadly in some instances.
Report Post »Angelacw
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:52pmI’m sorry, but if it’s that bad, the child’s parents need to figure something else out. The world is NOT going to cater to this kid his entire life and that family needs to realize it starting now. That being said, it really isn’t cool to protest in this situation. I can only image that the child thinks that they are protesting him specifically and that’s a lot to lay on an 8 year old.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:26pmGet the kid an Epi-Pen and teach him how to use it. My husband and my kid are both extremely allergic to bee stings — one sting will send the into anaphlactic attack and I’ve seen it happen. They always have an Epi-Pen handy.
Report Post »Doctor Nordo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:10pmOmg Granny! Good point! Better ban bees too!
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:51pmGranny,
But would you want someone to willingly bring a bee to school with them and let it loose in your classroom? Will a bee (peanut) get in by accident, maybe, but I don’t think it unreasonable to ask that others not bring one to school.
Report Post »ejraboin
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:55pmThis is such an emotionally charged issue. My youngest daughter has a peanut allergy. We supply the school nurse with an epipen for emergencies. She is in the 4th grade and she is well aware about eating nuts and she is responsible for what she eats. If she makes a mistake she knows she will go to the hospital and she does not want that. She does not make that mistake. We hobble our kids by treating them like victims They never find out that they can be successful unless we as parents show them how to overcome adversity.
Parents becoming overly emotional and requiring that others bend to their needs only teaches the chldren that they need special attention in order to survive. It also angers those who might otherwise be inclined to be supportive.
Report Post »BonnieBlueFlag
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 3:25pmNo, they aren’t kidding you, they are LYING. According to ALL MEDICAL EXPERTS secondary exposure CANNOT cause anaphylaxis or therefore death. Secondary exposure can cause minor allergic reactions which are not deadly. That fat bwitch mother is a liar who believes her son’s comfort is worth more than the comfort of the rest of the student body combined (typical these days.)
Regarding “USSRMAMA” and her analogy of the school not offering special education classes or teachers for an autistic child, your analogy is completely wrong. Forcing the whole school to behave as if THEY THEMSELVES have a peanut allergy is analogous to ONLY offering special education so that the slower children are not forced to feel “different.” It sounds great doesn’t it? Instead of high school seniors studying for the SAT’s they can make macaroni art instead! Our standards should retrofit only to the slowest of the slow so they feel “normal.”
A) This student will not die from peanuts unless he himself consumes them, not from trace amounts transferred from skin (he may get a rash.)
B) Last time I checked, there were such things as GLOVES. This kid could wear them- problem solved. Anybody who touches the kid’s face or exposed skin is suspended.
C) There are medical programs the kid could/should be entered into to try and reduce his sensitivity to peanuts. These programs are based on incremental INCREASE in exposure, not some Gestapo dog-sniffing banishment.
D) USSRMAMA points out that not everyone is “fortunate” enough to be able to homeschool. K. But not everyone is “fortunate” enough to be able to afford to send a deli meat sandwich to school with their kid every day (or pay for hot lunch.) Some people are POOR and eat PEANUT BUTTER. Those people should be forced to get on welfare now? Maybe they don’t believe in welfare aka the “free lunch” program.
Claiming that your child cannot even be around peanuts has been proven false by medical science and has been proven to be psychosematic. Take your anecdotal evidence and file it where it belongs- the garbage. Anecdotal evidence is no evidence at all, and if you want to go by it you may not expect others to follow.
In response to the several times I have seen the ridiculous phrase “Have a heart!“ I respond with ”Have a brain.” Read the SCIENCE and take precautions YOURSELF. Do not expect an army of unionized civil servants to become your personal minions.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 6:02pmNo reason for name calling, my gosh are we not all adults here? Please hear me out one more time THIS SCHOOL IS GOING ABOUT IT THE WRONG WAY!! I GET IT!
I AM NOT for peanut sniffing dogs! I think thats just crazy and ultimately may make the kid feel a little embarressed. I AM NOT FOR FOOD POLICE checking every kids lunch for peanuts.
I AM NOT for a complete peanut ban in the entire UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
I AM NOT EVEN FOR A SCHOOL WIDE PEANUT BAN! But I do think when a kid has an allergy they should be allowed to attend school and have some precautions taken WITHOUT being harassed by a bunch of parents picketing their school! Find another way, go to the school board or to the parent personally to work out common sense solutions.
I HAVE SAID even if that means the kid eats lunch in the classroom or at a seperate table etc. Just make people aware so that they don’t inadvertantly hurt the child. They can make the decision themselves… as I said many many times. JUST BRING IT TO THEIR ATTENTION AND DISCUSS IT LIKE ADULTS! Discuss what works best without the ultimate answer being this child should not be allowed in school and her parents are obviously delusional.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO INSIST ON HAVING YOUR PEANUT BUTTER, I‘M OK WITH THAT but then don’t complain about having to wash your hands! At least keep it in the lunchroom and out of the classroom where the kid has to be. Please, meet the parents half way!
My problem is NOT WITH THE PARENTS FOR BEING UPSET. I understand, its challenging, I live it every day of my life. Its EXTREMELY inconvenient! I get it! My problem is that they are picketing with signs outside this kids school causing a scene and making the child feel like they are somehow causing this HUGE problem and unwelcome in the school. ITS THE PUBLIC PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE CHILD I AM AGAINST!
Finally, I am NOT THE MOM IN THE NEWS STORY! This is NOT about me! I homeschool, I take precautions, I do not ask society to take care of my kids. I mind my own business and respect other peoples privacy. I am not against you peanut lovers, I come from a long line of peanut lovers! Just please don’t stand in front of the school with big signs protesting this child and her family. I don’t understand why you are attacking me personally, if everyone would just be RATIONAL about this it does not have to come to this!
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 6:41pmDear sweet Bonnie, may I mention just ONE more thing. My point with the special needs class was not that we should not provide special needs classes. The writer said that she never let her autistic child interfere with others lives and I was simply saying thats easy to do when the resources are made availalbe But my bigger point was, again as I have said a THOUSAND times, that I would not stand in front of the school with signs saying that the accomodations should not be made available and that this mother should have to homeschool because her child was too much of a burden on the other students. ITS THE PROTESTING IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, GET IT YET?
Report Post »BonnieBlueFlag
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 12:23amMama,
You are the one who has made this about YOU. You lecture us all while constantly invoking your three-year-old-daughter as an appeal to emotion rather than reason. You are so ignorant or narcissistic that you confuse the mother and her SON that this story is about with a DAUGHTER (confusing HIM with your ever-repeated HER.)
Your multiple pages worth of posts suggest a vastly inflated sense that anyone cares what you think.
Finally, the pinnacle of your arrogance is your repeated self-praise and chastisement of others. “…because I’m a decent person…” etc. Your smug sense of self-satisfaction is truly misplaced. You are not the courtesy-police and you are not in a position to judge others as not kind or sensitive enough. Both sides are trying to assert their “rights” in this story, and we the commenters take sides; but you make a slew of silly comments about how people need to be “nicer” or some other such b.s. I would rather live next door to a mafia boss who minds his own business than some “nice and decent” person like yourself who feels compelled to nose into other peoples’ speech or motivations. Go back to the Edwardian era or simply admit that you DO have a liberal mindset e.g. you think your morality should be imposed upon others and you feel free to judge us “meanies.”
Both sides in this story have a side to what could potentially be a legal argument- okay fine. We commenters are also citizens of this republic with a vested interest in what becomes legal precedent. But you claim your problem with this story is not with the legal argument, it is with the protests. Well, that is not a legal argument. That legal argument has been settled- they have the right to protest. You are arguing an argument of courtesy or decorum… well excuse me, but who the hell are you? A narcissistic and judgmental busy-body: that’s who.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 1:58amBonnie,
I shared stories of my situation with my daughter because I thought I was dealing with adults who could have a rational discussion. I was trying to share my stories, yes, to help people be more sensative to the situation. There is a lot of insensativity shown in these comments. You say I am talking down to or somehow being smug and offensive because I ask people to be considerate, I’m curious, have you read all the posts on this page? There is post after post after post about how these children should not be allowed in public school or public arena’s etc. There are posts after posts of people talking about “eradicating the gene with natural selection” and post after post about how this is somehow eggagerated by the parents for attention or that they are just being overbearing and overprotective. Post after post about how the must suffer from munchausen by porxy and the like. The posts are rude, hurtful and inconsiderate. So yes, I said could we please have some compassion and quit being so stubborn that we allow our opinions to get in the way of common courtesy. I am sorry if that offends you. But I too am very offended by much I have seen here.
I have been on this site since the day it launched and agree with the majority of posters on 90% of the issues. I am member of the Tea Party and 9/12 project and took my family to attend 8/28. I am not a liberal activist out to impose rules and regulations and ruin everyones lives. I was just trying to stand up for the kid as not many others on this post have done so.
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:28pmPerhaps we can ban recess because some kid scraped his knee. Or maybe ban all school sports because he broke his arm. Or maybe ban school entirely because the teachers are vendictive and will teach the children poorly, because the people who hold the purse strings told them to pay for 50% of their benifits.
Report Post »JRserious
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:14pmthat’s funny. noone asked the dog if he wanted to go to a school full of foul smelling kids sniffing for a peanut.
Report Post »J_Ind_Boston
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:35pmWhen I was in school; I was allergic to homework, can they ban that next?
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:59pmAlso the school decided to make the students wear military uniforms & hail to El Presidente .
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:27pmThat top hat and monocle always made me suspicious but, now I know. Mr. Peanut is a stone cold killer.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:39pmI have a cousin who was at the movies when he was a kid watching E.T. .. they didn’t know about Reeses Pieces and the kids around him were eating them .. they took him out by ambulance and to the hospiital .. It does seem the school has taken this to the max .. but please your children will “live” without peanut butter and jelly.
The school is obviously worried about getting sued if something should happen to one of the peanut sensitive children.
Report Post »Blacktooth
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:42pmIf you want to take away my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you will have to pry it from my cold dead hands. I love my peanut butter.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:43pm@Catb
My allergy is to mushrooms and truffels, as a kid one was on a slice of pizza at a school party and it almost killed me, I am that allergic (cannot even touch one); so while normally I would have to say in this case the school went overboard, there is reasoning. Somehow though, this could have been donbe in a better manner, instead of what seems such a carte blanche mannerism.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:48pmGrowing up, I NEVER heard about or knew ANYONEwith peanut allergies, ADHD, or ADD until around the 80′s. I grew up in the 60‘s and 70’s. The only thing we had to watch out for was sunburn, thorns, wasps, or colds.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:49pm@SNOW …
I agree .. but I would wager that the school checked with their attorney and this is what was recommended .. or that a strong “policy” was recommended.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:54pmMaybe also they had to “take it to the max” because these other parents are sooooo uncooperative .. I mean if my child were in a class and something would cause the other child harm .. I would deal with it and so would my child .. no peanuts okay. I don’t think some of these parents are very concerned about anyone else but themselves and THEIR children ..
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:55pmThey stopped serving peanuts on plane flights because of this.Because so many people are allergic and on planes the air is recirculated and they considered it bad enough to stop serving them. Some people do have an allergy that is that severe. But I would think at lunch time he could be seperated from the others, are something more moderate done. It is dangerous for the allergic child but should not be such an inconvience to all concerned. IMHO
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:56pmShannon Layshock, the mother of a boy who is allergic to peanuts, said at the rally, “This little kid is 8 years old. If he gets one touch of peanut oil, peanut butter, peanut anything, he’s dead in an instant…”
If this is true, then Ms. Layshock should be arrested for putting her child in mortal danger. That kid should be in a bubble! What if the school bus gets into an accident, and the medic had peanuts for lunch? Seriously, if it is this bad the kid should be removed from the public for his own safety.
How far can it go? No peanuts at the State Fair so this one kid can go? Will Disney World prevent all it’s patrons from having peanuts so this kid can go? I hope the high school he goes to is smaller than the one here – it has 3000 students. Seriously, this kid could die if he walks past a peanut on the street!
I feel bad for the kid, but he is one, and we are many… seriously, when he grows up, where is going to get a job? If somebody unknowingly brings peanuts close to this boy, will they be tried for murder?
This mother should be home schooling her kid. If anything happens to him, it is on her. She puts him in danger on a daily basis. She is a selfish woman for expecting everyone else to cater to her child’s needs.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:57pmCatB
Report Post »Yep, and who do we hire to run our government 80% of the time? Attorneys. Why is government so screwed up?
booger71
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:04pmThis is just one reason my kids were home schooled, Better put that kid of yours in a plastic bubble lady.
Report Post »PrfctlyFrank
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:14pmSeriously?? Another case of special needs dictating social behavior.. Another indication of just how ridiculously stupid and ignorant the people in charge of educating our children are..
Report Post »ZOMBIE JESUS LOVES ME
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:34pmYou know, some of you folks are simply TERRIBLE human beings.
Peanut allergies are on a drastic rise in the US, and our doctors and scientists don’t really know why, although there are a ton of theories.
Still, all you of you who have a problem with his kid’s mom, perhaps you will witness you own child or grandchild or friend’s kid suffer from anaphylaxis before your very eyes one day! Perhaps you watch as their throat closes up, their lips swell and turn blue, and their blood pressure crashes.
It‘s not the kid’s fault. No peanut and butter sandwich? Cry me a river!
Report Post »Melanie
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:36pmAnonymous – I never knew any either. *shudder* They were probably dead already.
I agree, this child is at some point going to have to learn how to survive in the real peanutty world.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:38pmIt‘s not the kid’s fault. No peanut and butter sandwich? Cry me a river!
Life is tough. You and this mom need to get over yourselves.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:41pm@GONZO ..
Exactly .. what do you call 100 lawyers (politicians) at the bottom of the ocean …… A good start!
Report Post »stifroc
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:59pmLet’s boils this down…
“My child has an allergy, and therefore we need to enact SPECIAL measures, enforce SPECIAL rules, force SPECIAL behaviors and remove the liberties and choices from the other +200 students for my ONE child.”
Failure on the part of the School to adhere to this premise will result in a lawsuit.
To object to this premise labels you an insensitive hate monger.
A good parent would educate their own child in how to avoid what they are allergic to. A good parent would ensure that the child’s teacher is aware of the allergy and has an epi pen on hand and knows how to administer it should there be an accidental exposure to the allergen. BUT… that would be common sense and therefore is ignored, shunned and ridiculed.
I am so fed up with people demanding SPECIAL rights rather then dealing with life as a responsible individual. Liberalism = survival of the dumbest.
Report Post »JRserious
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:10pmMaybe teach the kid Dont touch other peoples food. dont eat at parties. dont take food from others. if they are so allergic they cant even be on school property with these toxic peanut butter sandwiches they should live in a bubble. what happens if the kid is walking down the street and a peanut is blown by the wind and touches them. how far will the ban follow this child. high school, college, his work place, city wide, or obama’s next health care bill?
Report Post »ZOMBIE JESUS LOVES ME
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:20pmWow! You SOBs have really got it all figured out. I am just amazed.
I’m sure that all your lives are in perfect order. Must be awesome to have all the answers. I bet all your kids have 4.0 grade averages, devote their spare time to bible study instead of watching TV, and have never touched themselves in an unGodly way.
Damn. You folks sure have your stuff together. :-)
USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:35pmMy 3 year old daughter is allergic to peanuts. While I think this is a little extreme, if the children in question are as allergic as they claim then its necessary. I’m sorry, I’m all about freedom, but I think in this case we have to use some good old fashioned empathy. Put yourself in their place, this child could die if exposed to peanuts. If I knew that a kid in my kids class could DIE if exposed to peanuts I would voluntarily teach my kid to wash their hands, rinse their mouths and if they had eaten or touched peanuts, wipe down their area with a Clorox wipe. We need to teach our children to look out for each other and do our best not to contribute to someone else’s misfortune. They can eat all the PB they want outside of school, PB is not a necessity. My 7 year old son LOVES PB, but he loves his baby sister more. He knows that he can only have it when she is not around or sleeping and he has to thorouly wash his hands, brush his teeth and wipe the area where he ate down with Clorox wipes. To him its a sacrifice worth making because he has seen first hand what happens when she gets peanut butter. In fact one time we were at the local notory and there was a bowl of pretzels on the ladies desk. My son asked if he and she could have one and I said sure. I had never heard of these little pretzel nuggets that had PB filling inside! The minute she ate it, at two years old, she knew! She said “Peanut Butter” and started throwing up and her face began to swell, literally immediately! My son looked like he had seen a ghost, he felt soooo bad for giving it to her but he couldn’t have known, they were in an unmarked bowl and just looked like pretzels AND I told him it was OK!
I immediately gave her Benedryl and rushed her to the ER where she was given steroids etc. and was eventually OK but it was very scary!
These people who say she should just stay home are so heartless it amazes me. Her parents pay taxes just like them and have every right to send their children to school! Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to homeschool (I do, but I know not everyone can). Would they say the same if the child were handicapped and needed wheelchair accessability? Would they say the same if the child were “gender confused” or would they insist we accomodate the children with bi-sex bathrooms?
And finally, to protest outside the school is just cruel. Find another way! Can you imagine being a 6 or 8 year old and coming to school to see all your friends parents protesting YOU for something you can not control? They don’t understand the details, the message they get is “I am different and because of me these people are upset. I have interfered with their lives and should not be allowed in school with ‘normal’ children” and the lesson being taught to their children is its OK to protest someone for being different. Instead of helping that child out and making necessary sacrifices to help that child live, we should protest the child and shun them and banish them from school because what we want is more important. Shameful!!
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:37pmI guess the only PC answer to this problem is to eliminate all peanut products from the entire Earth. Then we go to the next allergy….
Report Post »maryslittlelamb
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:19pm@CATB
This is exactly how madalyn Murray Ohair got prayer removed from school.
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:22pm@Gonzo—- Now that there is funny!. Now if another child were allergic to let’s say wheat gluten(not sure of spelling). could the parents of the peanut hating kid be told no more wheat bread or wheat by products.I’m sure this will get bigger as the days go by.
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:33pmHere’s one issue I have personal experience with… I have twin boys who have this peanut allergy… nuts in general actually. We have raised them (they are 18 now) to take the precautions they need to take. One of them did go to the hospital from school in an ambulance when they were in the 4th grade… BUT they asked in the school lunch line if there were ANY nuts in the cookies being offered. The server said NO, asked again… and emphatic NO. One ate a cookie, one still didn‘t trust the employee and didn’t. Turns out they did have nuts. My wife and I went to the school and the employee denied the whole conversation (even though heard by his brother and multiple friends with him). Slap on the wrist and they paid for the ambulance run. They did have, as required, an epi-pen on file with the nurse, so he came out of it fine. THIS was negligence, but, life has no promises. We can’t expect, nor ever did expect the school to completely cater to a couple kids’. If the allergy is so severe as the one in this story, it would be virtually IMPOSSIBLE to protect this kid, and he shouldn’t be in a public school… you can’t police what every kid innocently brings in… it‘s not like it’s a gun or a knife. You also can’t expect the world to bow at your feet for every handicap you might have and deprive what the vast majority would consider normal precautions.
By the way, my hearing is terrible… do I petition EVERY THEATER to have captions so I can enjoy a movie too? Do I sue the city because I can’t be a police dispatcher? Of course not… I just have some things I cannot expect to do anymore. That’s life… get on with it and cope with it as best you can. One can get a lawyer (most liberals do), and all they‘re gonna do is maybe make some money they didn’t earn, and, like in this case, inconvenience a lot of people.
Report Post »BlazingInSC
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:49pmWait – when did the parent and child lose the responsibility to ensure they remained safe themselves? If the kid has a deathly allergy, it is the parent’s responsibility to make sure that kid is not put into a position where he can die from peanut exposure (ie – home school your special needs child). I‘m sorry your special needs child can’t have a normal life because of the allergy, but it is what it is. It’s time to stop catering to the minority populace for the sake of aiding them in shirking their own responsibilities…
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:57pm@ WALKWITHME1966
Report Post »I’m a conservative & my posts were delete for no reason .
patriotgamer
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:04pmWait…clorox neutralizes the allergens in peanuts?! And “instant death” from touching a peanut?! This kid is going to have to learn how to deal with a dangerous world, you won’t be able to hide peanuts from the kid forever.
And another thing, education is not a right (just like health care is not) otherwise it would mean that you are entitled to the fruits of someone else’s labor. Yes, taxpayers pay for public education, but we also pay for the police force and it does not give us a right to have a cop act as our bodyguard every day.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:09pmI love the Blaze and I usually love the freedom loving people on here, but your all breaking my heart. I think this is just about being considerate and not wanting to cause harm to our fellow Americans. Should my daughter have to spend her life in isolation and not be allowed a life outside the home because of her allergy? She is a very social girl and loves friends and being around people, should I stifle that because of her allergy? Thats sad that some would think so.
I realize eventually these children will be out in “the real world” and be around peanuts, but the fact of the matter is there is a possibility they could outgrow this allergy depending on how much they are exposed! The more exposures, the worse the reaction and the less chance they will ever grow out of it. So if we can just avoid exposing them to the allergen when they are young, we are increasing the likelihood that they will outgrow it by adulthood and be able to live a healthy life.
As far as “should we then ban wheat or shellfish etc” every time a kid has an allergy, c’mon, be real. We all know that just being in the room with wheat, egg or shellfish will not cause an allergic reaction. Peanuts are unique in this, it is the only allergen which is airborn and can cause a reaction simply by being in the same room as it. I don’t understand you people, if you knew of a child in your kids school with this allergy, would you in good conscience send your kid to school with a peanut butter sandwich? You may have the freedom to, but could you? Honestly. I couldn’t.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:58pm, and have never touched themselves in an unGodly way.
We will leave that to your expert and capable hands
Report Post »rgranger
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:16pmSomeone was killed by an armed robber, maybe we had better ban all arms…. you know, it is for the children! get an eppy, train the child to live, don’t expect or ask the world to change and i am not sure it is even fair to ask.
Report Post »uneedmorekoolaid
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:31pmTwo Words: EPI PEN! yes if you have a severe allergy you should carry one or die hoping that someone else is covering your a$$ and carrying one. We wonder why everyone grows up to think that everyone else is supposed to take care of them. Maybe the entire state should get rid of peanuts for this kid, I want to send his mom a Mr Peanut doll just for fun!
SECONDLY!!! Why on earth are the kids required to rinse out their mouths before coming into the classroom? Are they kissing each other, drooling everywhere, spitting, biting? IWhat on earth is going on at that school.
Report Post »nothingbuthetruth
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:43pmthat parent would rather take the risk of her kid somehow trusting everyone around her kid not to have a nut and risk death, when she could keep her kid home? What is wrond with that parent. Home school him for his own safety. That is a no brainer
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:06pmEpi Pens are great, no doubt, I have 4 of them and keep one in my purse, one in the car, one at home and one at my moms house (she watches my kids from time to time) but truth be told its not something you just shoot them up and go on with your day. My daughters allergist told me it buys you about 20 mins, its just to stabilize you long enough to get to the ER. Period. Its not a guaranteed life saver.
Report Post »dkhartman
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:33pmUSmama – an ex friend of mine had an allergy to gluten in the air. What was weird is she never had the allergy before, stepped into work one day and broke out and had to go to the er. But it was airborne. That being said, I’m tired of catering to minorities. Really, teach your child better or better yet get them out of this disgusting public school liberal system. Eventually he or she will have to take care of him or herself. Stop babying your kids and teach them to be responsible or else they’ll be expecting everyone to cater to them for life.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:35pmmy allegy is blood pudding
Report Post »and they put it on my plate all the time
USAMama
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 1:12amdkhartman
My daughter is 3, I am allowed to “baby” her. She is incapable of knowing what has pb in it or not. Also, had you read my posts fully you would see I do homeschool. But I understand that isn’t an option for everyone. I also think this may be a little extreme what this school is doing. I am standing up for the child who showed up to school to parents outside protesting her/ him with signs. I think that is just awful. Find another way to express your grievences without making this child feel like an outcast. I think people need to be a little more understanding to the childs feelings.
Report Post »SCHEXbp
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 1:55amI agree with DRPHIL69 & BLAZINGINSC.
Report Post »This child has a defective immune system (allegedly). You cannot inconvenience the rest of the human race because of this. If his negligent mother gets her way, next she’ll want a peanut free neighborhood, then town. Society is supposed to be his caretaker, not her. (I try to see if there is a Father in these scenarios.) This child is now old enough to understand what a peanut is & to question those in close contact with him to safeguard himself.
I dunno if anyone noticed but there was a fairly recent Duke study which found that kids with such extreme allergies could be weaned off it totally. Duke started with a 5% of trigger amount (as I remember) & increased it every month or so. But the end of the study, 19 of 20 kids (I think it was) could have unlimited peanuts
I do not understand this society of weakies & how it came about. In the 50s & 60s, kids & schools lived off Peanut butter; it was considered a kind of wonder food: high protein, decent carbs, high fat – but LOW in the saturated/bad fat. Just what a kid needs. Yummy – I just finished a jar of Jif & I’m almost 62.
MomSagacity
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 4:15am@ USAMAMA
Thank you for your comments. You made many important and useful points. Yes, the school may have gone a little over the top….however…..
I was speechless after reading some of the heartless comments on this wall. This child could die and you are upset that your child can’t eat PB&J or certain snacks during the school day? You seriously think the child should be banned from society because he’s allergic to a food item? Are you serious? Maybe this school over-reacted,but children can die within a few short minutes because of a severe peanut allergy and as a mother it is terrifying to think there are parents out there that think like some of you do. Certain things may be inconvenient, but bashing each other instead of working for a solution shows poor character and limited capacity for compassion. Avoiding peanut items, washing your hands, rinsing your mouth, and wiping down your area does not seem extremely out of the question.
I developed a peanut allergy 11 years ago at the age of 35. This allergy has been one of the most frightening things I’ve experienced. Peanutbutter, peanut chips, peanut oil….it’s everywhere and in everything, even salads. As an adult who is careful and alert I’ve inadvertantly eaten foods with peanuts. Each time it happens, the allergy reaction is faster than the last time. There is no joy in potlucks or even eating at a friend’s home. They forget and use peanut oil in pizza crust or deep fry a turkey in peanut oil, put peanut flavored chips in brownies and tell me they’re butterscotch chips….these are just a few things I’ve experienced in recent months. I always have to be on alert. Once I unknowingly touched a table that had peanut residue (from kids eating puppy chow snacks), then touched my face. My face swelled up, my forehead was numb for three days and my throat swelled shut.
Airlines are once again allowing peanuts on planes. Because I was unaware of this I had a terrifying 45 minute flight breathing recirculated peanut air that affected my throat and made my face feel numb; I was terrified to touch anything and was scolded by the flight attendant for not knowing they’d recently changed their policy. I prayed that i wouldn’t die before we landed. I had packed my epy-pen in my bag, but since I don’t travel often, it didn’t occur to me that I might need access to the bag during the flight.
This allergy is deadly; some children only have to breathe in the smell of peanuts to go into anaphylactic shock immediately? To say the mother should be arrested for putting her child in danger by sending him to school is ludicrous. To assume she is exagerating and you know how fast her child could or could not die if he were to touch peanut residue is not wise. She is not selfish or lazy for wanting her son to be safe at school; I was not selfish for expecting to be safe on an airplaine.
This is a good opportunity for parents to teach their children compassion for their classmates and to thank God that they can help this child by doing a few inconvenient things to ensure his safety. It shouldn’t be a law, but it should be common courtesy. Knowing a child can die from peanut residue should make you feel compassion for the child as well as compassion for the stress the parent endures on a daily basis, knowing what could happen, but not wanting to be too overprotective.
I don’t understand the verocity of some of the statements that have been made up to this point. Why is this subject so polarized, to the point of being ridiculous? What emotional button is this issue pushing? The type of precausionary measures in this article don’t cost anything except for a few clorox wipes and a little inconvenience. Our schools and businesses have spent much more for handicap accessability and Special Ed. teachers. Why can’t we look at it this way: the children’s hands, faces, teeth, and desks will be cleaner. One benefit could be that the children will not get so many illnesses.
A peanut allergy is not a disability. Peanuts are poison to anyone with this allergy. By the way, if your child must have a PB&J sandwich, buy sunflower butter — it tastes like peanutbutter, it’s made in a peanut free facility and is healthy to boot. My son has been eating it for years out of respect for my allergy and loves it.
Report Post »WTH
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 5:09amThose with the allergies are the ones that need to make the concessions and have to put forward the extra effort to make sure they do not come into contact with that allergen. This might include making sure your flight is peanut free. No one wants to see a child get hurt, so I think this kid‘s parents would try to make sure he doesn’t come into contct with peanuts. That might include the need to home school. The argument that this kid can‘t help it doesn’t change the fact that he has special needs. Don’t set all the other kids in the school, teachers and adminstrators up to be blamed if your kid comes in contact with a peanut. What about the increased cost for wipes and a peanut sniffing dog? Is this mother going to pay for those to insure her child’s safety? I’m sure if this happened their would be a lawsuit and maybe a kid with a snickers bar will be blamed. Or, take responsibilty and make sure YOUR child is in a peanut safe environment, like your house.
Report Post »justsaying
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 8:12amMy youngest son has a severe nut allergy. We found out the hard way, as most people do, with a trip to the hospital. We never go anywhere w/o Benedryl and an Epipen. He will have a topical reaction (on his skin) if he touches a nut or the oil from a nut (this has happened). However, it cannot be fatal unless it is ingested. It may be a very small amount but it would have to be taken internally (inhaled or ingested) to have that kind of reaction. Anaphylactic shock is a systemic reaction and cannot be caused by “touching” the object unless the object can penetrate the skin and get into your system.
Report Post »SweetDoug
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 8:56amI’m on the lfoor, guy! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 11:25am@ MomSagacity
Thank you for your post! I was starting to feel so alone on this page :( I don’t understand the brutal attacks, like somehow because a mom asks for those around her to be aware and help her keep her child safe she is suddenly a rotten mother who doesn’t care for her own children. That somehow she is “expecting society to take care of her child and needs to take responsability for her own kids” or “an attention seeker who wants to bully everyone else into giving up their rights”. Its ludicrous. Obviously she is looking out for her children. If she sent them to school without telling anyone about this deadly allergy THAT would be neglecting her childrens needs.
Everyone else, parents with children with these allergens need to be even more vigilant than those without. When I take my daughter to a picnic I can’t just say go have fun and let her run and play with the other kids. I have to first check the food table and see if there is peanuts, peanut cookies, peanut butter fingers etc. If there is, I have to keep her close by, she can‘t just play with the other kids because I have to make sure if they have eaten it they can’t touch her or play on the same toys. Again, she is barely 3, I can’t expect her to take care of herself. Kids aren’t always careful and they leave crumbs, wipe their hands on things etc and I have to watch that. My son helps, at 7 years old he has seen the dangers first hand as I said above. One time we were at a picnic and my husbands grandmother, God love her, she is 89 and is not used to this so she forgets, one of her famous desserts is PB fingers and everyone in the family loves them. Well she brought them to the picnic. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by saying anything so I just kept my daughter close. At one point she walked away from me towards some of the other kids and my son jumped to his feet, ran over yelling “PEANUT ALERT! PEANUT ALERT” and turned her around because he saw that those kids all had PB fingers. Shortly after we said our goodbye’s and left the party, it was just too hard to keep contained in that situation. 2 other times at family birthday parties etc she brought the desserts, and I did gently remind her of my daughters allergy, but its hard because I don‘t want to hurt anyones feelings or deprive the rest of the family of this yummy dessert but at the same time I don’t want to have to keep my daughter home from all her cousins birthday parties and family gatherings. I want her to be able to have a life, both figuratively and literally.
I can‘t take her to play dates because I don’t want to be “that mom” who calls the other parents and asks them not to have PB, so we just don’t do it. If I go to a friend or family members house by instinct the first thing I do is scan the room for peanut products. If I see a candy dish or cookies I have to ask what it is and if its PB ask nicely if they could put it up somewhere out of reach while we’re there. Like I said, my daughter is lucky her allergy is considered “mild” so she can be in the room with peanuts she just can’t injest them. PB for some reason seems different though, if thats just exposed in the room her eyes will puff up. I am not sure why that is, but she has been in homes with bowls of peanuts and I just ask they put them up while we‘re there so she can’t touch them or have other people eating them where they could get dropped or touch her with it on their fingers etc. Everyone I have dealt with in person are considerate to this and compassionate, which is why I guess I was so floored by the responses here.
Please don‘t tell me I somehow don’t “take care of my children” or that I am just an attention seeker/ over protective parent. Anyone who knows me would tell you nothing is further from the truth. But I shouldn’t have to defend my lifes work as a mother simply for asking for a little help from others to keep my child safe!!!! I think it would be even more cruel to not let her out of the house and experience all that life has to offer, in as safe an environment as I can.
Report Post »Tayper
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 11:25am@Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Report Post »We were also allowed to play in the dirt and Mama didn’t keep us sterile.
calamari12
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 2:52pmThey have found that most of the people who have an extreme allergy like this have it to this extreme because they have not been exposed when a mild allergy has been determined. If we ban everything that someone might be allergic to then no one can eat anything anywhere.
Report Post »jackrorabbit
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 1:12amMy daughter is gluten intolerant. Guess what, I home school.
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