Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 12/01) - Teachers usually keep a substitute lunch handy for children who forget theirs.

For such occasions, teachers used to stock a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread. Not these days.

Grade 6 teacher Steve Boss holds up a no-nuts sign. Boss is severely allergic to peanuts. - Jennifer McPhee/NNSL photo

In the last 10 to 20 years, there has been a marked increase in the number of allergic disorders.

For some, ingesting even trace amounts of nuts can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions.

Recently, William McDonald school joined the growing number of Canadian schools to ban peanuts and peanut products.

Several other schools in Yellowknife have implemented total and semi-bans--restrictions in certain classrooms--including Weledeh school and Ecole St. Joseph school.

The YK Education District No. 1 School Board recently formalized an anaphylaxis treatment policy which allows staff to give students a shot of adrenaline using auto-injector devices.

Public health nurse Laurie Vallilee taught staff at William McDonald how to inject adrenaline into a patient's thigh muscle.

An anaphylactic reaction generally comes on suddenly, typically beginning with severe itching of the eyes and face. Difficulty breathing, vomiting and diarrhea commonly follow.

If the reaction is not stopped, symptoms can become more severe, leading to a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and even death.

Steve Boss, a Grade 6 teacher at William McDonald school, is severely allergic to soy products and various kinds of nuts.

When he was two years old, his parents gave him a piece of bread with peanut butter. His whole body swelled up. Since then, he has gone into anaphylactic shock numerous times after accidentally ingesting nuts. He carries an EpiPen in his jacket pocket.

And although some argue that nut-free schools create a false sense of safety, for both parents and children, Boss said he's relived by the school's decision.

"My own opinion is that I would rather attempt to make a place peanut free rather than knowingly put people at risk," he said.

"I would much rather play it safe than have someone's death on my conscience."

Sandra Aitken's 11-year-old son Chris is severely allergic to peanuts. Aitken said she is impressed with efforts made by the principal, support teacher and public health nurse to research and educate both students and staff.

"The thing about allergies is that you can develop them at any time," she said. "That's something for people to keep in mind -- their kids aren't allergic now, but that could change."