As part of our health and prevention focus in L&L, today Year 4 learnt all about allergies.
We began by answering the question: What is an allergy?
An allergic reaction happens when a person comes in contact with something that their body thinks will be harmful to them (called an allergen).
We discussed how all our bodies are different and something that may not harm us could make somebody else very poorly.
There are 14 main food allergens:
It’s important to remember that even though we might not see an allergen in our food, doesn’t mean it isn’t in there. To make sure we’re being careful and only eating foods which are safe for us, we must always look at the packaging. The main allergens are always in bold so it’s clear for us to see.
Your children then had the challenge of reading through some recipes and highlighting any allergens that appear.
Then, we discussed some signs of allergic reactions and what we should do if we suspect somebody is having an allergic reaction.
Mild/moderate signs:
- itchy skin rash
- tummy ache or being sick
- puffy eyes or lips
- itchy/tingling mouth
Serious signs:
- difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
- difficulty swallowing
- feeling dizzy, floppy or sleepy
Help at home: watch this video (until 3.22) and discuss these questions with your child. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFAbgaHg26U
- What happened?
- How did Max feel?
- What was the hospital worried about?
- Why did Max’s body react this way?