Parents often have their hands full trying to educate the teachers and staff about their child's food allergies. What can get overlooked is the education of the food-allergic child's peers.

Recognizing this need for student education, Grand Rapids Allergy is pleased to offer free school visits by our specially trained Registered Nurses, Leslie Berigan and Lisa Heyboer, to conduct a learning session called "Be a PAL." PAL stands for Protect A Life, and this program teaches children why kids who have food allergies need everyone around them to help keep them safe.

"For parents of children with food allergies, typical experiences like sending a child off to school, can leave them feeling uncertain and frightened," says Leslie." Awareness of the seriousness of food allergies is the first step in keeping children safe. Friends and classmates can be excellent advocates! The goal of the PAL program is to give kids information about food allergies so that they can help prevent a serious reaction from happening."

If you would like us to visit your child's classroom, please call our office at (616) 949-4840.

Program Basics:

• This program is designed for children from pre-K through 4th grade

• One of our Registered Nurses, Leslie Berigan or Lisa Heyboer, sets up a time to visit your child's classroom

• The teaching session lasts one hour and includes plenty of visuals and child interaction

• Children are taught five simple steps for keeping their classmates with food allergies safe:

• Food allergies are serious; DON’T make jokes
• Don’t share food with friends who have food allergies
• Wash hands after eating
• Ask what friends are allergic to and help them avoid it
• If a friend who has food allergies becomes ill, get help immediately!