Families call for stronger allergy protections in NI schools
Summary
A mother is campaigning for new laws in Northern Ireland schools to protect children with allergies after her son died from a severe allergic reaction at school in England. She wants compulsory allergy training for teachers and a strict school allergy policy like the one established by Benedict's Law in England.Key Facts
- Helen Blythe’s five-year-old son, Benedict, died from an allergic reaction to cow's milk protein at school in December 2021.
- Benedict’s Law in England requires schools to have spare adrenaline auto-injectors (EpiPens) and trained staff to handle allergies.
- Helen Blythe is asking Northern Ireland to adopt similar laws to make allergy safety consistent in all schools.
- Currently, Northern Ireland schools follow guidance but do not have laws on allergy safety, so protections can vary between schools.
- Education Minister Paul Givan was unable to meet Helen Blythe at the planned time but met with her and allergy experts afterward.
- An inquest found Benedict’s school did not fully follow allergy safety measures, including poor communication and lack of spare adrenaline pens.
- Allergy training and clear policies can help teachers respond better and keep children safer at school.
- Parents and allergy experts are pushing for stronger protections to prevent future tragedies.
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