Anaphylaxis is a sudden, life threatening, severe allergic reaction. The most dangerous symptoms include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock.

Common examples of potentially life threatening allergies are those to foods or stinging insects. Other allergic reactions may also occur to medications, latex, or exercise.

The emergency treatment is epinephrine, which is usually supplied in epinephrine auto-injectors (example: EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® or Auvi-Q®).

While Harlingen CISD cannot guarantee an allergy-free environment at school, the district is committed to doing everything possible to ensure the safety of every child who has allergies.

Parents of children with known anaphylaxis are expected to provide an individual supply of emergency medication to the campus nurse, in addition to a current Allergy-Anaphylaxis Care Plan, signed by the parent and the physician. For parents of students who experience food allergies, it is also helpful for parents to complete the Food Allergy Questionnaire.

Self-Carry Considerations

A student with anaphylaxis may possess and self-administer prescription medicine while on school property or at a school-related event or activity if the following conditions are met: 

1. the prescription medicine has been prescribed for that student as indicated by the prescription label on the medicine;

2. the student has demonstrated to the student's physician or other licensed health care provider and the school nurse, the skill level necessary to self-administer the prescription medication, including the use of any device required to administer the medication;

3. the self-administration is done in compliance with the prescription or written instructions from the student's physician or other licensed health care provider; and

4. a parent of the student provides to the school a written authorization, signed by the parent and licensed health care provider on the Authorization for Self-Administration Form, stating

   • that the student has asthma or anaphylaxis and is capable of self-administering the prescription medicine;

   • the name and purpose of the medicine;

   • the prescribed dosage for the medicine;

   • the times at which or circumstances under which the medicine may be administered; and

5. The physician's statement must be kept on file in the office of the school nurse of the school the student attends or, if there is not a school nurse, in the office of the principal of the school the student attends.

Please note that a student requiring medication for sports must also register the medication with the school nurse.