An Alberta mom worries her four-year-old daughter could die in class if the province doesn't pass a law enforcing stricter allergy guidelines in schools.
Kerry Schaupmeyer's daughter Charlie has a milk protein allergy that causes a severe anaphylactic reaction whenever she's exposed to milk protein. If left untreated, the girl could die from exposure to even a small amount of milk. That has Schaupmeyer worried she'll have to homeschool Charlie – unless Alberta implements a law that's been in effect in Ontario for almost a decade.
"If Charlie ingests milk protein… it will kill her," Schaupmeyer told CTV Edmonton. She says she wants to see Alberta pass Sabrina's Law, which forces schools to develop individual learning plans for students who are at risk of dying from an anaphylactic reaction. The law also requires staff to be trained in how to prevent an allergic reaction, and how to respond if one does occur.
Schaupmeyer says her school board's current guidelines are too vague and ineffective to properly address her daughter's allergies. "We don't feel they have the protocols, the emergency training and things in place to protect her," Schaupmeyer said.
The school board told CTV Edmonton that it feels its current policies are sufficient, and it will address students' needs on a case-by-case basis.
Charlie's face swells up whenever she touches anything containing milk protein – even non-food items with protein in them such as toys, medical gloves and cosmetic products. She needs an immediate shot from an EpiPen if she ingests any milk products whatsoever.
"We don't want her to die," said Charlie's father, Francois Reniere. "It's scary. It's really scary."
Charlie's parents say they will homeschool her if they have to, but they don't want to cut her off from the outside world and deny her a full childhood because of her allergy.
Sabrina's Law in Ontario has become a model for other countries since it was passed in 2005. The law is named for a 13-year-old girl with a milk allergy who died after exposure to trace amounts of cheese at her school cafeteria.
No children have died of an allergic reaction at an Ontario school since the law was introduced.
However, the law has had its challenges. A Hamilton girl was pulled from school partway through Grade 1 last year over the way teachers handled her allergy. The girl's parents took the issue to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
Despite those troubles, Schaupmeyer says Alberta should be playing catch-up with the Ontario laws to protect children with allergies at school. "There is no margin for error here," she said. "This is my kid's life."
