The school supply list is long enough already. For allergy families, September brings one more layer of prep that no stationery aisle can cover: handing your child's emergency plan to a new classroom, a new teacher, and a new set of adults who've never seen anaphylaxis.
We're allergy parents too. Here's what we actually do in the weeks before school starts.
Start the conversation before Day 1
A face-to-face conversation with the school is worth more than the best-written letter. Most Canadian schools have a designated "anaphylaxis contact" — a principal, vice-principal, or school health coordinator — who coordinates with the classroom teacher and any support staff. Ask to meet them before the first day.
What to cover in that meeting:
- What the reaction looks like in your child specifically — not just the textbook list. Every kid presents a little differently.
- Where the epinephrine is kept. Many schools require a copy in the office AND a second device on the child. Confirm both are allowed.
- Who is authorized to administer the auto-injector or Allerject®, and whether that person has been trained recently.
- The exact sequence of steps. "Call 911 first, then us" is a different protocol than "give the injection, then call 911" — both are valid; your family's plan is the one that matters, and the school should know it cold.
If your school doesn't have a current emergency protocol for your child, the Food Allergy Canada school resources are a good starting point to bring to that first meeting.
Pack two devices — always
One epinephrine device at school is better than zero. Two is the actual standard of care.
The practical reason: school buildings are big. If a reaction happens on the playground and the backup is in the front-office cabinet, those are seconds no one wants to spend in transit. Many allergists and school boards recommend one device on the child and one kept in a central location. Check with your board and your allergist for their current guidance — the policy varies by province.
If your child now uses Neffy (the needle-free nasal epinephrine spray approved by Health Canada in April 2026), the same two-device rule applies. Note that the current Canadian approval is for children and adults weighing 30 kg or more — if your child is under that threshold, check with your allergist before switching. Learn more on our Neffy page →
The device your kid will actually wear
The best epinephrine carrier is the one that travels with your child — not the one that stays in the office while they're at recess.
A few things we've learned from talking to other allergy parents:
- Cross-body or waist carry beats bag-bottom. A pouch your child wears means it's with them at the playground, the art room, gym class, and the cafeteria — without asking a teacher to retrieve a backpack.
- Give the kid some say in the strap. Older kids with an opinion on gear are more likely to actually wear it. An adjustable belt (buckle + slider) is the easiest choice when you're not sure of fit or when the pouch needs to work on multiple kids in the family. A soft elastic strap — no hardware, no buckle — tends to win for younger kids, sensory-sensitive kids, or anyone who finds a clasp against the skin irritating through a long school day.
- Check the fit at the end of summer, not the morning of the first day. Kids grow. A waist-carry that was snug in June might gap by September. Five minutes now saves a last-minute scramble.
What goes in the pouch
Beyond the epinephrine device itself, most families add:
- Antihistamines — not as a substitute for epinephrine, but as a second-step treatment after the auto-injector and while waiting for the ambulance. Your allergist's plan specifies when and whether to use them.
- A printed copy of the anaphylaxis action plan (date-checked, allergist-signed). Laminated if your kid is tough on paper.
- Emergency contact card — school staff should have this, but one inside the pouch itself means it's always with the device.
A few families include a small notecard explaining which device is inside and how it works. Sounds over the top until the day a substitute teacher is the one in the room. 🎒
The week before school starts
- Check expiry dates. Auto-injectors, Allerject® devices, and Neffy sprays all carry expiry dates. A late-August audit is better than a September scramble — and if a device is expiring before winter break, flag it with your pharmacy now so a replacement is ready.
- Do a trial run of the carry setup. Have your child put the pouch on, take it off, and open it. Muscle memory in a calm kitchen is worth a lot in a panicked hallway.
- Confirm the school's allergy policy for September — staffing changes over the summer. The teacher who was briefed last year may have moved classrooms.
A note on this year specifically
If your family is newly exploring Neffy as an alternative to traditional auto-injectors, summer is a good time to make that transition — before the school year adds extra variables. Talk to your allergist, update the action plan before school starts, and make sure the school's staff knows the device looks different. A nasal spray is a meaningful change from what most staff have trained on; a brief update to their protocol goes a long way.
We're allergy parents — not doctors. Everything here is a starting point, not medical guidance. Please follow your allergist's individual plan for your child and your province's school anaphylaxis policies.
Questions about what to look for in an EpiPen or Allerject® pouch? Our pouches are designed with school carry in mind — adjustable-belt or elastic-strap, sized for most auto-injectors and the Allerject®, and built to be worn rather than stuffed in a bag. Shop the full collection →