KCGA health, safety and preparedness
Allergy Safety Policy
The safety and wellbeing of every gymnast is central to KCGA. Allergic reactions can range from mild symptoms to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening medical emergency. This policy explains how KCGA works with families, coaches and venue partners to manage known allergies and prepare appropriately for allergy-related emergencies.
- Tell us earlyClear, current information
- Water onlyNo food during sessions
- Medication readyPrescribed devices available
- Act urgentlySuspected anaphylaxis is an emergency
Medical emergency
If anaphylaxis is suspected, call 999
Follow the gymnast’s Allergy Action Plan or emergency instructions and use their prescribed adrenaline without delay where appropriate. Ask for an ambulance and say “anaphylaxis”.
Read this first
Preparedness depends on shared responsibility
KCGA takes allergies seriously, but no club operating in shared premises can remove every possible exposure. The safest approach combines accurate family information, accessible prescribed medication, prepared coaches and cooperation with each venue.
A private gymnastics provider
KCGA is not a school. Our arrangements are informed by current UK allergy-safety guidance and recognised good practice for organisations working with children, applied proportionately to our activities and premises.
Not an allergen-free environment
KCGA uses hired and shared premises. We cannot guarantee that allergens are absent, that no exposure will occur or that every venue holds spare adrenaline for KCGA participants.
Please tell us before participation
KCGA cannot prepare for a known allergy unless the gymnast, parent or guardian provides accurate information and promptly reports any change.
Complete policy
Allergy safety at KCGA
Use the contents list to move directly to a section. Where the gymnast is an adult, responsibilities described for a parent or guardian apply directly to that adult gymnast.
Safety and wellbeing
Our approach to allergy safety
Kensington & Chelsea Gymnastics Academy Ltd (“KCGA”, “we”, “us” or “our”) treats allergy awareness and preparedness as part of its wider responsibilities for gymnast safety and wellbeing.
KCGA is a private gymnastics provider, not a school. School-specific statutory allergy duties do not automatically apply to KCGA merely because a session takes place in hired school premises. Nevertheless, KCGA draws appropriately on current UK guidance and recognised good practice for organisations working with children.
Our aim is to reduce avoidable risks, understand disclosed needs, prepare relevant personnel and respond promptly in an emergency. This policy does not promise that every allergic reaction can be prevented.
Awareness, not diagnosis
Allergies and anaphylaxis
An allergic reaction occurs when the body reacts to a substance that is normally harmless to most people. Reactions vary considerably: a person’s previous reactions do not reliably predict the severity of a future reaction.
Anaphylaxis is a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction requiring urgent action. Warning signs may include sudden difficulty breathing, throat or tongue swelling, wheeze or persistent cough, marked dizziness, collapse or loss of consciousness. Anaphylaxis can occur without a skin rash.
Before participation
Information from parents and guardians
A parent or guardian must inform KCGA before participation if their child:
- has a diagnosed or suspected allergy relevant to safe participation;
- has previously experienced a serious allergic reaction or anaphylaxis;
- has been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector or other emergency allergy medication;
- has an Allergy Action Plan, Individual Healthcare Plan or equivalent medical guidance; or
- requires a particular precaution relevant to gymnastics, the venue or emergency response.
Information must be accurate and kept current. Parents and guardians must tell KCGA promptly if the allergy, medication, dosage, device, instructions, action plan or emergency contact details change.
KCGA relies on information supplied by the family and appropriately qualified healthcare professionals. KCGA does not diagnose allergies, assess clinical severity or devise individual medical treatment plans.
Relevant and current
Individual allergy information
Where KCGA is told that a gymnast has a significant allergy, information reasonably needed for safety may include:
- the known allergen or allergens;
- the history or severity of reactions where relevant;
- whether there is a risk of anaphylaxis;
- the prescribed emergency medication and its expiry date;
- where the medication will be kept during the session;
- the current Allergy Action Plan or equivalent medical instructions; and
- current emergency contacts.
Relevant information may be shared with KCGA personnel and, where reasonably necessary for safety or emergency response, an appropriate venue contact or emergency service. Access is limited to those who reasonably need it.
Health information is handled in accordance with KCGA’s Privacy Policy. Please make initial contact before sending detailed medical documents through a general form or social-media message.
Prescribed emergency medication
Adrenaline auto-injectors
An adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) is a prescribed emergency device used to deliver adrenaline when anaphylaxis is suspected. Where a gymnast has been prescribed an AAI, or another prescribed emergency adrenaline device:
- the parent, guardian or adult gymnast must inform KCGA before participation;
- the prescribed device or devices must accompany the gymnast and remain promptly accessible throughout the session in accordance with their medical instructions;
- the family is responsible for ensuring medication is the correct prescription, clearly identifiable, in date and in a usable condition;
- where two devices have been prescribed or advised, both should be available;
- relevant KCGA personnel should know the agreed location of the medication; and
- the current Allergy Action Plan, emergency instructions and any written authorisation reasonably requested by KCGA should be provided.
The agreed arrangement will reflect the gymnast’s age, competence and medical instructions. A competent gymnast may carry their own medication; otherwise, a promptly accessible location must be agreed before the session.
KCGA session rule
No food during KCGA sessions
To reduce avoidable allergy risks and maintain a clean, safe gymnastics environment, food and chewing gum must not be consumed within KCGA gymnastics training areas or designated KCGA parent and spectator areas during sessions. Water is permitted.
The rule applies to:
Parents should not give children snacks while waiting or watching in a KCGA-designated area. Food should remain sealed and be consumed outside the relevant area and session arrangements.
A limited exception may be made where food or glucose is urgently required for a medical reason or has been agreed in advance as part of an individual medical arrangement. The person or responsible adult should alert KCGA so the immediate safety of everyone affected can be considered.
Role-appropriate awareness
Coach awareness and preparedness
KCGA seeks to ensure that relevant coaches and personnel have allergy and anaphylaxis awareness appropriate to their role. Depending on the disclosed needs and session, this may include awareness of:
- significant known allergies among participating gymnasts;
- the importance of rapid action where anaphylaxis is suspected;
- the location of the gymnast’s prescribed emergency medication;
- the gymnast’s current Allergy Action Plan or emergency instructions;
- KCGA’s emergency procedure and communication arrangements; and
- relevant venue-specific procedures.
Coaches are not represented as doctors, nurses or allergy specialists. Training and awareness support emergency preparedness; they do not replace individual clinical advice or the responsibility to provide prescribed medication and current instructions.
Act without delay
If anaphylaxis is suspected
Suspected anaphylaxis must be treated as a medical emergency. KCGA’s high-level response is to:
- 1Follow the individual instructions
Use the gymnast’s current Allergy Action Plan or emergency instructions where available.
- 2Use prescribed adrenaline
Administer or assist with the prescribed emergency adrenaline without delay where appropriate and in accordance with the individual’s instructions and relevant training.
- 3Call 999 immediately
Request an ambulance and clearly state “anaphylaxis”, even if the person appears to improve.
- 4Contact the parent or guardian
Use the current emergency contact details as soon as the immediate response permits.
- 5Supervise and hand over
Keep the gymnast appropriately supervised and follow emergency-service instructions until care is transferred.
Shared premises
Our hired venues
KCGA operates from hired premises in London rather than buildings used exclusively by the Academy. Venue facilities, staffing, access arrangements and emergency procedures can therefore differ by location and time.
KCGA seeks to understand relevant venue-specific emergency arrangements where appropriate, including arrangements concerning severe allergic reactions. KCGA may communicate necessary safety information to an appropriate venue contact where this is reasonably required.
Learn and improve
Incidents and near misses
KCGA may record and review a significant allergy-related incident or relevant near miss. The purpose is to understand what happened, consider whether procedures or precautions should change, communicate appropriately with the family and venue, meet any reporting or insurance requirements, and strengthen future practice.
Records and relevant health information are handled in accordance with KCGA’s privacy, safeguarding and retention arrangements.
One coordinated system
Shared responsibility
Effective allergy safety depends upon clear information and cooperation. Each part of the system has a distinct role:
Prepared delivery
Awareness · proportionate precautions · communication · emergency response · review
Accurate information
Current medical instructions · prescribed medication · emergency contacts · prompt updates
Local cooperation
Venue-specific arrangements · access information · emergency communication · cooperation
Questions and updates
Tell KCGA about an allergy or change
Please contact KCGA before attending if:
- the gymnast has an allergy KCGA has not previously been told about;
- allergy information, emergency contacts or required precautions have changed;
- the gymnast has newly been prescribed an AAI or other emergency medication;
- the Allergy Action Plan or medical instructions have changed; or
- you want to discuss whether the proposed arrangements are suitable before participation.
Clear information helps us prepare
If your child has an allergy, please tell us
Make initial contact with KCGA and explain that the enquiry concerns an allergy. We will confirm what information is reasonably required and the appropriate way to provide any detailed medical document.
Last reviewed: · Next scheduled review: