– It is important that all parents and children are safe when children go to school and kindergarten. So says Guro Margit Horsberg Birkeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association (NAAF). Vasilios Oskar Tosounidi (11) died of an allergic reaction on the way home from school in November 2022. On Thursday, it became known that the municipality has been charged with negligent homicide, and that they will be fined NOK 1.5 million. Birkeland believes the death should never have happened, and points to the importance of taking food allergies seriously. Guro Margit Horsberg Birkeland is secretary general of the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association (NAAF). Photo: Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association – It is terribly sad that it should be possible to have a serious reaction with such a result at a school in Norway in 2022. – But it also shows how serious these reactions are, and how everyone must learn to manage allergies in the right way, so that we avoid this type of catastrophic reaction, she adds. The municipality has said that they accept the fine, and that they acknowledge that mistakes have been made at system level. Sheet at the bottom of the case for the municipality’s apology. Hope the submission sends a strong signal It was 4 November 2022 that Vasilios Oskar Tosounidi (11) ate parts of a wheat bowl containing milk protein at school. On the way home, he collapsed. The boy died in hospital the next day, and the autopsy report concluded that he died as a result of a severe allergic reaction. Birkeland hopes that municipalities and schools that do not have sufficient knowledge about handling serious food allergies will now sort out their routines and ensure correct training for employees. – This means, among other things, that you follow the national advice that is on the side of the Directorate of Health, she says. Vasilios Oskar Tosounidi (11) died of an allergic reaction on the way home from school in Kongsvinger. Photo: private The Secretary-General says that this case is a very rare case. But that municipalities and schools have to be prepared, so that this does not happen again. – Some people have a so-called delayed reaction, and in this specific case I am aware that there was a delayed reaction. This shows a lack of knowledge that I’m afraid many people have. This must be taken seriously. Birkeland understands if parents who have children with food allergies become anxious when they hear about such a story. – The most important thing is to contact the school and tell them about the concern, and get confirmation that good routines have been established here. It is important that all children and parents are safe. Believes it could have been avoided Lawyer Inger Zadig at Elden Advokatfirma is the assistance lawyer for the 11-year-old’s father. They also hope that the million fine to the municipality will ensure that something similar does not happen again. – Father also hopes that this proposal sends a strong signal to all schools throughout the country about the importance of taking children’s health seriously, and that it can have fatal consequences if not, says Zadig to news. – Father appreciates that the case has been taken seriously, and that the municipality has been punished for negligent homicide. Children should not die at school, she adds. – Casual handling of serious and important information about a child’s health had fatal consequences in this case, says lawyer Inger Zadig. Photo: Elden law firm Secretary General Birkeland says she agrees with her father’s statement. – This case shows how serious an allergic reaction can be. It is very important to take food allergies seriously, she says. Birkeland believes the fine says something about how seriously the police take the case. – Here there is a death of a young boy – which should not have happened, and that explains the size of the fine. The municipality lies flat Kongsvinger municipality received the report from the Innlandet police district on Thursday at 14:00 – Kongsvinger municipality acknowledges that mistakes have been made at system level and that it led to the death of a pupil as a result of an allergic reaction. Kongsvinger municipality accepts the submission due to a lack of record keeping on student cards and the fact that home calls were not made. This is what Kongsvinger municipal director Lars Andreas Uglem says to news. The incident must have led to a thorough review of the municipality’s routines in schools and kindergartens regarding pupils’ and children’s health challenges. – The municipality has and will have a sustained focus on internal control in this field. The municipality deeply apologizes, and accepts the submission from Innlandet police district. Photo: Ann-Kristin Mo / news – Kongsvinger municipality offers its deepest apologies to the family and relatives. The school must be a safe place, regardless of health challenges, says Uglem. “For one of our students to die is the worst thing that can happen. It is painful for the entire organization and of course a great burden for the family and relatives. We would again like to express our deepest condolences to the relatives. Kongsvinger municipality has recently received the referral from the Innlandet police district, and acknowledges a breach of internal control and accepts the referral after one of our pupils died as a result of an allergic reaction”. The municipality writes this in a press release. It has been important for Kongsvinger municipality that there has been a thorough process to shed light on all sides of the case. The municipality has tried to cooperate and contribute to informing the matter as well as possible, it says.
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Hope municipalities learn from the 11-year-old’s death on the way home from school
