Texas High School Football Players’ Peanut ‘Prank’ Sends Severely Allergic Teammate to the Hospital
Family and friends of the victim believe the teammates were aware of the peanut allergy and even recorded the prank
Two varsity high school football players in Texas are under fire for allegedly spreading peanut products in a teammate’s locker and on his clothes at Lake Travis High School, situated 20 miles from Austin.
The teammate, who has a severe peanut allergy, developed hives after the exposure, as reported by local station KTBC.
Family and friends of the victim believe the teammates were aware of the nut allergy and even recorded the act.
Chloe Rodino, a parent, shared her disappointment and anger over the incident, emphasizing the need for a safer environment for children at school.
“That’s something we need to change for the better for our children, so we’re not having to send our kids to school worrying that someone else is going to set off their allergic reaction,” she told the station.
Rodino said she had heard rumors of hazing at the school but that she believed the alleged peanut prank went too far: “You’re affecting someone’s literal health.”
A spokesperson for the school told KTBC that the players had been disciplined but didn’t go into detail about their punishment. Some parents suspected that they had been suspended from future games.
In a statement to parents, Paul Norton, the school district’s superintendent, confirmed that two students had placed “peanuts in an athletic locker” but denied rumors that peanut butter specifically had been spread on the player’s helmet or uniform.
Following an investigation by the district’s police department, the findings were presented to the Assistant District Attorney’s Office.
If exposed to peanuts, people with a severe allergy can experience vomiting, stomach pain, swelling, and other symptoms. They may also go into anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that can result in fainting, impaired breathing, and throat swelling, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
