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Our Gaggle of GirlsPeanut Allergy NewsThank you, FA blogger and friends, for all the things you are doing to educate and advocate for an issue that is near and dear to us. Although we are rallying together around a sobering cause, preparing for the week has given me an occasion to reflect on the past year. I personally have a lot for which to be thankful:
• It has been over a year since Tanner has had a serious reaction!
• The products and services that cater to our needs has grown exponentially.
• Check My Tag's is one year old!
• I have connected with so many other wonderful people in the food allergy world.
• We are making a difference!
But, this post is not about me. It's about you, the many voices of the food allergy community. I'll be updating this post all week so come back and read the words of "kindred spirits around the world! Those that do not have blogs, have sent messages:
from MaryKay, Vermont Food Allergy OrganizationLast Friday, May 4th, our House and Senate Legislatures passed a resolution declaring our own Vermont Food Allergy Awareness Week from May 6 - May 12 to bring awareness of food allergies in and around Vermont. Schools, businesses and families have been participating by spreading the word and encouraging our communities to learn more about food allergies. Businesses have been holding fundraisers for our nonprofit organization and schools have been reviewing policies and procedures and retraining school personnel. Parents have been visiting their childrens' schools as well and we have visited schools and held educational classes for school children. While ours is a week before the one the FAAN sponsors, no matter what the week, we are very proud that our legislatures takes food allergies seriously as they showed last year when we became the 2nd state to pass a law requiring our Dept. of Health and Dept. of Education to develop training, guidelines, procedures and policies and distribute them to our schools so they are prepared to be in receipt of children with life-threatening food allergies as well as children with other life-threatening chronic illnesses. Massachusetts was the first state to develop guidelines but did not go through legislation, Connecticut was the first to make a law for the above, followed by Vermont, then Tennessee and recently New Jersey. So, this year with our legislatures taking another step for food allergies and declaring our own allergy week, we feel very fortunate to have them behind us and have their support as our organization continues to support families, educate others and create awareness in our Vermont communities. Just this school year since our law was passed, our organization has assisted over 60 schools with risk reduction and management procedures as we work closely with our Dept. of Education and since we are not a "group", we provide support to families on a one on one basis and just this year, have assisted over 70 families with 504 Plans, Individual Health Plans, and problem solving for issues that may arise in their own schools.
And as this month is Allergy and Awareness Month, our efforts continue not just during these marked weeks or month, but throughout the year.
from Carol, Gateway FEASTImagine for just one week......
- you had to sit alone when you ate lunch at school because your friends might have brought foods that could potentially kill you, or at the least send you to the nurse's office.
- knowing that certain foods everywhere were your "enemies." Other people could eat them and seemed to enjoy them with no problems. Just you couldn't.
- when you went just about anywhere food was around, you had to be on guard, or it could mean a trip to the ER or worse. (Ex. baseball games,airplanes, parties, playdates, movie theaters, athletic events, work or school, holiday events, etc.)
Now imagine...
- being able to sit with your friends in the lunchroom because they know about your food allergies and help you stay safe. They don't eat those certain foods when you are around. If they do eat them, they wash their hands with soap, brush their teeth, and keep food areas clean.
- one night at the baseball stadium when you don't have to worry about peanuts on the floor or all around you. Or maybe a party where someone asked beforehand if they could buy something for you that you could eat instead of ?, or took precautions and asked questions because they really wanted you to come.
- being able to go to a restaurant and have the waiter know exactly what to do when you say, "I have a food allergy." Even more so, being able to trust them.
With a little awareness, we can make this a reality. Please help those you know with food allergies by taking the time to be a P.A.L. (Protect a Life).
A P.A.L. would know the following about you:
• What foods you need to avoid.
• That the foods you're allergic to can be found in unexpected places; therefore, you need to ask questions about what is in a food or how it's prepared.
• What symptoms you might have if you're having an allergic reaction.
• What medicine you take if you have a reaction, and where you keep it.
• What to do and who to call in case you have a reaction.
Facts:
• Approximately 12 million Americans suffer from food allergy.
• About 1 out of every 25 American children under the age of 18 has a food
allergy. That is approximately 2.2 million school-aged children who have food
allergy, and the number continues to grow.
• There is no cure for food allergy. Strict avoidance is the only
way to prevent a reaction.
Information source: The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
from Karen, Avoiding Milk ProteinFood allergies can cause reactions well beyond the kitchen table.
Skin care products can contain soy, milk, corn, and nuts. Almond milk bath, corn filler in eye shadow can cause local or massive allergic reactions.
An airbag when imploding releases talcum powder made from cornstarch. Clear sign the air bag has imploded to most, but can be deadly or at least toxic for people who are anaphylactic to corn, yes people can have deadly allergies to corn.
A box of craft supplies can have soy or corn ingredients, not toxic for most families, allergic for others. Handling crayons or pencil crayons, for someone with contact reactions, can cause rashes, hives or even in extreme cases anaphylactic reactions. Many major brands of craft brands like Crayola and Elmers now list allergens on their web sights, but rarely on packaging.
The Soy allergic may also have to be cautious of soy candles, soy ink as well as cosmetic products.
Playing with commercial Play dough has wheat in it. Most people who are Celiac or wheat allergic can usually handle touching wheat products, however some people have contact reactions.
Pet food can contain wheat, eggs, corn and, or milk ingredients. Some dog treats even contain peanut butter.
Lawn care products have been known to have corn, wheat or even milk protein in it. I was very surprised the first time I saw peanut free lawn fertilizer!
Thank you, everyone. Your words of encouragement, frustration, hope, confusion, support... are what make this Community real.
Labels: food allergy awareness, food allergy blogs, food allergy week
Hey, everyone! If you are in the St. Louis area during Food Allergy Week, be sure to attend the Food Allergy Fair hosted by Gateway FEAST and the St. Louis Chapter of AAFA. The headliner for the fair is Kyle Dine, who will be performing songs from his new music CD, "You Must Be Nuts!"
