Taking Care of Your Food Allergies AND Your Health May 10, 2022

There are a few simple things that everyone should be doing to protect their health. And while they benefit all, they are particularly important for people with food allergies. These activities aren’t just good for your well-being, they are also important to help prevent serious allergic reactions.

GET CONSISTENTLY GOOD SLEEP.

Yes, the elusive sleep recommendation… But studies show that sleep deprivation can lower a person’s threshold – meaning, the amount of allergen it takes to trigger a reaction. The lower a person’s threshold, the less allergen it takes to set off a reaction. Experts recommend getting a consistent amount of sleep every night by turning off devices an hour before bed; sleeping in a dark, cool room; and waking up at the same time every day ((sigh) yes, even on weekends…).

REDUCE EMOTIONAL STRESS.

Easier said than done, we know. Excess stress (and who doesn’t have that these days?!) also lowers your threshold and escalates potential reactions. Take care of your mental health by connecting with friends; getting out in nature; paying attention to your physical health (exercise, eat well, etc); engaging in yoga, meditation, or other relaxation techniques (like art, breathing and imagery exercises); taking breaks from social media and news when needed; and learning to say “no” to reduce feeling overwhelmed.

HYDRATE.

Water is critically important to the functioning of our bodies – and when they aren’t hydrated, it can wreak havoc. For someone with food allergies, dehydration can affect lung function, heart rate and core temperature – all of which are known factors in more serious reactions, known as anaphylaxis. You may be familiar with the “8×8 Rule”: every adult should drink eight cups of eight ounces of water a day. That amount might vary a bit based on where you live, your health, diet and what activities you do. One thing experts recommend is sipping on water even when you’re not thirsty to replenish all that you lose throughout the day.

LIMIT ALCOHOL USE.

Moderation is best. Alcohol dehydrates the drinker and can reduce threshold, triggering serious reactions faster. Alcohol can also decrease a person’s ability to make good decisions. People with food allergies have to be careful about what they eat and drink and they need to be able to evaluate their health in case of accidental exposure.

GET BETTER CONTROL OF YOUR ASTHMA.

It’s probably been on your to-do list anyway. Not being able to breathe clearly is no fun. It’s not only uncomfortable, it also dangerous for your health. Uncontrolled asthma can make allergic reactions worse by speeding up dangerous swelling in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Now is a great time to speak with your healthcare provider about lifestyle changes and other ways you can improve your asthma treatment.

ALWAYS CARRY TWO.

You can’t plan for accidental exposures, but you can be prepared for a reaction by always carrying two epinephrine auto-injectors. It is critical to carry a set with you (rather than leaving them in the car, a locker or at home) because occasionally a reaction may be persistent and require two doses of epinephrine before the patient reaches medical care. And rarely, devices are misused or misfire – so having a back-up is always a good idea.

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There’s no day like today to begin making positive lifestyle changes. Experts say it takes about three weeks to turn change into a new habit – so be patient and positive with yourself, making one good decision at a time. Talk to your doctor about these and other ways to improve both your health and your food allergy outcomes at your next visit.

Food Allergy Policies at School – Considerations and Perspective August 14, 2018

 

As the school year beings for some and approaches for others, now is an excellent time to reflect on the food allergy policies and procedures at your school. As research and information about best practices emerge, schools should know that small changes can have a big impact.  Camps may also wish to track these same kind of policy shifts to keep campers safe while in their care next summer.

 

Why do schools need a food allergy policy?

 

Schools must create a safe environment for students with life threatening food allergies. Administrators should begin by creating a comprehensive food allergy policy for the entire school or school district.  Policies may vary from school to school depending on their experiences and limitations.  In fact, allergists are hesitant to suggest blanket recommendations for that reason.  Whatever each school decides, the policy and procedures set regarding food allergies need to be

1.  widely communicated;

2.  easily accessible; and

3.  consistently applied and protected.

These policies serve as a baseline for food allergic families to make decisions about additional measures they may need to take in order to keep their child safe.

Where do schools begin and what factors should they consider in regards to their food allergy policies and procedures?  

When formulating food allergy policies and procedures, schools should consider some of the following factors:

1.  Age of students and their cognitive and physical development:  Schools may have different policies for students of different ages.  For example, elementary schools may forbid a child from carrying his/her own epinephrine auto-injector while a middle and high school may allow that.
2. Common risks facing the age group of their students:  Are the students allowed to share food without permission?  What are the school’s thoughts on classroom parties and celebrations? Do your students commonly face peer pressure or bullying? Are they allowed to snack/eat independently (away from a cafeteria or not during a traditional lunch time)?
3. Stock/unassigned epinephrine: In many states, schools are either required or allowed to keep unassigned (or stock) epinephrine on-hand in case of an anaphylactic reaction.  That means that if a student, staff, or faculty member has a reaction and does not already have epinephrine prescribed to them and stored at school, the unassigned epinephrine may be used.  Consider whether your school should carry this useful medication and who should be in charge of administering it.
4. Nursing schedule and availability:  Does your school have a full-time nurse?  How many students is he or she responsible for looking after?
5. How and where to store epinephrine: Is the nurse’s office centrally located or would it be wise to store epinephrine with a trained administrator closer to a lunchroom or classrooms?
6. Hand washing: Hand sanitizer does not remove the proteins that can cause a food allergic reaction.  Only a scrub with soap and water can do that. Are the students required to wash hands at any point in the day?
7. Communication with parents:  This piece may not make it into policy, but it should be discussed.  Advanced communication with parents regarding upcoming class parties, school celebrations involving food, field trips, and other food-related events allows parents and teachers to make appropriate accommodations to keep their food allergic student safe.
8. The classroom versus the lunchroom: How will food allergy policies differ by location within the school?  Rules in the classroom regarding food may be very different from rules in the cafeteria.  Who will be responsible in which location?
9. Field trips: Each school should consider who is responsible for carrying and administering epinephrine when students are away from school.  Go over a plan should someone have a severe allergic reaction.  Be reminded that epinephrine must be kept at room temperature, so if you are spending time outside in hot or cold weather, epinephrine will need to be temperature controlled.  Communicate this plan to teachers and parents so that everyone is on the same page.
10. Faculty and staff education:  Faculty and staff should be educated and RE-educated about food allergies each year.  They must learn to recognize the signs of severe allergic reactions (called anaphylaxis) and what those symptoms might sound like in the words of a young child.  [See The Language of Food Allergies for the symptoms and language students may use to describe an allergic reaction.]  They need to learn how to respond to an allergic reaction.  Understanding the basics of cross-contamination and ingredient label reading, among other lessons, will help protect food allergic students in their classrooms.

 

Food allergies are often misunderstood.  Not only can they cause severe allergic reactions that can be fatal, but they cause a great amount of time, preparation, and anxiety for students and parents alike.  This anxiety can hamper a student’s ability to learn. Therefore, it is imperative that schools make every effort to provide a safe environment for learning both academically and socially.  With two students in every classroom suffering from food allergies, it is critically important that schools consider how they can best prepare families and teachers to protect these students.

#MinutesMatter: Be Prepared for Severe Allergic Reactions March 2, 2018

I hope that no one finds themselves in the situation of experiencing a severe allergic reaction.  But it pays to be prepared.  Studies have shown that delayed use of epinephrine is the leading cause of negative outcomes during anaphylaxis.  That’s why #MinutesMatter in the event of an emergency.

What can you do to prepare for an unexpected allergic reaction?

1. Have a current Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and review it.  Emergency Action Plans are forms filled out by your doctor or allergist which outline actions to take in the event of an allergic reaction.  They are arranged into If/Then actions based on symptoms making it easy to determine what you should do. And, EAPs should always note the presence of asthma in a patient, as asthma can complicate a reaction.  To learn more, please click the button below or obtain a copy like the one created by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Download AllergyStrong’s Emergency Action Plan

2.  Lay patient down.  If the patient is vomiting, lay them on their side. Elevate the legs if possible.  This position helps with blood flow.

3.  Administer epinephrine.  The sooner, the better.  Should you need to administer epinephrine, do not wait.  Early administration of epinephrine is associated with the most positive results, including less medication needed at the hospital.

4.  In the case of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) first administer epinephrine, then call 911.  You will need to go directly to a hospital after experiencing anaphylaxis even if symptoms subside.  This is because patients require additional monitoring and because secondary reactions can occur – even hours after contact with a suspected allergen.

Other keys to success:

Always carry two epinephrine auto-injectors with you wherever you go. Most allergic reactions occur between seconds to 60 minutes after coming into contact with an allergen.  However, in rare cases, allergic reactions can be delayed.  Epinephrine is the only medication that will stop an anaphylactic reaction.

Train your tween, teen and friends about the symptoms of anaphylaxis, how and when to use an epinephrine auto-injector.  Make sure they understand that there’s no major downside to using an epinephrine auto-injector.  Remind them to inject first, then call 911.

Carry an antihistamine for minor allergic reactions.  In the case of anaphylaxis or when two or more organ systems are involved (for example, vomiting AND hives – which is gastrointestinal and skin), patients will still need epinephrine to stop this type of severe allergic reaction.  However, if someone is experiencing minor reactions involving only one organ system (for example: hives, itchy mouth) antihistamines will help make things more comfortable.  **Continue to monitor patients after giving antihistamines to make sure a reaction hasn’t returned or isn’t progressing into anaphylaxis.**

Most importantly, follow this Emergency Room mantra:  If you THINK you need to use epinephrine, you DO need to use it.  

In a severe allergic reaction #MinutesMatter.

Your Growing Child: How to Carry Epinephrine August 11, 2015

As a parent of a food allergic child, you are the person responsible for carrying your son/daughter’s epinephrine and other rescue medication.  As your child ages, however, he will not only go on play dates or attend sports practices and games without you, but she’ll want to go the movies with her friends or walk around the school fair.

My son, who is now 10, has shown a definite preference to carry his own epinephrine in certain situations.  If he’ll be indoors (or it’s cool out), he’ll stick it in his sporty cinch backpack alongside an inhaler and whatever else he brings along that day.  If it’s hot out, we throw the meds in an insulated lunchbox alongside an ice pack or a bottle of ice water and place that inside a cinch bag.

As he grows he may wish to try a few alternatives to remain prepared.  If you’re an adult or teenager with allergies, there are a few convenient ways to wear (yes, wear) epinephrine below.  In fact, I plan to get a few for MYSELF to help him carry his rescue meds while we’re active or on-the-go.

Keeping your or your kids’ rescue meds with them should be easy – no matter which autoinjector you prefer.  Below are some pretty cool and easy ways to carry epinephrine no matter where you go or what you do.  *Just remember, epinephrine needs to be kept at room temperature or below to keep from compromising its potency – see EpiPens in Sun or Snow for further details.*

Auvi-Q Autoinjector Case by Rescue Shot Case

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  LegBuddy by OmaxCare

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  BuiltNY’s Gourmet Getaway Insulated Lunch Sack

AimTrend’s Cinch Backpack Gym Bag

Skecher’s Sequin Backpack

Spring Cleaning: How to Properly Dispose of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors May 19, 2014

 

I’m deep into spring cleaning (yes, right before the onset of summer) and have a stockpile of expired EpiPens and Auvi-Qs to get rid of.  But what should you do with them?

 

1.  Keep the auto-injectors in their protective cases.  Even if you’ve used them, return them to their cases to safeguard anyone who may handle them after that.

 

2.  Do not throw epinephrine auto-injectors in the trash.  Since they contain needles, that may be considered a “medical sharp” which poses a safety hazard to sanitation workers and the environment.

 

3.  So where should they go?

• The best place to bring them is to your nearest hospital or doctor’s office where they likely have proper medical sharp disposal.
• Another great place to try is your local pharmacy.  Call ahead to see if they participate in a medical waste disposal program and specifically ask about medical sharps.
• Many towns and cities host Household Hazardous Waste collection drives.  Call your local government to find out when a drive will run near you and, again, ask specifically about medical sharps.  Our local collection could not accept them but each town has different capabilities.

 

I think I’m going to set mine aside until I take my son for his regular check up at our allergist’s office.   With a toddler in tow, I’m all about making the fewest stops these days!

Stock Up on Epinephrine for School: No Co-Pays Until December 2013 August 6, 2013

Yes, we STILL have nearly a month left before school begins.  Don’t worry!  But if you’re even thinking  about preparing for the upcoming school year, be sure to include epinephrine on your To-Do List.

 

First, double check the expiration dates on your epinephrine supply.

 

Second, make sure you have at least two, preferably three sets of epinephrine auto-injectors that are active (one for school, one for home, and a mobile set to bring with you on-the-go).

 

Third, renew your prescriptions now to make sure they are still current (and to give you time to contact your allergist if they’re not) as well as to avoid that last minute panic before the beginning of school.

 

Finally, now is a great time to take advantage of the no co-pay promotions from the makers of both EpiPens and Auvi-Q.   Both companies have issued a $0 co-pay program from now until December 2013.   Now’s a great time to restock your epinephrine for free!  Program details below:

 

EpiPen $0 Co-Pay Program:  https://activatemysavings.com/epipen/

 

Auvi-Q Support and Savings Program:  http://www.auvi-q.com/support-and-savings

**As always, it’s important to discuss the various auto-injector options and which is best for your particular needs with your doctor.**

 

 

As You Head Out For the Beach… July 30, 2013

…or the pool, park or zoo…Don’t forget to bring your epinephrine.

 

But, it’s important to note that epinephrine needs to be stored at room temperature (at around 77 degrees F).  Therefore, consider toting your EpiPens or Auvi-Q around in an insulated lunchbox.  In order to keep the epinephrine from getting too cold I sandwich a couple of juice boxes or a bottle of water in between my EpiPens and a freezer pack.

 

You can use any old insulated lunch bag or tote or you could buy one that’s designed specifically as epinephrine storage.  Look at this adorable insulated, customizable EpiPen pouch that I found on Etsy!   Want one!

 

**And, try to remember not to leave EpiPens in a hot car!

 

Hope everyone’s having a great summer!