Sustainable food allergy T.shirts? Working with your child’s school is definitely critical, but it’s equally important to work directly with your kid! The more your child understands their food allergy, the more comfortable they will be establishing their own safe eating environment and advocating for themselves if and when they need to. While you’re discussing these topics, it’s a good idea to form a clear action plan of what to do in case of emergency. Who should your child notify? Who, if anyone, will provide medical treatment like an epinephrine injection? Who should be called—you, the doctor, the ER? Along with the official paperwork, it’s a good idea to translate this emergency plan into kid-friendly language and print a copy for your child. You can tape it to their lunch box, stick one in their backpack or even set it as the background on your kid’s mobile device.
Negotiating these challenges can be hard. One way we found that helped, was to advertise our son’s allergy on the back of his T.Shirts. The best thing was he loved wearing them. He loved wearing them so much, that it was top of the list to be packed for holidays and events. Food allergies impact not only on the social life of the person with the allergy, but also for their family and friends. Severe food allergies can cause serious health consequences, and must be managed carefully. Food is central to all our lives and is inextricably linked with our general health and well-being. We use food to mark celebrations from festive seasons, birthday parties, school events, school trips, restaurants and sleepovers to name but a few.
You’ve gotten through that first scary food allergy experience and doctor’s visit… now what? How do you explain all of this complex information to your little one so they understand it? So they don’t make a mistake? So they can get help when they need it? I may sound like a broken record but I cannot stress this enough: Understanding your child’s diagnosis is key, as a poorly understood medical diagnosis becomes even more of a stressor. If you left the doctor’s office and still have questions, don’t hesitate to go back and get your questions answered. Once you intimately understand your child’s diagnosis, then you will be able to break it down into simple concepts your child can understand. See more info on allergy alert shirts for your child.
Teens with allergies have a higher risk of death from anaphylaxis than any other age group. Teenagers tend to feel invincible, and many teens with food allergies don’t like to call attention to themselves. They also often forget or fail to carry their epinephrine auto-injectors. If you suspect a food allergy or have witnessed an allergic reaction to food, the next step is to see a board-certified allergist. The allergist will want to know about your suspicions and what symptoms have been experienced, so it’s important to keep a written record. If an allergy is diagnosed, you should leave the allergist’s office with an allergy action plan that outlines what to do in the event of a reaction, as well as a prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector. If you are not given these items, ask about them.
Your child’s allergist is the best person to advise you if you have questions about your child’s individual risk or when you should treat an allergic reaction/asthma attack at home versus go to the Emergency Department. Many allergists are offering telemedicine appointments, so you do not have to attend allergy appointments in person during the COVID-19 crisis. Routinely schedule quiet one-on-one time with your child during the pandemic. Use this to check in about how they are feeling and give them time to ask you questions. Validate their feelings and acknowledge that worry is normal. See extra info at this website.