Ambulance Tours

At a local event, I saw a parametric give tours to kids of a ambulance, the EMS had at a local event we attended. The car free event also had two paramedics on bicycles. In my opinion every family, especially ones who have a child with any medical condition, that may require an ambulance, should make use of this community service. In our area at many community events, the EMS provide this service, to make ambulance rides seem less scary for kids. An added important reason for this EMS service, is if an emergency should happen, an ambulance is already on-site.

As well as kids getting a tour, teens asked about being a paramedic as a career choice. I also had a chance to talk to the gentlemen giving the tours. Our local Ambulances all carry epinephrine. When I last took a First Aid and CPR Course in my home town both the ambulances and Fire trucks had epinephrine, my current city "only" all the local ambulances carry epinephrine.

We talked about the history of epinephrine, costs and upcoming products yet to be introduced to the market, based on EpiPen. He was very knowledgeable, and good with the kids.

EMS Week May 17 - 23 is Emergency Medical Services Week.

UPDATE:

It was suggested to me that ambulance tours could happen at allergy offices, at first I thought this was a good idea. After thinking about this further, not only would those with allergies benefit from tours but people with seizers, diabetes and other medical conditions, when these tours happen in the greater community.

Reaction to Soap

When I was in high school,  I developed a rash on my hands,  that would come and go.  After a while I concluded the rash would come after I went to the washroom in the west wing of the school, but not after using the washrooms in the other wings of the school. The rash looked similar to the reactions I still have, if I handle dandelions.  

I spoke to one of the teachers who taught near the west wing washroom with the washrooms with the soap that I thought I had a problem with.  We concluded the person to talk to was the head custodian.  

The custodian, explained that he ordered a new hand soap, and planned to replace the old soaps in all the washrooms, with a new soap. We both agreed I was allergic to the new soap that he was putting in the west wing washrooms.  We brained stormed what to do, being afraid I would not be able to wash my hands using school soap, I thought about having to bring my own soap each day to school.  

 The custodian came up with a simple, but brilliant idea of putting the soap I was allergic to in the boys washroom, and the soap I was not allergic to in the girls washroom. 

My rash went away, the next week the custodian reported to me that he was able to stop the orders of the new soap,  and he would continue ordering the old soap.  We looked at the ingredient lists of the soaps and were not able to figure out the ingredient that I was allergic to.

This story happened many years ago, but it could happen today.  Everyone at the school (not just teachers) should know about your (or your child's) allergy/ allergies.  A little school cooperation goes along way.

See Also:
Soap Made From Nuts in Doctors Office

Chemurgy Posts
Soap With Nuts in Them
Water Cleaned with Shrimp and Crab Shells
Dishsoap Made With Nut Oils
Soap Dishes Made From Coconuts
Soap Made From Eggs

Recall Plus

From Recalls Plus

New website and App Recalls Plus

As you have experienced, certain allergens in foods can cause dramatic health effects for many individuals. Food recall information can be really hard to find, unless you have heard about the recall from someone, or constantly check government updates on recalls. This critical food recall information can have major health implications for individuals with severe food allergies if not received fast enough.

SAP has set out to help people with food allergies stay safe through their free Recalls Plus mobile and Facebook application. We commit to give vital undisclosed allergen recall information directly from government agencies such as the CPSC, NHTSA, FDA, and USDA anywhere at any time through timely alerts from personalized watch lists.

Features of the Recalls Plus app include:

- Proactively delivers timely recall alerts for the items on your Personal Watch List (a personalized list of allergens and products that you wish to monitor)

- Hand curates every product and food recall directly from government agencies (CPSC, NHTSA, FDA, USDA) for relevance to children, and people affected by allergies, and consolidates them in one place

- Provides a simple, easy-to-use solution to track recall information and instantly share it with family and friends.

Dandelion

I am allergic to dandelions. When they are in their yellow stage I am tired and sneeze often. My eyes get red and watery when they are in their white fluffy stage. The whole dreadful process takes about two weeks. If i dare mow the lawn I am a mess till I wash off, even then I feel horrible after.

Despite this I am against wide spreed pesticide use. This blog will now return to food allergy issues.

allergy photos

First Aid Training

On Beyond A Peanut Facebook Group Page some interesting news (to me) came up. Not all Americans who receive CPR & First Aid training receive auto -injector training in some cases no allergy training at all. In Canada it would appear all first aiders receive this training from the Canadian Red Cross, and other first aid training companies. Yet in some American States laws prohibits this training.


I have taken Fist Aid training from St. John Ambulance, Canadian Red Cross and once from a a smaller company, that offers CPR and First Aid training. I dug up my Canadian Red Cross First Aid & CPR Manual from 2005. There are several pages on allergy, anaphylaxis, auto injectors. Two of the groups (not the private company) I took the coarse from, had auto injector trainers. The Canadian Red Cross even says on it's web site that the coarse includes allergy training. The private company (that I was the least impressed with over all) had information an allergies in it's manual as well as it's coarse. I could not find my St. John manual however allergy etc. training was part of the coarse, and I believe the manual.

When I took the Canadian Red Cross coarse on First Aid and CPR I learned about protecting one self legally if giving CPR, First Aid or medication in the States, and about the differences in American laws that do not have Good Samaritan Laws, or that have week ones. It did not occur to me that Americans would not be taught how to give auto injectors in their first aid training, in some States.

I have also spoken to a few allergy advocates, and people giving epi training to schools, that do not have any First Aid or CPR training.

In Canada CPR training are required for many jobs. School teachers is not one of those jobs. I would rather see everyone who works with children have both CPR and Epi training. Most people with life threatening allergies die of other things, shouldn't allergic families be supporting more first aid training? The coarse teaches besides CPR including head and spine injuries, wounds, poisons, heat and cold related emergencies, packing a first aid kit, preparing for disasters, infections, drug overdose, drug reactions, seizures, fainting, and more, the coarse also looks into these and more issues ,the higher the level of the coarse you take the more emergencies you cover.

A few weeks ago, I got an ad in my mailbox for tweens who want to take a home alone and first aid classes as well as babysitters training. The ad says *bring nut & candy free lunch, pen and paper.

Also of interest the British Red Cross has information on Anaphylaxis on it's web site.

Thanks to Dana Clifford from Beyond A Peanut for bringing these facts forward about the lack on epi training in many American State first aid courses.

Update
After youngest child had a first aid emergency that required stitches, after I asked many questions eventually I was told not one teacher had First Aid Training. I informed many parents of this safety issue. After the school office received dozens of complaints (from parents) about the lack of First Aid Training the teachers had, the school supplied teachers with training. It then became the school with the most first aid trained staff in the region, thus the most allergic prepared school in the area, at least at the time.
See Ontario Teachers Need First Aid Training

Allergic families complain about lack of anaphylaxis training, asking how to get more teachers EpiPen trained. Answer: Ask if the teachers have first aid and CPR training, then inform allergic and non allergic families that the gym teacher, shop teacher, grade teacher do not have first aid or epi pen training. The non allergic families just may back you up, on getting more teachers first aid and "Anaphylaxis Rescuer" trained. Many allergy groups can't recommend this, without looking foolish as most are not CPR or First Aid trained.

Some first aid classes teach "Anaphylaxis Rescuer" with out other important first aid training. I recommend asking for a certified first aid instructor to help train staff at your school.

Free From Food Awards

The Free From food Awards short list is here. I was surprised to see Toffuti on the list as their "dairy free" products because they are made on the same line as milk. Their have had reactions from dairy allergic as well as nut allergic. Toffutti has in fact won in the past in this UK allergy event. These awards are given to allergy aware companies best foods in separate categories. I first blogged about Tuffuti and food reactions here.

I contacted Foods Matter (who run the Free From Awards) via Twitter this is what they said via Twitter:

foodsmatter @avoidingmilk FFFood awards. By encouraging more manufacturers into market we hope to encourage more to use dedicated facilities.

5:10 AM Mar 22nd via TweetDeck in reply to avoidingmilk
Reply Retweet foodsmatter @avoidingmilk Tofutti Sadly, if we were to limit FFFood awards to products made only on dedicated equipment we would have v. few entries.

5:09 AM Mar 22nd via TweetDeck in reply to avoidingmilk
Reply Retweet foodsmatter @avoidingmilk Thanks for info about reactions/contamination in USaA Not aware of any in UK.

Their have been other events that only allow dedicated facilities, that have done well Foods Matter does not appear to have the same quality contestants or standards.

Update Faith

I got an update on Faith, thanks Faith's Mom Linda for sharring with all of us.

Michael and I learned of Faith's allergies over 7 years ago, and since have been asking the question, "Is it Faith Friendly"? This term has come to mean volumes to our family and our friends. When we ask the "Faith friendly" question it represents Milk & Egg Free products. I can't even begin to describe how little we found that lived up to the term "Faith Friendly".

Take a look in your pantry for a moment, and you will see how MANY products contain milk and eggs. Food allergies of all kinds can be fatal, and we've found over the past three years, that many sites that cater to informing the public. We have designed FaithFriendlyWorld.com to help educate and connect people with allergies, to sites that may be of service. Our mission is to physically go out in public and speak to people about food allergies. We raise funds for Allergy Awareness Programs, while teaching our daughter and others that this is a battle worth fighting.

In the life of Faith Lynn Hall

Update September 2009
Faith has now totaled over 34 Anaphylactic attacks due to ingestion & cross contamination issues. Yes, she is that sensitive! Faith also suffers and anaphylactic reaction to things such as Croup or common colds. It now seems to be the way her body responds to anything challenging her airways. She has also developed asthma, as many anaphylactics do. We carry a completely stocked medical case, pulse oximiter/heart rate monitor, and nebulizer, every where we go. We have exclusive cookware and utensils for all “FAITH ONLY” cooking. Her food sensitivity is off the charts, and her personality is too! Faith is doing GREAT mentally! She loves her life, although it proves to be very challenging. Our family life has completely changed from years past, as Faith now knows her lifestyle is different. She has taken on anxiety, and is winning that battle day by day. Who knew touching a door knob could send someone into a mental breakdown. Yes, door knobs are dangerous (some people don’t wash there hands AFTER they eat). Growing into her own self, she has become very proud of who she is, and how she lives…but the fact that her life is faced with constant coordination can be frustrating for her at 8.

October 2009

Faith is home schooled due to her health and challenged immune system. She does coordinate with the local grade school, and we visit once in awhile. Unfortunately, when we do, Faith almost always gets sick. This time was no different, we had to go into the Dr. again today. Her lungs are battling another cold and she is fighting hard. As most of you know, being exposed to a virus can cause Faithy to get croup. In Faith, that minor throat inflammation causes major swelling and loss of oxygen. She is now home recovering, reading books, and writing stories. As always, she has Harley, & bunny by her side, and they are all resting nicely. As she faces more in life, her personality gets more comical, she can make you laugh like no 8 yr old you’ve ever met! The other day I began to caough, she very nicely put her hand on my back while leaning around my side and said, “Lets not go and bust a lung on me Mommy” That sheer comedy is what keeps this entire house smiling.

Preparation…Halloween 2009

It is Halloween Time, FAITH LOVESSSSSSSSSSSSSS HALLOWEEN! Cracks all the family up, that the child with food allergies, loves the holiday where people give you food! Ironic!

Here is our check list:
Buy Faith Friendly candy
Talk to neighbors
Purchase gloves

We begin by going to store to locate Faith Friendly candy to hand out. We also make Faith and emergency back-up bag. We do this just in case the kids get nothing but chocolate. I bake some Faith Friendly cupcakes, and make them look like spiders. We make lots of goodies at home, and begin to decorate the house. Faith always seems to pick a costume with gloves, this way anything she touches has a barrier. Smart girl! This year she is going to be a pirate. Not a scary Pirate, an ADORABLE PIRATE. We talk to all the neighbors about Faith, and explain her health. Miss Opal, down the street, always gives Faith Fruit! Faith loves that. Lots of our friends make special bags JUST FOR FAITHY.

On Halloween night, our entire family takes the kids out, door to door. They cover the entire block down both sides, then we come back to base camp (Grandmas House). The kids all sit in a circle and dump the loot they have acquired. We go through all the candy, piece by piece. The cousins all give Faith the candy that is safe for her, in turn, Faith gives them all the candy THAT IS NOT. It has become a BIG tradition for the kids, and quite honestly, is something they look forward to. They call it the trade game! It always amazes me how protective children can be of each other. The cousins always make sure Faith gets as much as them, and if not…they give the extra they received away so it is all equal. Faith just loves Halloween. This year, we actually have two other families that want to be a part of our Halloween way. Let the tradition of giving, sharing, and caring continue!
Another comical situation with Faith this year, went a little like this…”

Hey Faithy, do you like this costume on mommy?”, I said. Faith responds, “Mommy take that off before you loose all your dignity” The entire store burst into laughter, I guess I don’t look very good as a Candy Corn. She was right, I felt ridiculous!

Linda also sells Arbonne products www.arbonne.com Enter consultant ID 15284492. Arbonne's products are free of animal products or by-products Certified Vegan! We want people to look and feel great by incorporating premium products based on herbal and botanical ingredients.

Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs

The movie Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs has a child in it, that has a cartoonish reaction to nuts.

This has caused mixed reactions in the allergy community!

I have not seen the movie, but please do comment if you have seen it. You can also comment the reasons you plan or don't plan to see this movie.


Peanut Free Mama:
Cloudy With A chance of Peanut Allergy
Best Allergy Site:
Cloudy with a Chance of Anaphlaxis

Don't You Put it in Your Mouth

I am going to date myself here. This public service announcement was big when I was a kid.

I thought as a child with food allergies myself, that it was a warning to kids with food allergies, not to eat food they are allergic to.

Please excuse this retro look at my childhood.

Tofutti

Kim wrote in:

You were blogging recently about the Tofutti Cutie contamination debate. I commented that my daughter suffered anaphylaxis after eating one in March. The FDA issued a recall yesterday for 12 pallets of this product across many states as a result of our complaint as well as several others, and I would love to see it on your blog. My daughter has never reacted to trace amounts before, and because it was recalled, this particular batch had to have a substantial amount of milk protein in it, likely enough that it would have been required to be on the label. . It appears that some questioned the validity of the allegations, and I would hate for anyone else to get sick, thinking this was hysteria over trace amounts.

US Food and Drug Administration Press release:

Tofutti Brands Inc. Announces Precautionary Recall of 12 Pallets of Vanilla Cuties Due to Possible Trace Level Milk Contamination
Contact:
Steven Kass
908-272-2400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- May 12, 2009 -- Tofutti Brands Inc. has completed a precautionary investigative recall of 12 pallets of its 8-Pack VANILLA CUTIES mini sandwich frozen dessert novelties (UPC 0-20188-01301-2) due to possible trace level milk contamination reported for a limited number of lots shipped which were produced in July of 2008. VANILLA CUTIES are labeled as Milk Free and persons who have an allergy or severe sensitivity or intolerance to Dairy products run the risk of serious or life-threatening injury if they consume products with milk ingredients. Tofutti Brands uses stringent quality controls to prevent milk contamination of its products and sells more than 60 million individual VANILLA CUTIES each year.

From early March to early April 2009 Tofutti Brands received telephone reports from 6 consumers who experienced skin rash symptoms after eating VANILLA CUTIES produced at a minor production facility during 3 days in July of 2008. No illness or serious injury has been reported and no further reports have been received. The suspect product in question was identified as having been produced at only this one minor facility and the 12 pallets shipped from the suspect lots have been recalled. The bulk of these 12 pallets were recalled from the New York City metro area as well as from some distributed to the Midwest, New England, the Mid Atlantic Region and California. No complaints from consumers were received from the Midwest or New England Regions. Investigation and reports from Distributors and store visits indicate that none of the suspect product remains in distribution and it is not currently being offered for sale.

The suspect product in the above 12 pallets is identified by the labeled Manufacturing facility code 360-300 which will appear on one of the two end flaps of the box of the VANILLA CUTIES. Consumers who may have purchased VANILLA CUTIES bearing this code are urged to return them to the place of purchase for full refund. This recall does not involve any of the Company’s vanilla or other flavored TOFUTTI CUTIES manufactured at its other facility. Consumers with questions may contact the Company at 908-272-2400, Monday-Friday, from 9:00AM-5:00PM EST.

Milk Allergy Reactions to Tofutti

In the past I have criticized Tofutti, on chat groups and blogs about making their products on lines with milk. Now their is evidence that this is a bad idea.

Their are "true milk free products", we should be supporting, especially if dealing with a severe allergies. Just think of the reactions that are unreported!

From http://www.ellfoundation.org

March 9th, 2009

Ell relessed a Manufacturer Allergen Ingredient Labeling (MAIL) ALERT for Tofutti Cuties.

A child suffered an anaphylactic reaction immediately following ingestion of this product.

Cross-contamination with milk in processing is suspected. The product will be tested by FARRP, an independent food allergy testing laboratory at the University of Nebraska.

This is the 3rd allergic incident report for Tofutti that has been submitted to ELL within the past several months (9 total documented allergic incidents to-date). Following the receipt of each report, ELL has notified the manufacturer but has not received any replies.

Please note, Tofutti Cuties are manufactured by co-packers (Kemp’s Ice Cream). Tofutti also manufactures a peanut variety of the Cutie frozen dessert. Tofutti does not include cautionary or advisory warnings for the potential for cross contamination with milk and/or peanut ingredients.

Historically, the company has been very uncooperative and has not taken responsibility for any of the allergic reactions reported.

If you are aware of any allergic incidents resulting from consumption of Tofutti products, please contact Eat, Learn, Live (ELL) immediately.

Regards,

Kathleen Silverman

Eat, Learn, Live (ELL)

ksilverman@ellfoundation.org

www.ellfoundation.org

Wasp Sting

Last week I got a nasty wasp sting on my little finger. My finger swelled and turned red, but I did not have an anaphylactic reaction. My finger was swollen for days. I iced my finger, I waited a few minites after the sting,before operating any heavy machinery including my car. I did not want to be driving while a reaction turned from bad to worse.

When I got home, like most parents I had children’s benadryl, and most first aid equipment, but nothing for adults, I took the older kid dose of benadrl, and it was enough to reduce the swelling, and my finger was and is fine.