Food Allergies ...who is affected?

Between 6 and 7 million Americans, or 2 to 2 ½ percent of the general population, suffer from a food allergy. And, 2-8 percent of all children have at least one food allergy.

Eight foods account for 90 percent of all allergic reactions: peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.), fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, soy, and wheat. Peanuts are the leading cause of severe allergic reactions, followed by shellfish, fish, tree nuts, and eggs. Children with food allergies and asthma appear to be at an increased risk for severe allergic reactions.

Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital setting, accounting for an estimated 30,000 emergency room visits. It is estimated that as many as 100 to 200 people die each year from food allergic reactions; approximately 50 people die from insect sting reactions.

Allergies at School:
Why Food Safety Should Top Your Lesson Plan

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A World of Difference
The Kelsey Ryan Story

Can one person make a world of difference? They can. And, Kelsey Ryan did.

Kelsey is a 9-year-old from Celebration, Florida, an Orlando suburb. Kelsey has been a MedicAlert® member since June 2000. She is allergic to peanuts. If she ate a peanut, or anything with peanut oil on it, she could die from anaphylactic shock, an allergic reaction that causes swelling which can close her airway and cause death within seconds.

Life-Saving Epinephrine
The only thing that can stop the allergic reaction is the drug epinephrine. For that reason, Kelsey carries an EpiPen® everywhere she goes. The EpiPen® is a needle-like device that allows her to selfadminister a quick injection of life-saving epinephrine.

In the fall of 2004, during the annual staff education on the EpiPen® at her elementary school, Kelsey learned that many children in Florida were not allowed, for a variety of reasons, to carry their EpiPen® with them. Kelsey just didn't think that was right. So, she decided to do something about it.

Convincing, Credible Advocate
For two months, she and her mother, Blair Ryan, a registered nurse, traveled to Tallahassee, the state capitol, to testify before committees in the Senate and the House, to explain to lawmakers why it was so important for children to carry their medication and be allowed to selfadminister their epinephrine.

Kelsey was a convincing, credible advocate. And a successful one. HB279, cosponsored by Senator Steve Wise and Representative Denise Grimsley and renamed the "Kelsey Ryan Act," was passed unanimously by both chambers of the Legislature during the 2005 legislative session.

On June 20th, 2005, Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed HB279 into law. The new law will now allow the estimated 100,000 schoolchildren in Florida with lifethreatening allergies to carry epinephrine injectors in class, on school trips, and during after-school activities.

Kelsey Goes to Washington
Kelsey isn't done quite yet. With her mother again at her side, she plans to speak to Congress to convince national lawmakers that every state needs to let children carry their auto-injectors. The Florida bill takes effect January 1, 2006.

To get your child protected by MedicAlert®, go to www.medicalert.org or call toll-free 1-888-904-7629.

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Eleven year old Derek Cope has a severe food allergy to all beef and dairy products. His allergy is so bad that even a taste of a dairy product could result in an anaphylactic reaction. This was illustrated recently when Derek's parents, David and April, bought what they believed to be a dairy free (according to the listed ingredients) rice ice cream. It turned out that there was a very small amount (0.05mg) of a dairy product in the ice cream. When Derek realized, he quickly spat out what he had eaten and washed his mouth out. It was too late, however, Derek knew he had to go into the hospital.

Derek's parents were first informed about MedicAlert^® by the hospital physicians that diagnosed Derek's condition at the age of two. Said David Cope: "MedicAlert gives us the peace of mind that if an emergency occurs, and we are not there with Derek, the paramedics or emergency staff will know instantly that they need to administer Epinephrine, control his breathing and get him to the hospital".

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A growing problem nationwide
Trace elements of foods such as peanuts, milk, fish, wheat, soy, shellfish and tree nuts (walnut, pecan) can bring on allergic reactions ranging from hives, swelling, and nausea, to loss of consciousness and death. Even children who take their lunch to school can come in contact with allergenic food via cafeteria menus and food sharing with other kids.

Food Allergy Initiative (FAI), a nonprofit organization devoted to curing food allergies, reports that hundreds of people die each year from food-induced anaphylaxis and thousands more require emergency treatment due to life-threatening reactions.

How to take action at your child's school
Parents concerned about their children's safety should arrange to speak about these topics with anyone who has control over the school-day routine. One Los Angeles-area parent, Maha Brady, mother of MedicAlert Member Catherine Brady, recently took action on her daughter's behalf.

Catherine has a severe allergy to peanuts. She can have a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction if she comes in contact with peanuts or any food item containing the slightest hint of them. Educating everyone at Catherine's school was a top priority for Maha.

"I wrote a one page report for the school. I dedicated the first half of the report to describe Catherine's asthma, allergy and Epi-pen® , and the second half of the report I focused on the MedicAlert Service and how it could save Catherine's life," said Brady. "I have told the school -- in an emergency, if Catherine goes into anaphylactic shock or has an asthma attack, you have to administer the Epi-pen or inhaler, call MedicAlert and then call 911."

Maha spent plenty of time educating her daughter, too: "Catherine is extremely aware of her condition and the severity of her allergy to nuts," said Brady. "She knows there will be snack times in school, but I have told her she is not to take anything she is offered, she will have her own snacks."

Outside food another challenge

Despite your best efforts to educate everyone at your child's school, there are always variables over which you have less control, such as the problem presented by a classmate's birthday cake.

Maha Brady again worked with Catherine's teachers to contain this threat. "Catherine's teacher will work with the other moms to check the ingredients in cakes and treats, so that Catherine does not miss out, but also that she does not accidentally eat something that could harm her."