Make It a SAFE Winter for All Those That Suffer with Food Allergies

It’s winter. The air is crisp, the days are short and you’re bundled up in your favorite scarf on your way home from work. But before you settle into hibernation for the next few months, there is one more thing to do- remember to take precautions that will keep those with food allergies safe this winter! In this blog post, we’ll go over how to make it a SAFE Winter for all those who suffer from food allergies.

First of all, Did you know?

More than 200 food allergies have been identified and researchers suspect that IgE-mediated food allergies affect more than 15 million people in the United States.

In addition, there are 8 common allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, walnuts), fish/shellfish, soy, wheat, and sulfites (a food additive).

The following is a list of precautions that you can take to make it safe for those with food allergies:

•   Make sure to always read the labels on foods.
• Be cautious when out at restaurants.
• Notify your friends and family of any allergies that you may have.
• Make sure to have medications on hand during the winter months, such as EpiPens and Benadryl.
• Be cautious of cross-contamination at home.
• Let others know that you suffer from a food allergy.
• Immediately seek emergency assistance if anything were to happen.
• wheat and sulphites (a food additive).

  So, what’s a parent to do?

• Make sure that everyone is aware of their child’s allergies.
• Teach your children how to read labels when they begin to eat on their own.
• Keep all medications in close proximity when the child goes outdoors.
• Let friends and family know of any food allergies that your child may have, so that they can be aware too.
• Avoid keeping foods that your child is allergic to in the house, as well as anything that could become contaminated by them.

Use safe cooking practices when preparing meals for your child.

Make it a point to ask friends if their food contains any allergens, before offering it to your child.  Also, let them know if their food might become contaminated by an allergen.

Treat your child’s allergy symptoms if they do happen to eat or come in contact with any of the allergens.

So make sure to take these precautions and help make this a safe winter for everyone!