A special
request from the parents of a child that has a severe peanut
allergy and the difficulty this family had in finding information
on travelling with their child has resulted in these tips for a
For parents of children
with Severe Allergic Reactions, every holiday and outing
can place these children in situations that can cause
an
Anaphylactic Shock, which can be
fatal.
If you
suspect your child may exhibit symptoms
of a severe reaction to any allergen or substance seek
medical attention immediately and consult your doctor for
more information. Also see Travel Safety Tips - Severe Allergic Reactions
for Links to
Sites about Severe Allergies.
See Travel Safety Tips - Severe Allergic Reactions
(Anaphylactic
Shock) for causes, symptoms, prevention, treatment and links to
sites for more information.
CLICK ON THE SPECIFIC TIPS OR
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Education
Education can be key
to saving a life or reducing the instances of a symptoms appearing
and risking Anaphylactic Shock. Consult your doctor
immediately if you suspect your child may exhibit symptoms of a
severe allergy. Ask for a referral to a specialist if
necessary. See Symptoms
and Links to
Sites about Severe Allergies for more information.
Parents, caregivers, the child/patient, siblings, relatives,
friends and anyone who may come in contact or be responsible for
the child/patient should be educated to:
- Avoid contact with allergens for the child/patient and anyone
that comes in contact with the child/patient.
- Be aware of possible cross-contamination.
- Strive to Prevent instances of anaphylactic shock;
- Be aware of the symptoms and recognize the symptoms.
- For more information on insect stings see First Aid Tips for Insect Stings
- Administer treatment
- Contact emergency medical personnel immediately if symptoms
appear or contact with allergens is suspected.
- Inform people in contact with the child/patient of the
condition and precautions necessary. Also see Planning
and Tips on Eating Out
- See Travel Safety Tips - Severe Allergic Reactions
for more information.
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Parent and Child/Patient=s
Responsibility:
When a family member has been identified as having a severe
food allergy parents and the
patient/child need to assume a large responsibility in ensuring
that the risk of an Anaphylactic Shock is reduced. These
responsibilities can include:
- Life style adjustments to ensure the safety of the
child/patient including avoidance and
removal of all suspected and/or possible foods that may contain
the allergen from the home and if possible all environments that
the child/patient visits.
- All family members are educated on the
causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment of severe allergy
reactions. See Travel Safety Tips - Severe Allergic Reactions
for more information.
- An EpiPen or Ana-kit is
available at all times and that medical attention is obtained in
every instance of the child exhibiting any symptoms.
- The child wears a Medic Alert
Bracelet stating the condition and allergens that can cause a
severe allergic reaction. See Links
to Sites about Severe Allergies.
- Children must be taught to be responsible
for their own welfare - do not to accept food from anyone other
than a parent/care giver that is educated
about the Child's severe allergies.
- Extra caution will be necessary when travelling with all family
members avoiding surfaces in restaurants and common areas that may
be contaminated. See Tips for Air Travel
and Eating Out.
- Peanuts, one of the most severe and sometimes fatal
allergens, is the most difficult
allergen to avoid while travelling. Being aware, careful,
prepared and educated can go along way to having a
safe holiday. Also see Travel Safety Tips - Severe Allergic Reactions.
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Before you Go – Planning
When a family member has severe allergies, planning ahead can
go a long way to reducing the risk of a severe allergic
reaction. Here are some tips:
- Before you book your vacation, research the destination hotel
and resort or look for specific resorts that offer a peanut free
environment. This may be time consuming but worth the effort.
Hotels and Resorts that are already aware of precautions for
peanut allergies may be better prepared to accommodate other
severe allergy guests.
- Vacationing in a House or Condominium with a fully equipped
kitchen will allow the family to prepare all food while on
holiday in a controlled environment.
- If a
children’s club is offered, speak to the supervisor directly about
whether the facility is prepared to offer a peanut free
environment or other allergen free environment, whether staff are familiar with
recognizing the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction and the
treatment necessary should a reaction occur including administering an
EpiPen if necessary. Also see Kids Clubs Safety Tips
for more safety tips. Provide staff with detailed
written instructions.
- Find out where the nearest hospital is - this is part of being
educated – you know where help is if you need it.
- Talk to your doctor about bringing an adequate supply of EpiPen
injections together with all medication information.
- See Tips for Air Travel
- See Tips for Eating Out
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Travel Tips
When travelling with a child/patient that has severe allergy
reactions, keep these tips in mind:
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Tips for
Air Travel
Flying on an airplane with a child/patient that has severe
allergies requires special preparation and considerations:
- Prior to booking your flight check with the air carrier
directly – not the travel agent - to inquire about the food policies
- see Kid Friendly Airlines - Policies and Services for Children on Major Airlines
- See other tips for more information.
- Advise the Airline of the allergy and ask that they specifically
advise the flight crew.
- Pre-book seats and ask for special cleaning for the seats and
area surrounding the seats.
- Consider planning the trip during a morning flight when peanuts
may not be served.
- Pack a supply of snacks that you can rely on as being safe for
the child. See – Tips on Eating Out.
Also see Links
to Sites about Severe Allergies
- Let the airline know you will be carrying an EpiPen and
inquire as to any special considerations they may require - a
medical confirmation of the condition from a doctor may be
required for boarding and carrying an EpiPen on the flight. - see www.anaphylaxis.org/flying.htm
for a sample letter.
When it comes time to board the airplane consider these tips:
- Advise the check-in staff immediately about the situation and
that you will be carrying an EpiPen. Reiterate your request for
special cleaning of the seats and ask for confirmation that it has
been completed, if this service is available.
- Preboard the flight and discuss the situation with flight crew
– talk to the supervisor and crew responsible for your seating
area. Ask that all peanut or possible peanut containing products
be withheld from your seating area and that one of the flight crew
be specifically assigned to your section that will not handle any
products that may pose a risk or be cross-contaminated.
- Have the EpiPen readily accessible
- Should a reaction occur during the flight administer the
medication at the earliest sign of symptoms – follow medical
instructions.
- Notify the flight attendant immediately of the situation and be
prepared to make a decision as to whether or not emergency medical
assistance is required.
- See www.anaphylaxis.org/flying.htm
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Tips on
Eating Out
Eating out with a child that has
severe allergies requires parents to be extra responsible
and educated to ensure the safety of
the child. Federal Food and Drug Regulations require
packaged food to list ingredients on labels. Restaurants
and bakeries are exempt from these regulations.
-
Look for restaurants that display the Canadian Restaurant and
Foodservices Association's Allergy Awareness Program
Logo. This program identifies food service
operators that follow the program guidelines. In order
to qualify for the program, restaurants must supply three main
menu items with complete ingredient information.
-
Call ahead and as the restaurant if they
participate in the Allergy Awareness Program or similar
program, whether staff are trained to accommodate people with
severe food allergies and if menu items have detailed
ingredient lists available.
-
See other tips for more information.
-
Order a copy of the Canadian Restaurant and
Foodservices Association's Allergy Awareness Program
Brochure at http://www.crfa.ca/research_foodallergies.shtml.
This brochure provides information on what restaurants may do
to assist in providing safe eating establishments.
-
Pack a supply of snacks that you can rely on as being safe for
the child. See – Tips on Air Travel for
special food considerations when flying. Also see Links
to Sites about Severe Allergies for food labelling and
more information on restaurants.
- See Planning.
- See Travel Safety Tips - Severe Allergic Reactions
for prevention tips.
- Call a local anaphylaxis group for tips on restaurants that may
be conscious of peanut/food allergies.
- Carry anti-bacterial wipes and clean all surfaces that the
child/patient may come in contact with.
- If possible, bring all the food, drinks, utensils and dishes
that the child/patient may be using and assume responsibility for
ensuring that the environment has a reduced risk of exposure to
allergens.
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All Tips are offered as suggestions only
While we have tried to provide you with a
list of suggestions to help parents when travelling with
children to keep them safe, unfortunately, we can’t think of
everything and it is the responsibility of parents to ensure
their children’s safety.
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For Safety Tips about Severe Allergies Click Below:
For First Aid Tips about Insect Stings Click
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For Tips on Using Insect Repellent Click Below:
For Tips on Eating out with Children Click
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See the following sections for specific tips:
For General Travel Tips
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For Travelling with Teenagers
Tips Click on
For Motion Sickness Tips
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