OT: PSA regarding peanuts and flying

[Suellen]

Hahaha it is funny that some people think their allergy is more important than someone else's. That is a classic example of the "me generation" we are raising.

My young DD breaks out in severe swollen hives on the outside as well as INSIDE her wherever the berry touches. Trust me I think it is pretty severe. No more severe than anyone elses ~ but could prevent her from being able to breathe and thus be a big problem If you get my drift. So I take every precaution to make sure that doesn't happen. I inform anyone who may be tempted to share with her that she can't have it, she is well aware (even at 2.5) that she can NOT touch a berry or eat anything that has touched a berry. We are responsible for her safety. Not my seatmate on the plane.

We are very aware of allergens though ~ not because of my DD ~ but because of a child that goes to Montessori with her. So I don't wouldn't pack a peanut anything to take to a public place. There really is no need honestly. I am also very aware that people suffer when exposed to perfume ~ I no longer wear perfume ever. I would never bring a pet on a place because well I don't believe in small dogs and don't like cats much ~ I can't see any reason I would bring my large goldendoodle on vacation ~ but if I did ~ he would go cargo (well it would be required).

I don't generally allow my children to run around like wild beings. I clean them up when the are done eating. I guess I don't feel like those are things that I (or any parent really) needs to be educated on. JMHO!

*Boy people can find anything to fight about huh? My allergy is more serious than your allergy. Really?

 

[roobug]

Isn't that what the OP is doing, trying to fly without inconveniencing the other passengers? (She did clearly state she has no problem with people bringing peanut products on planes.) She can't ask to be seated next to people without peanuts, so she's hoping to be seated next to people who will use common sense and try to keep their peanut products to themselves.

These topics always get heated and it drives me "nuts." My son is also allergic to peanuts. We never ask for accomodations, but we do rely on people around us using good sense. Fortunately we've never run across militant peanut users.

There was a thread the other day about April Fools jokes and a mom talked about making her kid's peanut butter sandwiches inside out (to be opened at school) so her kids would get peanut butter all over their hands. Clearly there are people that don't get that this is risky for some people. There is nothing wrong with educating people that washing/wiping hands after eating peanut butter could save other people from allergic reactions.

We do fly after making careful airline choices etc. We do not ask for accomodation in any form. However, not only would I be worried about my son's health if he had a reaction, I would be horrified at the inconvenience to all the other travelers if they had to divert our flight for medical help.

If you're not interested in hearing the OP's PSA about how you could help keep those allergic to peanuts safe, fine. But I'm not understanding why this has to be a debate.

To the bolded that is wrong and if it is a severe allergy you are being foolhardy. Most airlines actually ask that you inform them of peanut allergies so that they can make your immediate rows peanut free. Expecially now that many airlines are putting peanuts back into their food offerings.

 

[mousebymarriage]

And be realistic. My eating peanut butter will not cause a reaction to a peanut allergy UNLESS they get it in their mouth, nose, or eyes, and since I don't plan on force feeding anyone we are good to go. So peanut butter does not need to be banned. If peanut dust is a problem fine ask for no peanut packets to be opened, but peanut butter eating isn't.

Do you have any idea how easy it is to get peanut butter or anything else into your eyes, mouth, nose etc. even a tiny amount can cause a reaction for some people and you dont have to "force feed" anyone to make that happen. My son has a SEVERE allergy to strawberries and requires an epipen. His allergy is life threating and he has had 2 major reactions in the past 6 months. Both of those reactions were caused by someone who ate strawberries and then touched something without washing their hands and then my son touched the same thing and either touched his eyes, mouth or nose. 1 reaction happened when a little girl in his class had strawberries for snack at school and she sits near my son. She asked my son if he wanted one and he told her he couldn't because he was allergic. well when she asked she must have touched his desk and had strawberry juice on her hands, my son continued to eat his snack and a few minutes later started to break out in hives, then his mouth began to "feel funny", his face swelled, his lips swelled and he had difficulty breathing. Thank God the teacher acted quickly and my son was fine.
*By the way, the mother of this little girl thought the same way you did (she knew about the allergy and sent the strawberries in anyway, the teacher didn't notice the strawberries until it was too late) and her arrogance almost cost my son his life!

 

[disykat]

If I posted a similar thread about how you should leave fluffy at home or in cargo I would be tarred and feathered here and told to take responsibility for myself.

So, because you speculate someone would flame you if you posted about animal allergies, you are going to stir up trouble on a peanut allergy thread? I really don't get it.

 

[Suellen]

My son has a SEVERE allergy to strawberries and requires an epipen. His allergy is life threating

I have never met anyone else with a child with a berry allergy. For my DD it is any berry at all. She found a cranberry at school and touched it (this was before she turned 2 so she didn't understand then) she had a severe reaction.

It is really a hard allergy to deal with ~ especially living in Maine where there are blueberries everywhere in the spring/summer.

I realized it while she was eating blueberry buckle at about 8 months old. The first time it was just a few hives. Every exposure after got worse and swifter.

I still don't feel like it is anyone else's responsibility to keep her safe though. Well I do trust her teachers at school ~ but I have to. However if she is with me or DH or my mom it is our responsibility. They won't let her site near anyone eating a berry at school and move her table with at least one other chair to a distant place in the classroom ~ they add the second chair so she won't have to snack alone. We don't ask that no one bring them for snack but do expect the teachers to be aware if someone else has them to move her.

 

[disykat]

To the bolded that is wrong and if it is a severe allergy you are being foolhardy. Most airlines actually ask that you inform them of peanut allergies so that they can make your immediate rows peanut free. Expecially now that many airlines are putting peanuts back into their food offerings.

We do not fly airlines that serve peanuts. The only way they could "make our immediate rows peanut free" is to ask other passengers to do what the OP suggested in the first place. It has been proven on this thread that even many people with allergies themselves would be offended. I will not make my son a target of possible bad behavior by other passengers. Since we do not fly airplanes that serve peanuts, there has not been any difference when they've known of his allergies vs. not known. Call me names if you want, we are doing what we feel is best for our situation.

 

[mousebymarriage]

I have never met anyone else with a child with a berry allergy. For my DD it is any berry at all. She found a cranberry at school and touched it (this was before she turned 2 so she didn't understand then) she had a severe reaction.

It is really a hard allergy to deal with ~ especially living in Maine where there are blueberries everywhere in the spring/summer.

I realized it while she was eating blueberry buckle at about 8 months old. The first time it was just a few hives. Every exposure after got worse and swifter.

I still don't feel like it is anyone else's responsibility to keep her safe though. Well I do trust her teachers at school ~ but I have to. However if she is with me or DH or my mom it is our responsibility. They won't let her site near anyone eating a berry at school and move her table with at least one other chair to a distant place in the classroom ~ they add the second chair so she won't have to snack alone. We don't ask that no one bring them for snack but do expect the teachers to be aware if someone else has them to move her.

My son was about the same age as your DD when we discovered the allergy and just like your DD every exposure has produced a more severe reaction. He used to only get hives but not too bad, then he would be covered in them, then he would complain that his mouth felt "funny" and now he has all of that plus the face and mouth swelling and the difficutly breathing. The epipen has only been around for a little less than a year. We are very careful and we also don't ask the school to ban berries just to be sure that the child eating them washed their hands very well when done (and their desk too) and that they dont go near my son until they have washed their hands. The school has been very helpful and understanding. Most of the parents in his class have been understanding as well but this one mother "just didn't think his allergy could be that bad". The thing that bothers me about people that just think taking an antihistamine or not eating that particular food is enough is that they really don't believe that someone can die from eating a food they are allergic to. I have never asked anyone to not send a particular food into school but, I try to make them understand that their child won't die if they don't have strawberries for snack that day but, my son could die or become seriously ill if they do.

 

[bumbershoot]

Always have a backup snack JUST IN CASE. You should never rely on just one snack anyways.

A thread a few months ago on the transportation forum really brought home that idea to me, and I think it's probably the best that those without life-threatening allergies can "take away". If they ONLY have peanut snacks and someone requires that the FAs announce a no-peanut flight, they will have a really bad flight. For us, DS can't have most of the foods and most of the snacks offered on planes, in fact peanuts are about the only thing (other than a simple cheese platter) he can eat on planes (domestic, coach seats at least)...so if peanuts weren't allowed AND we had only brought things with peanuts, we would have a very hungry, whiny, low blood sugar kid on our hands. So from that thread, I realized we had to have an alternative! Good info!

To the bolded that is wrong and if it is a severe allergy you are being foolhardy. Most airlines actually ask that you inform them of peanut allergies so that they can make your immediate rows peanut free.

ABSOLUTELY! Call the airline when you make your reservations, call them when you check in online, tell them at the ticket/luggage checking counter, tell them at the gate. Tell them in every way possible. Same goes for those with pet allergies. Tell them tell them tell them, so that they have the best *chance* to make it safER for you.

It has been proven on this thread that even many people with allergies themselves would be offended.

I think we might be reading a different thread, b/c I haven't seen anyone say anything of the sort.

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

We do not fly airlines that serve peanuts. The only way they could "make our immediate rows peanut free" is to ask other passengers to do what the OP suggested in the first place. It has been proven on this thread that even many people with allergies themselves would be offended. I will not make my son a target of possible bad behavior by other passengers. Since we do not fly airplanes that serve peanuts, there has not been any difference when they've known of his allergies vs. not known. Call me names if you want, we are doing what we feel is best for our situation.

Which airlines are safe? Thanks.

To the OP, my 8 year old PA DD and I thank you for your PSA.

 

[roobug]

We do not fly airlines that serve peanuts. The only way they could "make our immediate rows peanut free" is to ask other passengers to do what the OP suggested in the first place. It has been proven on this thread that even many people with allergies themselves would be offended. I will not make my son a target of possible bad behavior by other passengers. Since we do not fly airplanes that serve peanuts, there has not been any difference when they've known of his allergies vs. not known. Call me names if you want, we are doing what we feel is best for our situation.

The point of letting the airline know is they are the ones who are the "bad guys" if that's how you see it. I've flown a few times, where a person with a peanut allergy was in either my row or the row in front or behind - when I was getting on the plane they said that some in my vacinity had a life threatening peanut allergy and they asked us not to take anything with peanuts out during the flight. We never knew who it was, and we had no problem sticking to that. If the passanger hadn't told the airline I could see having an issue if they approached me in a negative way, because I think my first assumption would be that it must not be that bad of an allergy if they didn't let the airline know ahead of time. :shrug:

 

[design_mom]

On our most recent trip to WDW, I had taken peanut butter sandwiches for my kids to eat on the plane. Honestly, I didn't consider allergies, and PB&Js are actually something my kids can eat making as little mess as possible, they don't require refrigeration, etc. As it turns out there was a peanut allergy on board and the flight crew requested that everyone on the whole plane refrain from opening or eating any peanut products on board. Of course, we obliged. I would never intentionally hurt someone. I'd also brought some fruit for the kids so they ate that (does anyone have a life threatening allergy to grapes?), but were plenty hungry by the time we landed.

The point being -- I probably won't take PB&J again for fear that my kids won't have anything to eat. And, if we had been able to eat it, I certainly would have wiped down the tray table/cleaned up any visible mess that they'd made. But, if invisible residue from previous passengers is enough to set off your allergy, I think the allergy sufferer needs to take responsibility for cleaning the area (armrests, seat, etc.) It's a public place, after all.

...and her [woman who sent her daughter strawberries as a snack] arrogance almost cost my son his life!

...we also don't ask the school to ban berries just to be sure that the child eating them washed their hands very well when done (and their desk too) and that they don't go near my son until they have washed their hands.

This (calling the woman "arrogant") is the only thing in this thread that offends me. In a later post mousebymarriage clarifies that she has not asked that strawberries be banned from the room, yet the mother of the girl who had the strawberries and her "arrogance" almost cost his life. I am truly sorry that your son had a reaction in his classroom... but I think your anger is misplaced.

My DD has a boy with a peanut allergy in her classroom. His mom stood up on parents night and told us all about his allergy. Her only request is that if you're sending in a snack for birthdays, please let her know ahead of time what you're sending so she can provide a "safe snack" for her son if necessary. She did not say anything about not bringing any peanut products into the classroom, etc. I have sent PB&J sandwiches to school. Heck, they serve them in the cafeteria line.

I certainly don't consider myself 'arrogant' -- and I would never do something intentionally to hurt another child. But since that boy's mother did not tell us that she needs the entire classroom to be peanut free (which she did not...and it sounds like you did not say your son's class needs to be strawberry free), then I think it's reasonable for the other parents to assume that peanuts/strawberries being part of another child's lunch is unlikely to be a problem. When we take snacks for DD's birthday next month, however, I will try to find something peanut-free to take... and will let the mother know ahead of time so she can make a decision about whether to let him eat it or send something else for him. Because that's what she asked us to do.

If your child is so allergic that he can have a reaction if someone else has strawberries (because your message sounds like you really don't know what happened. You said she "must have" gotten juice on his desk, but you don't really know) then you need to ask for the whole room to be strawberry free. If you don't, how are other people to know how to help your kid. If you think you shouldn't have to tell other people what you need and they should just know, then *that's* pretty arrogant.

 

[disykat]

Which airlines are safe? Thanks.

To the OP, my 8 year old PA DD and I thank you for your PSA.

You have to check every time you fly because what they serve changes. It's been two years since we've flown so I'm not able to answer right now. You can find what they serve for snacks on their webpages. No one can guarantee safe.

 

[livndisney]

You have to check every time you fly because what they serve changes. It's been two years since we've flown so I'm not able to answer right now. You can find what they serve for snacks on their webpages. No one can guarantee safe.

I know a lot of Airlines state right on their website can't "guarantee" a peanut free environment. Southwest says : As some of our other snack items may contain peanut particles, peanut oil, or have been packaged in a peanut facility, Customers who have allergic reactions to eating/ingesting peanuts should read the ingredients on any packaged snack before consumption. Of course, all Customers are welcome to bring their own snacks with them.

Southwest cannot prevent other Customers from bringing peanuts or products containing peanuts onboard our flights. In addition, Southwest cannot give assurances that remnants of peanuts and/or peanut dust/oil will not remain on the aircraft floor, seats, or tray tables from flights earlier in the aircraft’s routing.

Southwest Airlines cannot guarantee that a flight will be free of other allergens such as perfumes, lotions, cleaning solutions, etc.

Delta will create a buffer zone.

Jet Blue says :

Latex Allergies
Our cleaners and maintenance group use non-latex products for cleaning the plane. However, there is always a possibility that another customer will bring latex products on the aircraft.

Nut Allergies
JetBlue does not serve peanuts and has no immediate plans to serve peanuts; however, we cannot guarantee that our aircraft or snacks will be 100% free of peanuts, peanut material or peanut products.

"Tree nuts" such as almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, etc. may be served on JetBlue flights.

There is a possibility that some food items served come from facilities that also manufacture products that may contain peanuts, peanut material or peanut products.

We cannot prevent other customers from bringing their own peanuts or peanut products onboard and consuming these items inflight. However, we ask that you inform the head Inflight crewmember upon boarding the aircraft of your severe nut allergy. Upon request, an Inflight crewmember will create a buffer zone one row in front and one row behind the allergic person. The Inflight Crewmember will ask Customers seated in the buffer zone to refrain from consuming any nut containing products they have brought onboard and will not serve any nut containing products to these rows.

JetBlue will offer a full refund to customers for whom these conditions make it impossible to travel.

 

[disykat]

The point of letting the airline know is they are the ones who are the "bad guys" if that's how you see it. I've flown a few times, where a person with a peanut allergy was in either my row or the row in front or behind - when I was getting on the plane they said that some in my vacinity had a life threatening peanut allergy and they asked us not to take anything with peanuts out during the flight. We never knew who it was, and we had no problem sticking to that. If the passanger hadn't told the airline I could see having an issue if they approached me in a negative way, because I think my first assumption would be that it must not be that bad of an allergy if they didn't let the airline know ahead of time. :shrug:

You are welcome to your opinion. Those of us who live with life threatening allergies do the best we can to deal with them as we see fit. I have never approached ANYONE about peanuts. A three row buffer is not really helpful IMO, and we have flown with an identified peanut allergy without this buffer EVER being provided. The only thing that has been offered to us is early boarding. IMO, there is a bigger risk that they will deny boarding than provide a buffer anyway. It only takes one customer making a stink.

I've honestly feel my son is safer not identifying himself. This is not a decision we've made lightly, but in conjunction with his doctor, and after much research. We are actually on the cautious side. I know people who fly on airlines that SERVE peanuts successfully - I wouldn't try it.

I've been dealing with this allergy for 17 years very successfully. Thank you for your concern.

 

[mousebymarriage]

On our most recent trip to WDW, I had taken peanut butter sandwiches for my kids to eat on the plane. Honestly, I didn't consider allergies, and PB&Js are actually something my kids can eat making as little mess as possible, they don't require refrigeration, etc. As it turns out there was a peanut allergy on board and the flight crew requested that everyone on the whole plane refrain from opening or eating any peanut products on board. Of course, we obliged. I would never intentionally hurt someone. I'd also brought some fruit for the kids so they ate that (does anyone have a life threatening allergy to grapes?), but were plenty hungry by the time we landed.

The point being -- I probably won't take PB&J again for fear that my kids won't have anything to eat. And, if we had been able to eat it, I certainly would have wiped down the tray table/cleaned up any visible mess that they'd made. But, if invisible residue from previous passengers is enough to set off your allergy, I think the allergy sufferer needs to take responsibility for cleaning the area (armrests, seat, etc.) It's a public place, after all.





This (calling the woman "arrogant") is the only thing in this thread that offends me. In a later post mousebymarriage clarifies that she has not asked that strawberries be banned from the room, yet the mother of the girl who had the strawberries and her "arrogance" almost cost his life. I am truly sorry that your son had a reaction in his classroom... but I think your anger is misplaced.

My DD has a boy with a peanut allergy in her classroom. His mom stood up on parents night and told us all about his allergy. Her only request is that if you're sending in a snack for birthdays, please let her know ahead of time what you're sending so she can provide a "safe snack" for her son if necessary. She did not say anything about not bringing any peanut products into the classroom, etc. I have sent PB&J sandwiches to school. Heck, they serve them in the cafeteria line.

I certainly don't consider myself 'arrogant' -- and I would never do something intentionally to hurt another child. But since that boy's mother did not tell us that she needs the entire classroom to be peanut free (which she did not...and it sounds like you did not say your son's class needs to be strawberry free), then I think it's reasonable for the other parents to assume that peanuts/strawberries being part of another child's lunch is unlikely to be a problem. When we take snacks for DD's birthday next month, however, I will try to find something peanut-free to take... and will let the mother know ahead of time so she can make a decision about whether to let him eat it or send something else for him. Because that's what she asked us to do.

If your child is so allergic that he can have a reaction if someone else has strawberries (because your message sounds like you really don't know what happened. You said she "must have" gotten juice on his desk, but you don't really know) then you need to ask for the whole room to be strawberry free. If you don't, how are other people to know how to help your kid. If you think you shouldn't have to tell other people what you need and they should just know, then *that's* pretty arrogant.

First of all I have told the other mothers in my sons class that he has a severe allergy to strawberries and as I stated earlier most have been very understanding. The "arrogant"mother I am speaking of has stated that "she didn't think his allergy was so bad" and this same mother just sent in cupcakes for Valentines day and each cupcake had a chocolate covered strawberry on top (she thought it was a cute alternative to sprinkles). My son was not in school for Valentines Day (the class party was on Friday the 12th) because we were in Disney. However, when I returned I was told about what she did by 2 other parents (as PTA president they wanted to let me know about this and something else the mother did- she tends to be a bit of problem). I approached the mother about the strawberries on cupcakes and she said "well I figured it was fine since your son wasn't there". When I asked her what she would have done if my son was there and she said "oh, don't worry his wouldn't have had a strawberry on it, I was going to put a piece of chocolate covered banana on his instead." That is why I called this woman arrogant because she seems to do this deliberately.

*Oh and FYI, this arrogant mother I am speaking about also (2 years ago when her child was in 1st grade) called the teacher an a$$hole very loudly in front of a group of children and other parents when the teacher tried to explain something to this mother about her childs behavior. The teacher tried to speak quietly and discreetly to the mother when the children were being dismissed and this mother flipped out and screamed a$$hole at the teacher and stormed away. So I think I am quite justified when I say this woman is arrogant (and these little tid bits are just the tip of the iceberg with this mother)!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

So, because you speculate someone would flame you if you posted about animal allergies, you are going to stir up trouble on a peanut allergy thread? I really don't get it.

So because I am asking for courtesy when it comes to other allergies that is stirring up trouble? Uh okay. FTR- I am not speculating. I have seen a ton a times on the DIS. I get that there are people that have severe allergies to peanuts but there are a million PSA's that we could put out there. My point is that while courtesy is of course nice ultimately we are responsible for our own well being.

A question though for those that are severly allergic- How do you go out in your daily life? I am not being snarky but am really curious. If the allergy is so bad how do you safely go to places like the grocery store or the mall for instance. I don't ban pb from my home and I know plenty of kids who eat it for lunch and then, I don't know, go to the places like the library where they come in contact with tons of kids. How do you insure a safe environment for you child or yourself on a daily basis when you are not in your home? I can imagine that it must be very stressful.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We do not fly airlines that serve peanuts. The only way they could "make our immediate rows peanut free" is to ask other passengers to do what the OP suggested in the first place. It has been proven on this thread that even many people with allergies themselves would be offended. I will not make my son a target of possible bad behavior by other passengers. Since we do not fly airplanes that serve peanuts, there has not been any difference when they've known of his allergies vs. not known. Call me names if you want, we are doing what we feel is best for our situation.

I think this is the smartest thing you could do. I personally would do the same thing if it would insure my family's health. That is why we also have reconsidered if we will be flying anytime soon because of the animals in the cabin. I don't think though that people are "offended" I just think they might feel put out a bit. Like I said- we don't travel with peanut products but I can only imagine the reaction a passenger would have if I asked them to move to the back of the plane with their pet so I get what you are saying. Public transportation is always a crapshoot. You never know what it's going to be like.

 

[MSwenson]

wow...this is something I never considered...

This is just something i've been thinking of lately while reading these boards....read first please...don't flame based on the title

Okay...for some reason lately i've encountered a lot of posts that have arguements about bringing peanut butter on a flight and whether it should be allowed, etc.
As someone who is extremely allergic to peanuts (we're talking cross contamination allergic...i cant even eat something that is made in the same facility as peanuts) I do not have a problem with someone bringing peanuts or peanut butter

BUT...

If you do bring it, especially for a child pleas just use manners and common courtesy.

1) Always have a backup snack JUST IN CASE. You should never rely on just one snack anyways.

2) PLEASE...if your child eats peanuts/peanut butter, wipe his/her hands and mouth after they eat them. We all know kids with touch anything and everything and it's a simple way to reduce any possible risk to anyone

3) along the same lines...please do not let your child run up and down the aisle of the plane after eating peanut butter without wiping their hands. They have a tendency to touch everything they pass and it's just a courtesy to people around you.

So basically....if you use common courtesy and your manners when eating peanuts/peanut butter on a flight, we should all be able to be happy and get along right???? No more of the whole, well it's my child, they should be able to eat what they want or the whole allergy argument and people accomodating that. I think with basic manners this should not be as big of a deal as people make it out to be,...right???

 

[Suellen]

To the PP who asked how those of us with life threatening allergies and how we live our everyday life.

There really never is a guarantee that my DD won't come into contact with a berry juice or even a berry for that matter. It is hard to deal with. For me it has been educating her and her sister and her teachers and anyone who will be with her how serious it is.

My fathers wife.... she just doesn't get it and when we went to visit went out an bought cranberry juice for the girls. Which is a no-no for TWO reasons. 1. Z is allergic 2. The girls aren't allowed fruit juice.

There are always going to be people who say ~ how bad can it really be? Especially with Z because the consider it a few hives ~ it isn't it is neck to ankles and inside her mouth and throat. It may not SEEM severe but I assure you it is.

You have to be the advocate for your child and make sure that people who may come in contact with her while you are not there are aware of the issue. Also always be prepared with an epi-pen and I always make sure I have my cell phone with me in case I need to call for an ambulance.

It certainly is no easy thing to do! Again the only people I expect to be responsible for her allergy are immediate family and anyone I entrust her care to.

But that is just how we deal with it.

 

[princessmom29]

To the PP who asked how those of us with life threatening allergies and how we live our everyday life.

There really never is a guarantee that my DD won't come into contact with a berry juice or even a berry for that matter. It is hard to deal with. For me it has been educating her and her sister and her teachers and anyone who will be with her how serious it is.

My fathers wife.... she just doesn't get it and when we went to visit went out an bought cranberry juice for the girls. Which is a no-no for TWO reasons. 1. Z is allergic 2. The girls aren't allowed fruit juice.

There are always going to be people who say ~ how bad can it really be? Especially with Z because the consider it a few hives ~ it isn't it is neck to ankles and inside her mouth and throat. It may not SEEM severe but I assure you it is.

You have to be the advocate for your child and make sure that people who may come in contact with her while you are not there are aware of the issue. Also always be prepared with an epi-pen and I always make sure I have my cell phone with me in case I need to call for an ambulance.

It certainly is no easy thing to do! Again the only people I expect to be responsible for her allergy are immediate family and anyone I entrust her care to.

But that is just how we deal with it.

I totally get that the allergy aspect, but why would you not allow achild any fruit juice? I am truly curious if there is some thing i am missing.

My allegry is artifical fragrance. I never know when someone's perfume or air freshner is going to se me off. I get a severe headache, increased respitory secretions, and sometimes tingling mouth and throat. I teach high school, and i let my kids know I have an allergy, but teens cannot be rlied on to comply. I see it as my responsibility to deal with. If a child comes in with perfume I cannot handle I just move them as far from me as possible, or if all else fails, send them to another room with a copy of my notes for that day. I have never had a problem on a flight, but I can see how it would be a problem, especially with an airbore allergy like mine or one to pets. That aireis constantly recirculted and the allergen would build up.