Buddy Bandz Mini Blog

As a parent with a child who has food allergies it is a constant struggle to get people to understand the importance of my child’s food allergy.  I diligently read every label and I know that if I don’t see the words PEANUT / NUT FREE then I can’t take a chance as it could mean life or death for my child.  However, when we are at friends and relatives it is difficult to make them understand the severity of the allergy.

The best thing to do is explain that even though the package does not say may contain traces of nuts or peanuts etc. it doesn’t mean its safe!  We can’t assume its allergy free!  For us, it's is especially concerning at the grandparents home as they did not grow up with the amount of food allergies we have today.  I am constantly reminding them that even a trace amount can potentially be life threatening for our son and that they may only have a few seconds or minutes to react if he has a reaction.  I think that scaring the wits out of them actually worked!  They now read every label and make sure if it doesn’t say Peanut Free or processed in a Peanut free facility then he doesn’t get it!

Many people assume a product is allergy free if it doesn’t state the ingredient on the label and many times this is not the case.  There is a lot of talk about labelling and food allergies these days but until we can be certain of what we are feeding our children, prevention and avoidance is key!  Please read labels carefully and express this to friends, family and caregivers!

If you are a parent of a food allergic child then the thought of sending your son or daughter to summer camp is probably nerve racking! Here are a few tips/tricks to make your child’s days at summer camp a little less stressful for you and them! Remember, the key to success is clear communication with the camp staff and your child about how to manage food allergy restrictions.

- First and foremost make sure that the camp and the counsellors are aware of your child’s food allergy by confirming in writing and in person. They should also be given an action plan, which should be readily available, should a reaction occur they will know exactly what to do.

- Your child should also be carrying an epi-pen with them at all times and the counsellors should also be informed on how to use it in case of an emergency situation.

- Make sure your child is wearing an allergy alert band/bracelet so that caregivers can be easily reminded that your child has a food allergy. Another great tool to remind others is a fun t-shirt symbolizing your child’s food allergy!

- Ensure that your child’s lunch bag is clearly identifiable to him/her and remind them that they should never let anyone else handle their lunch bag or food items and they should also be reminded to NEVER share food. Tip: You can find great name labels that adhere to lunch bags so that it is easily identified (many times children often have the same lunch bags!!).

- Ziplock bags and plastic sealed utensils are a great tool for keeping food/snack items contamination free! Pack all snacks in a separate baggie/container to avoid cross contamination.

- Many camps have pizza day, BBQ day etc. Find out the camps schedule to make sure that you can pack your child a safe slice/lunch from home so they can enjoy these special days also!

Most importantly make sure they have fun! It’s important that they are safe but it should never stop them from being part of the gang and having a great time at summer camp!