So, are you ready for Halloween? It’s only 1.5 weeks away! Before my children were diagnosed with life threatening food allergies, I loved Halloween so much that it rivaled Christmas. I adore anything made with pumpkin and all the colors of Halloween. Post diagnosis the fun blew right out of my sail, leaving me almost fearful of Halloween. Nevertheless, we trudged forward and eventually found safe and fun ways to celebrate Halloween. But…this year the tides have turned and I’m trying to paint everything teal! Viva la #TealPumpkinProject! Anything safe that involves paint and glitter ranks in my book. BUT…I had to push my glitter crazed pause button today and go through my mental…
Halloween Food Allergy Safety Checklist to keep me sane!
- What and where are we eating on Halloween night? It’s sure easy to let our guard down when we are busy trying to slip kids into costumes, meet up with friends and decide on our trick or treating path.
- How will my daughter’s EpiPen® be carried? She is a pirate this year so I believe she can wear it easily around her waist, but I’m going to need a dry run to make sure it will work. My son will carry is Auvi-Q® in his pocket.
- Emergency Action Plan in place? My daughter’s plan just died a wicked death from being worn out. Time to print a new one.
- Can I successfully talk her into gloves that match her costume? Gloves are my secret allergen barrier weapon. Shhhh…don’t tell her.
- What is our plan of candy collection attack? The Switch Witch plan or the “you’ve just won the Halloween lottery” and give her full bag away to the next kid who rings the door bell? Either method ends up with my daughter owning a nice gift along with safe candy.
- Which parent will accompany her on her travels through the streets? After years of taking my son around (think driving through snow storms), I’ve been working hard at passing the buck onto hubby.
I originally bought is kit for my daughter, but well……
It’s very easy to be caught up in the teal glitter and forget safety. Therefore, we are stopping today and making sure we have our food allergy safety ducks in a row. I have a secret fear of forgetting the EpiPen® at home while we are out in public on the one night of the year that allergens are flowing freely from homes. This is the night that we need to kick up our vigilance a few notches and sit back and enjoy the costumes and pumpkin pie!
What food allergy precautions do you take on Halloween night?
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..