After reading Dr. Paul Ehrlich’s post, “Epinephrine Access Slogs State by State, While Overdose Treatment is Fast Tracked”.  I couldn’t help but think about what are our country’s priorities and how are they determined?  Dr. Ehrlich details the FDA’s rush to approve a rescue medicine device, similar to an epinephrine auto-injector,  that drug users could use to help reverse a drug overdose.  Dr. Ehrlich explains how drug overdoses have quadrupled in ten years  to over 16,000 deaths since 2010 and our country is pushing a fast tracked solution.  Therefore, how do we make stock epinephrine and food allergy education a priority nationwide?I can’t help but wonder what would happen if the estimated 15 million Americans managing life threatening allergies stepped up and each accomplished one small action.  I’m talking about doing one action that could only take anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour or longer (some of us are talkers, so we need 60 minutes)!  Would we make a difference?  Here are two challenges I wanted to toss out as food for thought…
note: top Fresh Idea Image is courtesy of jscreationzs via Freedigitalphotos.net

Two Food Allergy Awareness Challenge Ideas:

Challenge One:  For those who  have or  manage family members with life threatening allergies and anaphylaxis, consider choosing one of the challenges below or create your own challenge that resonates close to your heart!
KEY: create the goal of your message and stick to it!
For example, my goal is to educate the Reno Collective – a co-work place/business in Reno, NV and my message is, “be aware that life threatening food allergies can be deadly and ask allergic members about their needs”.   That’s it.   My goal is to simply open the door to more conversation-a sort of pre-introduction to anaphylaxis 101.  I will accomplish this by using a small chalkboard and writing down my message as I offer up my favorite vegan, nut and seed free banana muffins.  It’s that simple.

• Choose one person or entity that you want to educate and then send them information or schedule time to discuss the importance of understanding and supporting those with life threatening food allergies.
• Contact your State Senator or Representative  and either thank them for mandated stock epinephrine (if you live in Virginia, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada or Michigan).
• Or..if your state does not have a mandate–ask your representative to mandate stock epinephrine or to support your

Challenge Two:  For those who LOVE SOMEONE WITH FOOD ALLERGIES, consider asking your allergic family member or friend for one task or item you can do to be supportive.
KEY: be open and honest to hear their suggestions.  For me, I have some people I love dearly, who I would prefer they don’t try to cook for my food allergic children-it’s less stress to head out for pizza.  Here are some ideas of what you might consider asking…

• For a family member, make a call to simply share that in the in the spirit of family, you want to know if there is just one thing that you can do that would help keep your loved one safer and happier.
• For a co-worker or colleague, ask to learn more about food allergies and what you need to know if an emergency were to occur.  OR, ask how you can be more supportive.
• For friend’s child, ask how you can make play dates and/or activities safer and less stressful for the parent.

Hopefully, my little chalkboard idea along with allergen savvy muffins will generate deeper conversation–which I am sure it will!

Do you have any ideas of small food allergy awareness actions that some of us might want to try out?  If 15 million people are each taking one small action, could this equate to ONE LARGE life saving moment in time?