Archive for the Educational Campaign Category

Do You Know Your EPI?

Sunday, March 1st, 2015 | Permalink

By Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.   FoodAllergyConsulting.com

As part of our Beyond Awareness Food Allergy Educational Campaign for 2015, this month we are focusing on knowing how to use your epinephrine auto-injector.  This month’s campaign is hosted by friend and fellow food allergy advocate, Sharon Wong of NutFreeWok.  Her blog post is an excellent read and thoroughly explains our campaign.  Below I’ve provided my thoughts and a quick overview.

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Why focus on epinephrine training?

A recent study from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that out of 102 patients ONLY 16% used their epinephrine auto-injector correctly.

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The most frightening statement was made by Rana Bonds, MD, ACAAI Fellow and lead author of the study.

“Most patients made multiple mistakes and would not have benefited from self-administration of the potentially life-saving treatment if the need arose.”

What can you do?

  • Be sure that you know how to use the epinephrine prescribed to you or your loved one.
  • Use an epi trainer regularly to make sure you remember.  (Experts recommend at least every 3 months.)
  • Ask your loved one with food allergies where they keep their epi and if they know how to use it.

Please help us to spread this important message by tweeting, sharing or blogging about this topic. Please tag it with #FAEC15 and feel free to share a link to your blog post here.

Links to instructional videos can be found below:

EpiPen
Auvi-Q
Adrenaclick
Epinephrine Autoinject

The “Beyond Awareness Educational Campaign” was created by Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed. of Mennett Lee, LLC.  The purpose of the campaign is to harness social media to provide necessary education to the public regarding food allergy management.  Caroline Moassessi  of GratefulFoodie and Sharon Wong of Nut Free Wok have joined the campaign to provide an even greater reach.  We hope you will join our effort by sharing the campaigns on your social media outlets. Together we can make a difference.

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Posted in Blog, Educational Campaign, In the News | 2 Comments »

#WhereIsYourEpi Campaign Updates

Thursday, January 29th, 2015 | Permalink

By Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

Screen shot 2015-01-28 at 1.27.46 PM

I am a firm believer that when we work together towards common goals, great things can be achieved.  There is much work to be done in the food allergy community and it is going to take the hands and hearts of many to accomplish it.

In keeping with the theme of working together, I have two exciting updates to share with you:

1. News From KFA

Kids With Food Allergies will be hosting a year-long campaign named “WhereInTheWorldIsMyEpi”.  The purpose of this campaign is the same as my #WhereIsYourEpi? campaign: to encourage those with food allergies to always have immediate access to their epinephrine auto-injectors.  Lynda Mitchell, KFA Founder and Senior Director, called me earlier this week to share her campaign and to let me know that it had been in the works for months. Lynda Mitchell stated, “For those of us active in the food allergy community, we see the same concerns and gaps in education and awareness. This means that occasionally we’re going to find out we’re both trying to tackle the same issue at the same time.”

I think this is great news and I could not be more pleased that a wonderful organization like KFA will be devoting an entire year to this important educational campaign.  To learn more about it, visit KFA’s website.

2. GratefulFoodie and NutFreeWok  Join My “Beyond Awareness” Campaigns for 2015

Speaking of working together, I am honored to have Caroline Moassessi and Sharon Wong partner with me for the rest of the 2015 “Beyond Awareness” educational campaigns.  We will be announcing a new campaign each month.  Stay tuned to learn how you can become involved too!  Feel free to contact me with any questions or leave a comment below!

Reminder: The #WhereIsYourEPI? campaign ends February 14th, so you still have 2 more weeks to get your submissions in.  One winner will be chosen at random and will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card.  Be sure to share your photos here on my website, or on twitter (it must be tagged #WhereIsYourEPI to qualify.   Thanks so much for participating!

 

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Posted in Blog, Educational Campaign, In the News | 3 Comments »

#WhereIsYourEPI?

Wednesday, January 21st, 2015 | Permalink

By Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

FoodAllergyConsulting.com

Moving beyond awareness to education:  Each month I will launching an educational campaign to help get important information about managing food allergies out to greater community.  I hope that you will join me!

The educational campaign for February is #WhereIsYourEPI?

The purpose of this campaign is to emphasize the importance of having epinephrine immediately available at all times.

#WhereIsYourEpi

 

 

Did you know that a delay in using epinephrine for a life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis) can have a huge impact on the outcome of the patient and can even result in death? 
What research reveals:
  • The delay or non-use of epinephrine is risk factor for fatal anaphylaxis (more info here)
  • The later you use the epi, the higher likelihood of hospitalization (more info here)
  • In a recent survey, only 40% of those with life-threatening food allergies were carrying their epinephrine
No one plans to have an allergic reaction.
Reactions can happen ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.  That is why it is important that those with food allergies ALWAYS have epinephrine immediately available.

LET’S TURN THIS AROUND!

How can you help?

  1. Post the #WhereIsYourEPI? image (above) to social media.
  2. Ask your loved ones with food allergies this important question and encourage them to always have their epinephrine.
  3. Enter my contest. Let’s set a good example.  Show us how you keep epi immediately available at all times (whether at home, at school or out and about)  by posting a picture to my website or by posting to twitter and you will be entered to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card.*
* All twitter entries must be tagged with #WhereIsYourEPI? and @MennettLeeLLC  to be considered.  All website entries should be posted here.  Not tech savvy?  Send your submission to: gmleeconsulting@gmail.com.  By entering the contest, you allow Mennett Lee, LLC to use your image.  Contest ends February 14, 2015.  Winner will be selected on February 20, 2014.
Related Post:
New Food Allergy Agenda: Moving Beyond Awareness to Education

 

 

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Posted in Blog, Educational Campaign, Food Allergies at Home, Food Allergies at School, Food Allergies in the Community | 6 Comments »

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