Posts Tagged allergy

Is Device Design To Blame for Incorrect Epi Adminstration?

Tuesday, April 21st, 2015 | Permalink

This past February I was honored to be a speaker at a training session for support group leaders in London. I learned a great deal about the commonalities as well as the differences in the ways we approach food allergy management. While in the UK, I met some amazing “mums” as well as wonderful professionals working in the field of food allergy. One such professional was Dr. Robert Boyle, a well-known and highly respected pediatric allergist. Of course, I took the opportunity to pick his brain about some of the concerns we see here in the Untied States. One such discussion was the effective use of epinephrine auto-injectors by patients. He let me in on some exciting research he was a part of regarding this very subject. He shared the results with me but I was unable to share them with you until his paper was published. Well, the paper has been published and I think the results could impact the choice of auto-injectors prescribed by doctors as well as the future design of epinephrine auto-injectors.

THE STUDY

In this study, patients were trained to use a specific device (Epipen or Anapen). All patients were able to successfully use the device after initial training.

THEN

They tested the patients’ ability to use the device under simulated anaphylaxis at 6 weeks and at one-year.

NEXT

They switched the devices and did NOT give training with the new device. (This is a real life scenario that we see here in the USA when insurance companies fail to cover a specific device.)

The purpose of the study was to find if device design (rather than just training) impacted the patients ability to correctly use the auto-injectors.

THE RESULTS

“we have shown… that successful adrenaline administration rates using Anapen and EpiPen are low during simulated anaphylaxis, and EpiPen use under stressful conditions carries a significant risk of digital injection.”

Success rates at the 6-week and one-year intervals were similar, hovering just below 45% for both devices used (Anapen and Epipen). Meaning that less than half of the participants were able to correctly use the devices at both the 6 week and one year mark, even given successful initial training.

The low success rate is consistent with another study done in the United States that indicated that patients need more training. However, in this study, the authors conclude that training may not be the only factor but rather device design may be greatly impacting the patients’ ability to correctly use the auto-injectors.

Here is the most significant piece of information for me:

“Over 90% of participants were able to successfully administer adrenaline using Auvi-Q without receiving device-specific training…”

The success rate for Auvi-Q was an astounding 90% WITHOUT training! Success rates for other devices without device-specific training were only 49%. Hopefully, it goes without saying, that training is very important, but this study has me pondering the role of device design as well.

Of course, this is but one study and I would love to see additional studies. However, I believe this information is important to share and has an impact on many of the discussions we are having here in the United States regarding use of stock epinephrine in restaurants, schools and other locations. Could Auvi-Q be a better option in these circumstances?

The authors believe this is worth discussing.

“the high rate of successful adrenaline administration which we found when participants used the audio-prompt device Auvi-Q, in a stressful anaphylaxis scenario and without prior device-specific training, suggests that Auvi-Q is an important advance in AAI device design and may even be suitable for bystander use in public areas such as schools”

Also of interest, were the ways in which people incorrectly used the epinephrine auto-injectors. The authors hope this information will help aid in device design.

The most common reasons for failing to use the auto-injector correctly were:

Failure to remove safety cap
Using wrong end of device
Not holding device in place long enough

I encourage you to read this study for yourself.

Does this information change the way you manage food allergies? Please comment below.

A special thank you to Dr. Robert Boyle for sharing this important study.

References:

Patients’ ability to treat anaphylaxis using adrenaline autoinjectors: a randomized controlled trial.

Umasunthar T, Procktor A, Hodes M, Smith JG, Gore C, Cox HE, Marrs T, Hanna H, Phillips K , Pinto C, Turner PJ, Warner JO, Boyle RJ.

Allergy 2015; DOI: 10.1111/all.12628.

Misuse of medical devices: a persistent problem in self-management of asthma and allergic disease

Bonds, Rana S. et al.

Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology , Volume 114 , Issue 1 , 74 – 76.e2

Do You Know Your Epi?

Tags: allergy, anaphylaxis, Auvi-Q, Epipen, food allergy, management, patient, research, Robert Boyle, study, Success, treatment, use
Posted in Blog, In the News | 10 Comments »

#WhereIsYourEpi Campaign Updates

Thursday, January 29th, 2015 | Permalink

By Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

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!

Tags: #WhereIsYourEPI, allergy, Beyond Awareness, Caroline Moassessi, epi, epinephrine, food, gratefulfoodie, KFA, Lynda Mitchell, Mylan, nutfreewok, Sharon Wong, WhereInTheWorldisYourEpi
Posted in Blog, Educational Campaign, In the News | 3 Comments »

Preschool Food Allergy Handbook: Book Release & Sneak Peek

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 | Permalink

Book release and sneak peek!!

Laurel Francoeur and I put the finishing touches on our new book, the Preschool Food Allergy Handbook, this September. We launched it at the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference and were overwhelmed by the support of this much needed book addressing the preschool setting.

For those of you that aren’t able to meet us in person at one of our book signings, we wanted to give you a little sneak peek.

There are so many wonderful resources we created just for this book that cannot be found anywhere else.

How Will Your School Prepare for Food Allergy Emergencies? Important Questions to Answer
Overview of Labeling Laws
How to Create a Healthy & Safe Educational Environment
How to Prevent Cross-Contact
Food Allergy Management and Prevention Plan Worksheet
Parent Checklist
Questions to Ask When Looking for a Preschool

We also included the best resources currently available.

How a Child Might Describe a Reaction
Label Reading 1-2-3
Tips for Avoiding Your Allergen
Free Staff Training Options
List of Free Educational Resources for Children
Children’s Book List
Books for Parents List
and much, much more….

To order yours, visit Amazon.com. A special thank you to The Bugabees: Friends With Food Allergies

and Kyle Dine for sponsoring our book!

<br />

Tags: allergy, book, CDC, consulting, daycare, food, Gina, handbook, Laurel Francoeur, Lee, M.Ed., management, Mennett, preschool, school
Posted in Blog, Food Allergies at School, In the News, Preschool, Training Tools | No Comments »

What are food allergies revealing about our society?

Friday, October 17th, 2014 | Permalink

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

“It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a child with autism to raise the consciousness of the village.” Coach Elaine Hall

This quote was shared by Dr. Rob Melillo via twitter this morning and it immediately struck a cord. It so perfectly captures how I feel about food allergies (as well as autism and other disabilities). These children are here to teach us lessons such as strength, compassion, perseverance, selflessness and unconditional love. As much as I wish there were no such thing as a food allergy, I am thankful for what this condition has taught me and my family. But what is this condition telling us about our society? Have food allergies raised the consciousness of the village?

Have food allergies raised the consciousness of the village?

I believe that we will eventually find a cure for food allergies. Effective treatments are already on the horizon. But I am more concerned about the fallout from this chapter in our history. I have experienced unkind behavior from others in response to my child’s medical condition and I’ve heard many stories too offensive to even repeat. Just take a look at the “comments” section of any mainstream media article about food allergies and you will see firsthand the anger and resentment thrust upon the food allergy community.

“I try to view misunderstandings as an opportunity to educate.”

I believe the majority of these comments are the result of misplaced anger, ignorance and misunderstandings. I see these responses as an opportunity to educate. I have to believe that if people really understood the seriousness of food allergies, the social and emotional impact of it, that they would do all they could to support adults and children with this condition. So, I continue to work, to educate, to advocate.

So, my questions to you are:

What have food allergies revealed about your community?

What has your child taught you?

Tags: allergy, community, emotional, food, impact, lessons, society
Posted in Blog, Food Allergies at School, Food Allergies in the Community, In the News | 4 Comments »

AWESOME Food Allergy Resources for Halloween

Monday, October 13th, 2014 | Permalink

I am so excited about the great resources developed this month for the food allergy community. Below are my Top 3.

The first is a tip sheet I was honored to create for Kids with Food Allergies, “Tips to Safely Celebrate Halloween.” It is a 2-page handout for both home and school and includes tips, reminders, craft ideas, non-food rewards and more.

The second resource is a blog post, “Finding Halloween’s Magic with Food Allergies,” written by my friend Caroline Moassessi for Allergic Living’s site. It is a wonderful piece with great ideas all written in Caroline’s signature style. I really like that it includes ideas for teens as well as younger children, as this age group is often overlooked.

The final resource is actually an initiative started by Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee. A year or two ago, the group shared the Teal Pumpkin Project. The concept is relatively simple, if you provide non-food treats simply paint a pumpkin teal and put it on your front door step. This allows families with food allergies or other food-related conditions to easily identify your “safe” house. I think it’s a fantastic idea and so does Food Allergy Research and Education. This year the non-profit greatly expanded upon the idea creating badges, flyers, and posters all in an effort to encourage people nationwide to participate. For free downloads, check here.

If you have any other great Halloween resources, please feel free to share them here.

Tags: Allergic Living, allergy, Caroline Moassessi, celebrate, craft, food, Halloween, ideas, Kids with Food Allergies, non-food rewards, safe, Teal Pumpkin Project, tips
Posted in Blog, Food Allergies at School, Free Resources, In the News, Training Tools | No Comments »

Food Allergy Bloggers Conference: A True Community Event

Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 | Permalink

Dubbed “The Power Panel” Caroline Moassessi, Laurel Francoeur, me, and Jan Hansen

I was honored to speak at this year’s Food Allergy Bloggers Conference held at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas. Last year was it’s inaugural year and there was so much buzz about it that I entered this year with very high expectations. Not only would I be able to meet, in person, people I have been working with for several years but I would also be in an environment like no other. This conference is not associated with a specific non-profit is very much a conference about building our food allergy community and its businesses. As a result there were food vendors, app creators, website designers, social media experts, bloggers, authors and people like me, (food allergy educators and consultants) all there to talk shop.

I finally got to meet my friend, Caroline Moassessi.

I started out my weekend by meeting a woman I have grown to love even though we had never actually met, Caroline Moassessi. Let me say, that I was not disappointed. She was just as wonderful as I imagined her. She is the woman behind GratefulFoodie.com. Her blog keeps us all up-to-date on the latest happenings in the world of asthma and allergies including product reviews and personal musings.

On my way to drop off all our luggage, I hear….”Gina!” from down the long hotel corridor. Who did I find? The one and only, Keith Norman, chef and allergy educator. Again, we’ve never really met but hugs were in order anyway. He is a warm, kind person and I was thankful to get to know him a little but more.

Breakfast with the ladies and Chef Keith Norman.
Front: me, Keith
Back: Caroline Moassessi, Cheryl Viirand (Freedible.com), Tricia Gravankar (RockFoodAllergiesConsulting.com), Rebecca Sherrow, and Adrienne

The next morning, several of us met for breakfast. I was happy to finally meet another compadre, Tricia Gravankar. We have had lots of discussions about our individual passions to help spread the word about food allergy management in way that is fact-based and clear. She is a true asset to the food allergy community with her background as a nurse and her experience as a parent and a patient. She launched her own consulting business at FABCon, RockFoodAllergiesConsulting. Her specialty is anaphylaxis education and management. I also met the ladies from Freedible.com, a wonderful website designed specifically to engage the food blogging community.

FRIDAY

Friday night was the official beginning of the conference. Earlier in the day, I registered and received a literal mountain of freebies from the show sponsors. A special thank you must go out to the sponsors: Sanofi, Enjoy Life, Mylan, Nature’s Path, Allergic Living, Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Kids with Food Allergies, Food Allergy Research and Education, Gluten Free and more, SunButter, South Point, AllerBling, AllergyEats, I.M. Healthy SoyNutButter, Luke’s Organic, SoDelicious, Cybele’s, Freedible, Don’t Go Nuts, Anaphylaxis Canada, Pinto Barn, Pascha, YoDish, Orange Geek, Tiger Nuts, SunCups, Zego, Growing Naturals, Rock Food Allergies Consulting, Ian’s, Affinity, No Biggie Bunch, Vine Market, Divvies, Udi’s Gluten Free, Celiac Support Association, Massel, and Content Checked for their generosity.

The Friday night dinner and social were highlighted by the “surprise” awards given to some of my personal heros, Lynda Mitchell (Founder of Kids with Food Allergies), Linda Coss (Author of How to Manage Your Child’s Life-Threatening Food Allergies and two cookbooks), Beth Hillson, and Dr. Paul Erlich. To top it all off, I was able to meet Robyn O’Brien (food allergy warrior and author of The Unhealthy Truth)

Pictured here: Jenny Sprague, Linda Coss, Lynda Mitchell and Homa Woodrum.

Pictured here: Jenny Sprague (FABlogCon Founder), Linda Coss, Lynda Mitchell and Homa Woodrum (FABlogCon Founder).

SATURDAY

The next day was a blur of activity and workshops by some of the best blogging/food allergy/social media minds around. My only regret is that I cannot clone myself. I was only able to attend one session. It was with blogger/author/editor, Alisa Fleming from godairyfree.com and I was happy to learn some valuable tips from her. I missed a couple of session because I was finally able to catch up with a dear friend, Yael Kozar. I was honored to be interviewed by her for her enormously popular Food Allergy Podcasts. I also got to meet the camera man, Yael’s hardworking, very supportive husband!

Breakfast and lunch times were perfect for catching up with friends old and new. I was happy to see Lori Sandler from Divvies, Eleanor Garrow and Carol D’Agnese from FAACT, Kim and Jodie from AllerBling, Heather Mehra from The No Biggie Bunch, David Bloom and his lovely wife, Debra of SnackSafely.com and many others. Here are few pictures from my personal FABCon album.

FoodAllergyMomDoc, Donna DeCosta

Me, Allergic Living Editor, Gwen Smith and No Nut Traveler, Lianne Mandlebaum

Loved meeting these fabulous ladies! Support group leaders and advocates, Connie Green and Kelly Morgan.

Loved meeting these fabulous ladies! Support group leaders and amazing advocates, Connie Green and Kelly Morgan.

Super Advocate, Sharon Wong

Kyle Dine, me, Tiffany Glass and our “friends”.

The final session of Saturday featured Dr. Li and Dr. Gupta presenting one of my favorite topics, Food Allergy Research. I was impressed by the results of the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dr. Gupta had a message that was so happy to hear, I had to cheer from the back of the room. “Epinephrine must be used as a first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. Not antihistamine.” She also surprised us all by launching an educational music video featuring her rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” For more information about the session content, visit my twitter feed for #fablogcon.

Saturday night, Laurel Francoeur and I launched our new book, the Preschool Food Allergy Handbook (sponsored in part by BugaBees:Friends with Food Allergies and Kyle Dine). The response to our book was very exciting! It is our mission to reach this important population with the information and resources they need to have a successful foundation at preschool.

Our first customers, Summer and Sara, advocates from Nevada and super nice people.

The amazing Dr. Li even stopped by to buy our book!

SATURDAY NIGHT SURPRISE!! Jerome Bettis came by to speak to the crowd and spend a moment with each of us.

SUNDAY

Sunday was show time. I presented two workshops with colleagues Jan Hanson, Caroline Moassessi and Laurel Francoeur. The first was “How to Influence Change in School Policy”, and the second was “504 Plans”.

After our presentations, we were ready to relax and have fun!

The only downside to presenting is missing the other sessions. There were many fantastic people to meet and learn from that I couldn’t possibly see everyone. Next year, I’m making it a priority to see more sessions.

Sunday night, I was truly honored to have dinner with some of the most amazing women in the food allergy community. Even though I was thoroughly exhausted, it was wonderful to look around the table and see the faces of people I admire so much and to be able to toast to them and all that has been achieved through their efforts. It was an experience I won’t soon forget.

Pictured here: Heidi Bayer, Jenny Sprague, Homa Wodrum, and Collette Martin.

Pictured here: Heidi Bayer, Jenny Sprague, Homa Woodrum, Collette Martin and Laurel Francoeur. Not pictured: Mary Vargas, Gwen Smith, Lianne Mandlebaum, Caroline Moassessi, Lynda Mitchell, Linda Coss and many more.

I cannot end this post without acknowledging the two women that were responsible for creating not only a conference, but a true experience, Homa Woodrum and Jenny Sprague. I am extremely grateful for their dedication to bringing our community together for the common good and for their tireless efforts in making the weekend run smoothly. Thank you, ladies! I’m already gearing up for next year!

Homa, Jenny and Selena.

Tags: advocate, allergy, bloggers, conference, educator, food, Keith Norman, Las Vegas, parents, South Point
Posted in 504 plans, Blog, Food Allergies at School, Food Allergies in the Community, Speaking Schedule, Training Tools | No Comments »

New Jersey Food Allergy Educational Conference Resources

Monday, September 15th, 2014 | Permalink

Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

FoodAllergyConsulting.com

This weekend, I was honored to be one of five speakers to present to a SOLD OUT audience in Saddle Brook, NJ hosted by the Asthma and Allergy Support Group of North Jersey. It was wonderful to see friends old and new. As promised, I am providing a list of resources that I presented (and a few I didn’t have a chance to present). Enjoy!

If you didn’t have a chance to at the conference, be sure to sign up for my newsletter by sending your name and email address to: gmleeconsulting@gmail.com. Also, be sure to sign up for my blog by entering your email to the right—–>>>> under “Subscribe to Blog via Email”.

Thank you!!

P.S. I also forgot to mention that I wrote a book with Laurel Franceour that will be available to purchase in later this month. It is called the “Preschool Food Allergy Handbook”. I will be offering a special price for those that attended the NJ conference. Stay tuned….

Free Posters:

Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction Poster

FINAL Label Poster 8.5×11

Infographic from Food Allergy Research and Education

Be A P.A.L. Poster from Food Allergy Research and Education

Click HERE for Free Online Training/Workshops

Free Online Awareness Videos for Children without Food Allergies:

Hayden’s Food Allergy Video (YouTube): This provides an excellent, simple explanation of food allergies and how to keep friends with food allergies safe. It is appropriate for preschool through 4th grade.

Books for Children:

The BugaBees: Friends with Food Allergies

The BugyBops: Friends for All Time

The Princess and the Peanut Allergy by Wendy McClure

The Princess and the Peanut by Sue Ganz-Schmitt

The Peanut Free Café by Gloria Koster

Nutley: the Nut-Free Squirrel by Stephanie Sorkin

Free Handbook for School Employees:

The Food Allergy Book: What School Employees Need to Know (www.neahin.org)

Free Printable Activities for Children:

Be A P.A.L. (foodallergy.org)

No Biggie Bunch (nobiggiebunch.com)

National Guidelines for Developing Policy:

Safe at School and Ready to Learn

Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergy in Schools and Early Care and Education Programs

Tags: allergy, Allergy Eats, CDC, conference, Dr. Scott Sicherer, Dr. Wanich, food, Gina Mennett Lee, guidelines, List of resources, management, New Jersey, Paul Antico, school, Sloane Miller
Posted in Blog, Food Allergies at School, Free Resources, Speaking Schedule, Training Tools | No Comments »

Resources from Allergy Home

Thursday, March 13th, 2014 | Permalink

I am truly honored to be an expert contributor to the highly respected AllergyHome website. AllergyHome provides some of the best food allergy resources for the school setting . AllergyHome’s mission is to “bring food allergy awareness and education to your community.” If you haven’t already, please take the time to look through the website. You will find training modules, posters and other fabulous FREE resources.

Today, I’d like to share two resources that I am proud to have been a part of creating. I will be adding links to these under the resources tab of my website. (There are other AllergyHome resources listed there as well.)

The first resource is Food Allergy Tips for PTA Leaders but it can be shared with school administrators, nurses, and teachers as well. I create this Tip Sheet in collaboration with AllergyHome Co-Creator, Dr. Michael Pistiner.

DOWNLOAD HERE: Tip Sheet for PTA Leaders

Dr. Pistiner also did an excellent blog post for the National PTA entitled, “Anaphylaxis, A How-To Readiness Guide for Schools” I highly recommend taking the time to read it.

The second resource is Food Allergy Tips for Coaches and Activity Leaders. Please print this out and share with coaches, scout leaders, after-school program coordinators, etc…

DOWNLOAD HERE: Food Allergy Tips for Coaches and Activity Leaders

I hope you find these useful. If you haven’t already, make sure to sign up to receive my blog posts. I will continue to share useful resources as I find them. If you have additional questions regarding accommodations for children with food allergies, please feel free to contact me.

Tags: allergy, allergy home, art, coaches, daycare, download, Dr. Mike Pistiner, extra-curricular, food allergy, free, Gina Mennett Lee, leaders, music, preschool, printable, PTA, PTO, resources, school, sports, teachers, tips
Posted in Blog, Food Allergies at School, Free Resources, In the News, Training Tools | No Comments »

Food in the Classroom is Not About Public Opinion

Sunday, February 23rd, 2014 | Permalink

By Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

The debate about food in classroom has heated up in multiple media outlets this week. As a food allergy educator and consultant, I’d like to offer my perspective. In my opinion, this issue is not up for public debate. At the heart of the it, is the safety of children while in school and their equal access to the educational setting. The way a school chooses to handle the issues of safety and access is not up to the loudest parents, it up to those that are charged with the task of managing our schools and those that are truly educated about food allergies.

The question school leaders need to be asking is, “How do we ensure that children with food allergies are safe and included while at school?’

Creating a safe and inclusive environment requires more than addressing food in the classroom. Policy must address access to epinephrine, staff training, parent and student education, and much more. But these measures do not impact the daily routines of other children. Because reducing or eliminating outside food from the classroom requires a change, it causes conflict. No one likes change, even when it is necessary.

This decision to change is what Danbury, CT, Superintendent, Sal Pascarella and the Danbury BOE are now grappling with. After creating a policy that seemed to appease both sides, they were still faced with allergic reactions that required students to be transported to the ER . You can read the full story here.

When a child has an allergic reaction at school, whether it is mild or severe, they are missing out on class time and potentially their right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education. Accidents happen. That’s why school personnel need to be prepared to handle them, but when a “celebration” ends up interfering with a child’s education, I consider it a systemic failure. Food, in the form of rewards, celebrations, and birthday parties, is unnecessary in the school setting. There are many fun, food-free ways to celebrate that allow all children to safely participate.

Additionally, when managing a serious medical condition such as food allergies, the outcome can be tragic. It is disrespectful to the memory of the children that have died of allergic reactions in schools, to ignore their stories and maintain the status quo, because of parent complaints about their child’s right to a cupcake.

Having spent a significant amount of time teaching in our public schools, I actually sympathize with what can sometimes be a daunting task, creating and implementing effective policies. That is why I am committed to helping schools with food allergy management. The influx of children with food allergies has been fairly recent and at times, overwhelming. Managing food allergies is only one of a multitude of issues and concerns that need to be managed on a daily basis by the leaders in our schools.

But now that 2 children in every classroom has a food allergy we can no longer afford to continue educating our children without addressing food allergy management. Now is the time for school personnel to make food allergy management a priority.

For many years, schools were forced to deal with the task of managing food allergies with little or no guidance. This is no longer the case. The CDC has laid out a specific road map for creating policy and regulations in the school setting through the newly released Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in the Schools and Early Care and Education Programs.

I have spent many hours reviewing these guidelines. On the subject of food in the classroom, the recommendations are very clear.

They state:

“Avoid the use of identified allergens in class projects, parties, holidays and celebrations, arts, crafts, science experiments, cooking, snacks or rewards.”

“Use nonfood incentives for prizes, gifts, and awards.”

I don’t think there is much to debate here. Removing unnecessary food is a common-sense measure that:

1. is consistent with the CDC guidelines,

2. will reduce accidental exposures to allergens for those with food allergies, and

3. will result in less work for our classroom teachers (not to mention, less worry for our school nurses, principals, superintendents and school boards).

End of debate.

Mennett Lee, LLC (www.FoodAllergyConsulting.com)

Tags: allergy, CDC, classroom, food, food allergies, food allergy, food bans, guidelines, management, outside food, peanut, schools
Posted in Blog, Food Allergies at School, Food Allergies in the Community, In the News | 15 Comments »

Mennett Lee, LLC – Food Allergy Consultant and Educator

Monday, November 4th, 2013 | Permalink

Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.–Helping families, schools and businesses create safe and inclusive environments for those with food allergies

Gina Mennett Lee, M. Ed. is a Connecticut-based food allergy educator, advocate, and consultant. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a B.S. degree in both Elementary and Special Education. She is an experienced special education, elementary and middle school teacher. She is the founder and President of Food Allergy Education Network, a Connecticut-based non-profit and Co-Founder of the National Allergy & Anaphylaxis Council, a national advocacy group.

As a mother who witnessed her daughter’s near-fatal allergic reaction, she brings real world experience to the field of food allergies. She is widely known for her common sense, fact-based approach to managing food allergies. Because of her experience and knowledge, she is in the unique position to view food allergies & anaphylaxis from the perspective of a business owner, a parent, a teacher, and a school administrator. She is dedicated to helping families, schools, businesses, and organizations create safe and inclusive environments for those with food allergies.

Tags: 504, advocate, allergy, anaphylaxis, Connecticut, consultant, CT, educator, food, New England, training, workshops
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »