That’s a lot of wasted adrenaline – if a quarter of people who are prescribed life saving anaphylaxis medication are not carrying it with them at all times. It’s also pretty risky behaviour, but it’s easy to think you’ll be OK and that nothing will happen to you.
Recent survey assessed allergic peoples habits
Government guidelines recommend people at risk of anaphylaxis to always carry two auto-injectors, regularly check they haven’t expired and ensure they know how to use the brand prescribed to them. However, the recent survey spearheaded by the newly launched ready2reactuk campaign – supported by the 4 major charity organisations in the UK: the Nastasha Allergy Research Foundation, Allergy UK, Anaphylaxis UK, and BSACI – found that:
- A quarter of respondents living with severe allergies don’t always carry an adrenaline pen on them and less than half would feel very confident using one in an emergency
- 68% of those surveyed were not aware of their adrenaline pen’s expiry date, and 1 in 5 didn’t know adrenaline pens have expiry dates
Are you one of those people? Or do you carry yours with you at all times?
Stay safe this Halloween – tips for allergic people
To avoid an anaphylaxis scare this Halloween when you or your child is trick or treating or attending parties, here are some top Halloween tips based on information from ready2reactuk partners Anaphylaxis UK and Allergy UK:
- Ensure two adrenaline pens are in date and keeping them on the person with an allergy, or parent/carer at all times, even when out in the dark, spooky streets trick or treating.
- Review allergies to certain popular treats and the allergens contained within these products in advance of Halloween.
- Communicate this information to the person with an allergy and the people with them, with a specific focus on a child with allergies so they know which treats to avoid.
- Ensure the people accompanying the person with allergies know the signs and symptoms to look out for and how to administer an adrenaline pen, as well as calling 999, in the instance of an emergency.
- Wash hands before and after touching or eating any foods at a party or from trick or treating.
Teal pumpkins for allergen safe treats at Halloween
Teal Pumpkin image from Pinterest
There is a great campaign for those with allergic kids at Halloween, the teal pumpkins project. It ws originally started by FARE, The Food Allergy Research and Education society in America, where Halloween is much bigger deal than here in England. Click here to find out more about the Teal Pumpkin Project. Anyone who displays a teal pumpkin outside their house is advertising that they have some allergen safe snacks available for trick and treaters. However it’s always imperative to check ingredients
Ready 2 React allergy survey
To raise further awareness about how people can avoid an allergy scare this Halloween, further information on the ready2reactuk campaign survey can be found below, and the corresponding consumer report here: www.ready2react.co.uk.
Allergy help, support and resources
For more information about living with allergies, contact the UK charities listed below, all of whom took part in this survey:
- Allergy UK website: https://www.allergyuk.org/
- Anaphylaxis UK website: www.anaphylaxis.org.uk
- The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) website: https://www.bsaci.org/
- Natasha Allergy Research Foundation website: https://www.narf.org.uk/
You may also be interested in reading
- Hospital admissions for life threatening anaphylaxis have more than doubled
- Updated advice on adrenaline auto injectors and anaphylaxis
- Buy Anaphylaxis – The Essential Guide today if you have severe allergies
- Storage pouches for adrenaline auto injectors
So tell me, do you carry your adrenaline all the time? And how do you store them and carry them? They are bulky and inconvenient to carry, but they could save a life!
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