The week of 14^th – 20^th May is Food Allergy Awareness Week in the US. 

It is organised by FARE – Food Allergy Research and Education, as part of a national call to action to spread awareness and understanding of food allergies. 

For me it doesn’t matter that this is not a UK-based awareness week – I really will use any and all opportunities to show that allergies are on the rise globally and we all need to take the issue more seriously. 

Having lived with allergies all my life, it is my personal aim to educate people about food allergies, and the serious effect they can have on people’s lives.  You just have to read the statistics below, and you will see how many people are affected by allergies in the UK alone.

General Allergy statistics: 

44% of adults and 50% of children in the UK have one or more allergies, and the number of people with allergies is rising by about 5% every year.

Over 200,000 people have emergency adrenaline prescriptions (i.e., EpiPen) for their allergies.

Food Allergy Statistics:

Roughly 2% of adults and 8% of children in the UK have a food allergy. As many as 20% of the population experience some reactions to foods which make them believe they do have a food hypersensitivity.

In children the most common fatal food allergy is cow’s milk. It can in the worst cases cause anaphylaxis which can result in death – it’s that stark. 

And this is more prevalent in the UK than anywhere else in Europe.  Allergic reactions to peanut and tree nuts is becoming more common too.

Anaphylaxis Statistics:

The rate of hospital admissions around anaphylaxis is rising. In 2015 -16, there were 4,479 admissions, rising to 5,497 in 2018-19

Despite this increase, studies suggest that food-induced anaphylaxis deaths are falling and I’m hopeful this is due to a better understanding and tolerance around food allergies. Even so around 1 in 5 people with allergies live in fear of death due to anaphylactic shock.

There have been some legal changes to support those living with food allergies, following anaphylaxis-related deaths in the UK, including in recent years Natasha’s Law.

Reading these statistics, it’s hardly surprising to read that parents of children with food allergies are reported to be stressed, anxious and depressed compared to parents of children without food allergies.

Therefore, it’s not unexpected that parents worry about their children going to events without them being present to keep a watchful eye over them, which of course can lead to being overly protective and the child becoming anxious too. 

I was often nervous as a child, and even today, I can become anxious when I turn up to somewhere, and they have ignored my food requests, or not acknowledged the fact that I have to be careful around food – not only the food I eat, also the food of those around me. 

That’s just one reason why I support and advocate that people like me should wear MedicAlert jewellery. It’s a tool to help others to help you if you have allergies which could impact appropriate treatment in an emergency. 

MedicAlert is a charity that supports people living with medical conditions, including allergies to food, medication and the environment. They have created a range of IDs that are worn on pulse points – bracelets and necklaces.

When you are wearing one of the IDs, in the event of an emergency, first responders can see, and then identify the best treatment for you, including, what medication must not be given.

Obviously, MedicAlert jewellery doesn’t negate you preparing and planning for when you go to restaurants, or to parties, but if you do have an allergic reaction, your jewellery will inform first responders about your medical needs. Also, it should avoid creating another crisis when you might already be in crisis – if that make sense. How awful would it be to receive medication which sets off another or deeper allergic reaction or anaphylactic response? 

If you know someone who suffers from allergies, and is in danger of anaphylaxis, or other allergic reactions, and they don’t know about MedicAlert – why not buy them a gift. 

To find out more about how MedicAlert membership can support you, click below

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