All posts for the month September, 2013

Medical Bag

We wanted to share with you what you needed for a Food Allergy Medical Bag, or a Medical Bag for someone with Anaphylaxis.

Your allergist will likely prescribe an EpiPen® Jr. for your child if your child has experienced anaphylaxis, child has scored very high, 4+, on a skin prick allergy test or Immunocap RAST blood test to a specific substance or is believed to be likely to experience anaphylaxis in the future. The EpiPen® Jr is very lightweight, one pen contains one dose (.15 mg) of epinephrine for a child. Once your child reaches 60+ pounds they will go to the EpiPen® rather than the Jr.

EpiPen® should stay out of direct sunlight, do not leave it in a car/truck and do not put in refrigerator. Always replace your EpiPen® once it expires. You can find the Expiration Date on the EpiPen®

Example of a Medical Mini Bookbag

Example of a Medical Mini Bookbag

Everything you need in Medical Bag

1. Mini Bookbag 
~very convient to carry to school, or on a bus.

2. Take Medications
~ EpiPen 2-Pak® , always have more than 1, in case one misfires/malfunctions, Benadryl®, Inhaler, and the Allergy Form

3. Write all Contacts on an index card
~Place with the Allergy Form, you can never have too many contact copies

Be sure to take the bag with you everywhere. Georgia has released that Anaphylaxis students can now carry their medications with them. I personally think this is a great way to make sure the student has their medications with them: in a class, lunch, bus. No more looking for their medications if it is always on the student. If the student has a substitute bus driver, the medication is still on the student, so no more worries about getting the medications handed off.

When the student is carrying their medications be sure to let the child know, the medicine they are carrying they should not be showing it off or playing with it, it is not for play. It is for Emergency Use Only!

Reaction for when to use EpiPen®:
(The optimum time to administer the EpiPen® is within 15 minutes; however allergic reactions can progress much quicker)

  • Hives
  • Swelling of the throat continuing down to the lungs
  • Vomiting/diarrhea
  • Difficulty breathing

If EpiPen® is used, give Benadryl® and call 911, let them know the child has went into anaphylatic shock. Once the child arrives at the hospital, the child will need to remain there for 4 to 8 hours because the shock could return called biphasic reaction.

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by wgfasg on September 27, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by wgfasg on September 27, 2013

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Discovery Channel: Food Allergies

Here is a preview: (Get the full episode by click “Discovery Channel” below)

Food allergies hit the Discovery Channel documentary, “An Emerging Epidemic: Food Allergies in America,” which aired Saturday, Sept. 7 at 8 a.m. ET/PT and Sept. 21 at 8 a.m. ET/PT. Narrated by Steve Carell and produced in partnership with Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), this important documentary explores what it is like to live with life-threatening food allergies, how families and individuals managing food allergies are working to raise awareness in their communities, and the vital research underway to find effective treatments and a cure.

discovery-poster-230x300Viewers can watch the show online at Discovery Channel or by downloading it on iTunes. For more details, visit www.foodallergy.org/emerging-epidemic.

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by wgfasg on September 25, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by wgfasg on September 25, 2013

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Carmine

What is Carmine?
Carmine, also called Crimson Lake, Carmine Lake, Cochineal, Dactylopius, Coccus Cati, Natural Red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120, is a pigment of a bright-red color obtained from the aluminium salt of carminic acid, which is produced by some scale insects, such as the cochineal scale and the Polish cochineal, and is used as a general term for a particularly deep-red color of the same name. The abdomen region that houses the fertilized eggs contains the most carmine, it is separated from the rest of the body, ground into a powder and cooked at high temperatures to extract the maximum amount of color. Carmine is used in the manufacture of artificial flowers, paints, crimson ink, rouge, and other cosmetics, and is routinely added to food products such as yogurt and certain brands of juice, the most notable ones being those of the ruby-red variety.

The vibrant color of Carmine comes from boiling the powdered form of the beetles in ammonia or sodium carbonate solution. It is also used to make a shade of purple by adding lime to the alum.

Carmine is used as a food dye in many different products such as juices, ice cream, yogurt, and candy, and as a dye in cosmetic products such as eyeshadow and lipstick. Although principally a red dye, it is found in many foods that are shades of red, pink, and purple. As a food dye it has been known to cause severe allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock in some people.

FDA considers carmine a natural color additive and exempts it from stringent certifications.

Carmine can also be found in medicines. Check labels, and be sure to call manufacturers if you have questions.

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by wgfasg on September 23, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by wgfasg on September 23, 2013

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