Looking out for each other
You can protect others from allergic reactions by:
- Asking your friends if they have any food allergies
- Always take food allergies seriously
- Washing your hands after eating
- Don’t share food with friends who have a food allergy: if you sit next to them, think about what you eat
- If someone with allergies has a reaction, get help immediately – even if they don’t want you to.
If you have a food allergy:
- Tell your friends about your allergies
- Don’t share someone else’s food
- Learn how to read labels on food to check it you can eat it
- Don’t kiss someone who has just eaten something you’re allergic to
If your doctor has given you an “adrenaline pen”:
- Get an ‘trainer device’ so you can practice using it. Go to the website for the brand you’ve been given, to order these.
- Talk to your friends about your pen and why you might need to use it.
- Show them your trainer device, so they know how to help you in an emergency.
- If you don’t have your adrenaline “pen” with you, don’t take any chances.
The best way to keep you and your friends safe from allergic reactions is for a school to be “allergy-aware”.
This means:
- those with allergies can participate in daily school life and not feel left out.
- raising awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis, so it becomes something which everyone knows about
- everyone can play their part in keeping people with food allergies safe.
Many schools have successfully taken this on as a project involving both students and school staff. Click here for more information.