#visible

Going Nuts

One of the first headlines I woke up to this morning was 'Young Passenger went into anaphylactic shock and lost consciousness on a plane.'

Not that catching I must admit, but the headline hooked me in anyway.

Allergies.

Something that many people would not class as a disability or an illness, and yet, allergies can lead to a lifetime in and out of hospitals, even death.

The following is a brief summary of what happened on the plane, and what I believe needs to change in order that incidents like this never happen again.

A 7 year old girl went into anaphylactic shock and lost consciousness, after a passenger ignored a warning not to eat notes. She stopped breathing, her face swelling, mouth blistering and throat closing, when the bag of nuts was opened- even after there had been many warnings that there was a child on board with a nut allergy. This 'selfish' passenger had put her life at risk. She was revived with an anti-allergy adrenaline injection and taken to hospital after the plane had landed. The passenger has been banned from flying with the company for two years.

Why is it important that NO nuts are present when a person with a serious nut allergy is on board?

The air in the cabin is recycled, so there is no fresh air able to enter the plane. The nut particles therefore circulate with the air, until the plane can land and the door opened.

So why would someone purposefully open a bag of nuts, knowing the consequences?

I have to think, that the passenger in question didn't actually know the consequences. Nut allergies don't SOUND dangerous and more importantly- they aren't broadcasted to the world that they are dangerous.

Let's face it, a small bag of nuts isn't all that fantastic. It isn't the end of the world that someone wouldn't be allowed to eat them.

When people think of nut allergies, they don't think death. They think itchy skin or sore throats.

The only way for people to be safe on board a plane is for the people boarding it to be searched. I know its a little drastic, but educating the entire world's population on nut allergies just isn't going to be possible.

Planes aren't the only places where nut allergies are dangerous, and these are the places where education and knowledge will help! Even eating some nuts and not washing your hands then touching someone- even kissing someone! can set off an allergy.

There are so many foods that are processed in the same factories as nuts- you have probably all seen the labels 'may contain nuts'. People with nut allergies have to be so observant and careful.

Knowledge and understanding about this will only help! Spread the word, bring up the conversation with your friends and family when you see the label. Follow the instructions when on planes, buses, even cars where air flow is restricted.

-And remember, nuts are one of the most common allergies, but they aren't the only ones! So if someone says they shouldn't be around a particular kind of food, make sure you don't bring it to a picnic!

Anyone here got any food allergies?