Tragic nut allergy case...

[Aero]

So, so sad

I'm pretty sure no-one on MN thinks nut allergy isn't serious, but I sometimes hear complaints from parents about children not being allowed to bring certain products to school etc, or occasionally a mention from someone having a party that catering can be a PITA when xyz with a nut allergy is invited. This tragic story just brings it home why we should take other peoples allergies seriously and it for sure makes me appreciate the fact that I'm very lucky to have no nut allergy sufferers myself (although ds1's best friend is allergic and we're very cautious when he's here about what he eats).

My heart goes out to the family of this girl.

I was at Holland and Barratt a while ago, and they had a bowl of Japanese Rice Crackers out for sampling - they were down low, and any toddler even could reach it.

I very gently mentioned that those crackers contain peanuts, and if a child were to grab some...

The employee just looked very pointedly at my children (who were well behaved) and said
"Parents should have CONTROL over their children"
sigh

I kindof thought they would have known better in there

Neither of my DCs has any kind of allergy but funnily enough I was thinking about this today. Their nursery is nut-free, but that's the limit of the information we've been given. Of course I do my very best, but I'm aware that I'm just not knowledgeable enough to be thoroughly trustworthy - so those of you with allergy sufferers, how much faith do you put in school / nursery / wherever being nut free, and how much do you still remain mega-vigilant?

i work as a ca in a special school. we don't even have crunchy nut cornflakes for breakfast in case we come into contact with one of the children who has a severe nut allergy.

yes, us too Kerrymum! We got given nose drops for dd which contained the peanut oil by our dermatologist. Who new about her allergys, thank godness I noticed in time. How bad is that. Everyone making the same mistake and medical proffessionals too

Freckle - I dont know how insulin is administered, but the epipen whilst requiring firm pressure, is spring loaded to help with administering (which is why once the poor girl in that news story was done for once the needle had come out).

You dont have to 'stab' it in the leg, you dont even have to take clothes off (unless there are LOTS of layers.

What you DO have to do is push it down firmly for at least 10 seconds in order for the dose to be fully administered. Not easy with a small child.

As an aside, DH still takes the piss out of me to this day, because I once went to put warmed olive oil on cotton wool in my ear for earache, and by some bizarre mistake, picked up sesame oil.

Oh the stench of it. I couldnt suss out why it smelled so bad