Thank you for a Fabulous Food Allergy Awareness Week!!

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We had such a wonderful week that I thought I’d share some highlights.

FAAW mailing 2

One of the most important things we did for FAAW was to send FREE resources to every school district in the state of CT a week before FAAW.  I am so proud of this accomplishment!  We have already received thank you’s from school districts.  We know that providing information and resources saves lives!  In the above picture, Kari Panuccio (Family Events Coordinator), Erin Spaulding(Vice President and Parent & Youth Group Coordinator) and I are stuffing envelopes with resources including: morning announcements for FAAW, our “You could save a life…” posters, “The Food Allergy Handbook”, and our school resources list.

Proclamation FAAW 2013

For the second year in row, we were honored to receive the proclamation from Governor Dannel P. Malloy stating that May 12th-18th is Food Allergy Awareness Week in the state of Connecticut.

FAAW2013 Robin reading

We spent some time with our friends at See Us Grow and our Secretary,Robin Comey, read The Princess and the Peanut to a mesmerized group of toddlers and preschoolers.  As part of our partnership with the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative, we are donating books to 18 preschools in Branford, CT.

We closed our week in the most wonderful way with our 1st Annual Dance-a-thon at the gorgeous Owenego Beach and Tennis Club.  Our sponsors for the event were: RJ Julia, Go Picnic, The Owenego, and Camp Emerson.  A special thank you to Disc Jockey Mike Bollea for donating his services and helping to make this event such a success.

Sue Lein

We were very happy to have our sponsor, Sue Lein from Camp Emerson attend our event and share her philosophy of providing an overnight camping experience for all children that is safe and inclusive.

Awards

One of the best parts of my job is presenting our FAEN Hero Awards each year.  The recipeints’ stories inspire us to continue our work and everyone will tell you that I never get through an awards ceremony without shedding a few tears.

child advocate awards

We honored our FAEN Hero Award recipients among them our Child Advocate Award recipients, Caroline and Conor Spaulding (pictured here with their sister, Katie, mom, Erin and Dad, Mike).  Other FAEN Hero Award recipients included: Michael Pascucilla (East Shore District Health Department), Barbara Naclerio (East Shore District Health Department), Kate Lewantowicz  (HOME Restaurant), Melissa Thibeault (Boy Scout Leader), Paul and Toni Mennett (My parents and our largest donors), and Maddie Steinmen (Sister Award).

Kyle singing close-up

Our new friend, Kyle Dine and my old friend DJ Mike Bollea kept the party rocking as we celebrated our children and also proved that you don’t need FOOD to have LOTS of FUN!!

kids dancing with Kyle

Kyle had all the children singing “Food Allergies Rock!” and proudly declaring what they are allergic to.  It was an empowering event for our children and the absolute best way to end the week.  Thank you, Kyle, for the important messages you spread through your music.  (For anyone who hasn’t had the honor to meet Kyle yet, let me tell you, he is a seriously AWESOME guy!  His performance exceeded all expectations and we will be sure to have him back again next year!)

The most important part of hosting our Dance-a-thon was not the donations we received (which we are very thankful for)  but it was the opportunity to create an event that was safe and fun for everyone.  At one point in the night, I stood and watched the children jump and shout and sing and dance.  It was a true moment of joy for me.

A special thank you to everyone that helped make this week so special, particularly our FAAW chair Kirsten Hess and her family.  Thank you very much!!  We look forward to continuing our important work.

FREE Resources for Food Allergy Awareness Week

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Resources and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In preparation for Food Allergy Awareness Week, we wanted to share some FREE resources with you. All of these resources are available on this blog page and by clicking on the FAAW Resources TAB on our website.

Morning Announcements for FAAW. Share these with your school principals.  There are facts to share each day.

FAAW Morning Announcements Elementary School

FAAW morning announcements-middle and high school

Tips for Coaches and Other Leaders

Our Restaurant Training Program…(coming soon).

Downloadable “You could save a life…” Poster with symptoms of an allergic reaction.  These posters are great to hang in lunchrooms and classrooms.

FRIEND AWARD:  Take time to say “thank you” to those special people that help to keep your child safe and included by downloading our  FAEN_FriendAward.

Best,

Gina Mennett Lee, M. Ed.

President, Food Allergy Education Network

Should Bus Drivers Be Trained to Administer Epinephrine?

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, bus, Food Allergies, safety and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yesterday, I was interviewed live on FoxNews CT regarding this topic.  For years,  I, and several other parents including Erin Spaulding and Robin Comey, have been advocating for better, more consistent policies regarding food allergies in our school district.  Last year, Erin, the VP of FAEN,  pulled the issue of bus driver training to the forefront after a dangerous situation had occurred on the bus her children were riding on.   This received media attention and led to this public debate.

So, here is the question: Should bus drivers be trained to administer epinephrine?  If not, who should be responsible for the safety of children with food allergies and other medical conditions while they ride the bus?

According to Timothy Stokes, a spokesperson for First Student, Inc., the policy for First Student is the following: “In the event of an emergency, bus drivers are trained to pull the bus over in a secure location and radio dispatch for assistance.”

This policy should be worrisome to every parent.  What if a child were to choke on the bus?  Would the bus driver simply stand by and watch while waiting for EMS to arrive?  Erin states in her interview that her “daughter’s throats closes within 5 minutes of ingestion.”   Which means that by the time EMS arrives, it may be too late.   In the case of my daughter, her past reactions have occurred so quickly that she would have even less time.    We find this current policy to be unacceptable.

I received this tweet last night: “Just as everyone should know First Aid and CPR everyone should know how to use Epipen especially anyone involved in childcare, ”  and I agree.  As any teacher, parent, or bus driver can attest, accidents can happen at any time.  I think that we, as adults, owe it to our children to be prepared at all times to respond.  Frankly, if I were a teacher, a bus driver, or a paraprofessional, I would want to have that training provided for me.  No one wants to witness the death of a child and know they could have done something to prevent it…no one. In the case of anaphylaxis, most deaths are preventable if epinephrine is administered immediately.

Please, let you voice be heard.  Leave a comment here and on the pages below.

View Erin’s story HERE:

View my live interview HERE.

Leave comments here and on this blog page.

Thank you,

Gina

Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

President, Food Allergy Education Network

5 Tips to Help Empower Your Child Against Bullying Guest Blog By: Jamie Perillo, LPC

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Recent studies show that children with health issues such as food allergies report an increase in victimization of bullying. Pediatrics, an online medical journal reports “31.5% of the children reported bullying specifically due to FA, frequently including threats with foods, primarily by classmates.” (December 2012) You cannot always protect your child from bullying, but you can empower your child with the confidence to stand up to bullying. Simple tools such as learning how to respond to a bully, role playing, and talking about their feelings can make a big difference for your child.

5 Tips to Help Empower Your Child Against Bullying:

  1. Teach the difference between telling and tattling. Many children express a fear to stand up for themselves, worrying they are “tattling.” They also express a fear of repercussions for reporting bullying. A child recently used the term (new to me) “snitches get stiches.” It is important for children to understand the difference between telling and tattling. Tattling is telling on someone to get them in trouble. For example, when the teacher asks the class to put their books away and Johnny tells on Sally for continuing to read – that is tattling. Telling is informing the teacher of an incident that directly affects your child physically, mentally, or emotionally.  It is providing a description of the incident and the feelings involved with the purpose of addressing the incident and preventing similar future incidents. Essentially, it is a means to keep your child and other children safe.  When discussing telling versus tattling reassure your child the teachers will handle these situations delicately and try their best to protect your child’s privacy.
  2. Role Play. Practice or role playing empowers your child. It is an opportunity to go through the steps of responding to a bully in a safe environment where they can ask questions and receive your validation and encouragement. When your child has practiced responding to bullying or teasing they will feel equipped to handle a situation should it occur. An example of role play might be teaching your child to say, “Stop. I can get very sick.” Then walk away and tell an adult.
  3. Develop a plan. Talk with your child about what they would do if they were bullied – who do they feel most comfortable telling – their teacher, school social worker, or other staff member? Practice what they would say and how they might go about saying it. For example, will they raise their hand as soon as the incident occurs or will they go up to the teacher and ask to talk privately? If they see another child bullied what would your child do?
  4. Create healthy communication at home. I do not recommend asking your child daily, “Have you been bullied today?” I do, however, recommend creating moments for healthy one to one communication. Lead conversations by talking about bullying by asking if your child has observed bullying in school. Create regular conversations about your child’s day. One way to do this is to play the best/worst or high/low game. Each family member (including you) goes around and states the best or favorite part of their day and the worst part. This opens a safe environment to discuss any negative events that occurred in school. It also shows how other family members handle negative events.
  5. Seek support. If you are concerned your child is experiencing bullying at school it is important to talk to your child’s teacher, school social worker, or principal or seek the help of a therapist.

Watch out Epipen! Here comes Auvi-Q?

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 Not so fast!

Sanofi announced today that the Auvi-Q is finally available in the United States.  This is exciting news in the food allergy world.  This new device is full of promise with it’s much smaller size, less intimidating shape, and voice-guided instructions.  For teens and adults, it is great to have another choice, but  I am concerned about the children that must rely on others to administer the epinephrine. As a former teacher I always think of the implications in a school setting.  Although, the Auvi-Q is voice-guided I still believe it is imperative that anyone responsibile for my child be comfortable with using it BEFORE a reaction occurs. 

So, here’s what I would like to know:

  • How will schools effectively respond to having 1, 2 or even 3 different devices when training?  (It has been difficult enough to ensure that the appropriate people are trained with only one device. )
  • How long will it take for parents, caregivers, teachers and others to become comfortable with a new device?
  • Will voice-guided instructions help people to be more comfortable using the device?
  • Will voice-guided instructions impact how effectively the epinephrine is administered?

While I admit that I am excited to meet the “new kid on the block”, I also acknowledge the fact that there will be a learning curve here and that it will be important to advocate for training using all devices.  

What do you think?  Will you try the new Auvi-Q?

Best,

Gina

Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

President and Founder, Food Allergy Education Network

Got Food Allergies? Ten Questions You NEED to Ask Before Eating at a Restaurant

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Restaurants and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
 

Eating out with food allergies can be stressful.  I remember feeling as though I needed to eat my meal with one hand on my daughter’s Epi-pen when I first attempted to eat at a restaurant.  This is a slight exaggeration but it can feel very overwhelming if you are not 100% comfortable.  Although our family does not do so frequently, I do feel that it is important to eat out.  As my daughter grows, I want to empower her with tools to navigate the world outside of our home.  One way to do this is to find restaurants that we feel safe eating at and to model for her the right questions to ask.

As a disclaimer, I will say that I feel more comfortable doing this because my daughter is old enough to communicate any symptoms she may feel.  When she was a toddler, I preferred to bring our own food.  I still do this if we are traveling outside of the country or are at an event with food.  Also, comfort levels may vary depending on the number and type of allergies you are dealing with.  The more allergies your child has, the more complex it becomes.  My daughter is allergic to milk, sesame, peanut, tree nuts, and shellfish.  I find milk to be the most difficult to avoid and the most worrisome for me.

What questions do you ask to assess if a restaurant will be safe to eat at?

Here are the 10 questions I always ask.  I need to get the right answers or we find another restaurant.  I also will not let my daughter eat at the restaurant unless I’ve spoken to the manager or chef and asked questions about cross-contamination and preparation. Period.  This is the only way I know for sure that the proper measures are in place to keep my daughter’s meal free of her allergens.   I am a strong proponent of listening to your gut.  If I feel at all uncomfortable about the answers I receive,  I leave.   As always, these are recommendations based on my personal experience.  Only you can know what will work for your family’s unique medical concerns.  Please use your own judgement.

To the Host/Hostess:

                   1.     Can you accommodate people with food allergies? 

                   2.     Do you receive training about food allergies and cross-contamination?

If the answer to these two questions is yes, I continue…

When the waiter first greets the table I say:

                    3.     My child has food allergies.   Can I speak to the chef and/or a manager about meal options for her?  

To waitstaff and chef or manager: 

Hi, nice to meet you.  My name is Gina.  This is my daughter.   She is allergic to ——–.  (My daughter is 8 now and she is beginning to do this step herself.) I have checked the menu and I think the (insert menu item) might work.

                    4.  Is this made in-house?   (i.e. bread, soup, pasta)

                    5.  If not, do you have the labels available for me to read?  I never rely on the staff to read labels for me.  I think it is too complex.  I want to read them myself.  If they don’t have the labels, we don’t order the item.

                   6.  What ingredients are in this dish?

                   7.   Is there anything else added to this dish? 

                   8.   How is it prepared? 

                   9.   Can it be made in a separate pan with separate utensils, etc…? 

                 10.  Can it be made without her allergens?

When the food arrives, I always ask again how it was prepared before allowing my daughter to eat.  Luckily, the restaurants we dine at bring my daughter’s food to the table separate from our food and state, “Here is your daughter’s dish that was prepared in a separate pan with —-. “   Another sign that the restaurant “gets it”.

*Beware of anything fried or made on the grill. If something is usually prepared on the grill, ask that it be made in a separate pan.  Unless the restaurant has a dedicated fryer it will not be safe due to cross-contamination.   Always ask: What kind of oil do you use?  Is anything else fried in there?

What is the responsibility of the food allergic patron when eating out?

  1. Call or visit ahead of time to talk to the manager and ask if they have experience accommodating food allergic individuals.
  2. Do some homework.
    • Ask for recommendations from other food allergic individuals
    • Check websites such as Allergy Eats for information on food allergy friendly restaurants.
    • Look at the menu ahead of time and find items that you think may work for your allergies (i.e. plain chicken breast, steamed vegetables).
  3. Make it easy on everyone involved by trying to dine at off-peak times.
  4.  Inform the server of you allergies!!!  This is critical as many people do not do this.  This information impacts how your meal is prepared and served.
  5. Don’t say you have allergies when you don’t.  This hurts everyone.  I’ve been informed by restaurant owners and servers that people will mask a food “preference” by saying that they are allergic.  Then when they are told they cannot eat another menu item due to cross-contamination they respond by saying, “It’s ok if I eat a little.”  Well, it’s not ok to eat a little if you truly are allergic.  This sends the message to restaurant owners/servers that food allergies are not serious and that trace amounts are ok to consume—not so!  Please be truthful!
  6. Use common sense.  Don’t go to a ice cream parlor with a dairy allergy.  Don’t go to a seafood restaurant with fish/shellfish allergies.  The risk of cross-contamination is too great.
  7. Bring a chef card to give to the server, manager and/or chef.  They can be found at Allergy Free Table, and FARE.  These are an excellent tool but cannot replace the questions above.

 What is the responsibility of the restaurant?

  • Answer all questions truthfully
  • Provide ingredient lists and labels
  • Provide training to all staff regarding food allergies, cross-contamination, and safe preparation and service of food
  • Train staff to recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction and what to do in case of an emergency  (There are many stories of first-time reactions happening in a restaurant.  The staff should be able to recognize the signs of a reaction and notify EMS asap.)

Stay Tuned:  In the coming weeks and months, I will be sharing an exciting restaurant training program that Food Allergy Education Network is piloting with our local health department.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on dining out so please be sure to comment.

Best,

Gina

Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

President and Founder, Food Allergy Education Network

In Honor of Newtown

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This is not a typical post for me.  But I cannot return to the topic of food allergies without acknowledging the tragic event that occurred here in CT last month.

I walked my daughter into school this morning and spotted this new poster hanging on the lockers.

MLK poster

To me, children are the definition of light and love and joy.  When I saw this poster, all I could think about was Newtown.  Truthfully, I’ve been trying hard not to think about it because every time I do I break down.  As a former teacher and a CT parent of young children, it hits too close to home.  The day it happened, both my husband and I were at home sick.  We were watching T.V. when it was interrupted with news of a shooting at a school in CT.   At first they reported that 3 people were injured.  Then there were rumors of more.  As the morning wore on, the unconfirmed reports became more horrific and I  prayed that the networks had gotten it wrong.  Then it was reported that all classes had been released…except one or two.  It was then that we all knew, but it was just too horrible to accept.  How could it be?   How could anyone do that?

Before I had time to even let it sink in, I had to leave my house to pick my daughters up from school. I told myself to remain calm.  I knew that if they saw me rattled and upset, it would scare them.

First, I drove to the middle school to pick up my 11-year-old.  It was eerie.  The kids had no idea what had happened, so they were running around, chatting, flirting, laughing, not knowing that today, for many, the world had come to a halt.   All the parents were quiet, looking knowingly back and forth at each other without the typical talk.

I greeted my daughter with a bigger that usual hug and a kiss (which I usually don’t do in front of her friends now that she is in middle school) and quickly led her to the car.  In the car I told  her some information.

“I’d rather you hear it from me,”  I said.

I was careful to follow the counselors’ advice, “…The man that did it has died… You are safe… I’m here, if you have any questions.”

She did.  She had questions that have no real answers, questions like:

“Why?”

“How?’

“Will it happen again?”

“Can it happen in our school?”

I did my best to reassure her while being truthful, not such an easy task.

Immediately after picking her up, I had to make my way over to my 7-year old daughter’s school.  I told my older daughter to let me do the talking because I wasn’t going to reveal as much to her.  I started the conversation, only giving very minor details.

“I have to tell you about something bad that happened in our state because you might hear about it in school.  Some people were hurt, but they caught the bad guy, and you are safe.”   Even that was too much for her to handle.  She began crying and said she didn’t want to know… I could relate.

I said, “Ok.” and changed the subject.

The counselors said to maintain a routine and avoid the news.  So, we avoided all the news, got through the rest of the pre-holiday school days and then focused on Christmas.  But in the back of my mind those little children, the teachers, the principal, and their families were always there.  As my children were opening their gifts, I thought of all the presents left unopened in the homes in Newtown.  While I hugged and kissed my girls, I thought of all the hugs and kisses that will never happen again.

I would sneak in a conversation or two with friends trying to process what had happened.  But it can’t really be processed, can it?  It’s too evil to make sense of.

Evil acts have a rippling effect.   It started with the victims, then the families of the victims, then the school, the community, the state, the country…the whole world has been mourning those lives and with those lives, the sense that the world is a safe place, that our children are cherished and protected from harm.

So, this morning, dropping my daughter off at school as I always do, somehow didn’t seem right.    We are back to our old routine, beginning again, starting where we left off, but somehow it doesn’t seem right to move on.   Still, what else can we do?

There has been and will continue to be lots of debate about gun control, services for the mentally ill, and the like.  These are important conversations that need to take place, but this blog is not the forum for such debates.   I am concerned about what can I do, here, today, in my town, in my daily life.

If I must accept that one person’s acts can inflict so much pain, then I must also concede that one person’s acts can send out a ripple effect of a different kind.

I can send out love, kindness, and empathy.   So, this year, my resolutions will not be “to lose weight, eat right” etc. (which of course I will try).  Instead, my New Year’s Resolutions will be a vow:  to love more freely, to hug more often, to show more kindness, to greater express my gratitude, to take a deep breath before getting angry, to try to see another’s point of view…

I don’t think we will ever really recover from this loss.   I still can’t talk about Newtown without tears, but I can make this simple vow.  I hope you will join me because I believe in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

 

Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

President and Founder, Food Allergy Education Network

Quick, Easy & Delicious Marshmallow Lollipops – Food Allergy Friendly Treats

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Recipe and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Looking for a quick and easy recipe to make with your children this weekend?   These marshmallow treats look pretty, taste great and are fun to make.

marshmallow final

Ingredients:

Please check the labels of all the ingredients to make sure that they are safe for your child.

Marshmallows

Colored sugar

Sprinkles

Other materials needed:

Knife

Cupcake liners

Lollipop sticks

Directions:

1. Cut the top off of the marshmallow.  (For extra large marshmallows like the ones pictured here, cut  in half.)

half marsh

2. Dip the sticky side in colored sugar and/or sprinkles.

dip marsh

3. Put into the cupcake liner.

4. Poke the lollipop stick into the marshmallow.

marsh top

Voila!  You are done!   And don’t they look beautiful?  You have to love something that is this fun and easy!  Thank you to Lori Sandler of Divvies for providing this idea.

 

Best,

 

Gina

 

 

Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

President and Founder, Food Allergy Education Network