There’s all kinds of stuff going on in the Ernie and the Berts world You ought to check it out…
http://twitter.com/#!/FoodAllergyWalk/status/106727780493959168
Truth. Adults too. Just sayin’.
Let′s sprinkle some on you to see what happens…
The link points to this article: 8 News Now | Children with food allergies often face skepticism
Check out some of my favorite quotes…
When Bela Mehta’s toddler son was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy, she carefully explained to her parents and in-laws that ingesting even the tiniest amount of peanut could cause a life-threatening reaction.
Yet when the grandparents came over to babysit, Mehta would come home to find that they’d brought over desserts that contained peanuts, or that they were continuing to make dishes containing peanuts using her blender.
“I said, ‘If it was labeled poison, or cyanide, would you still bring it here?” said Mehta, a mother of two who lives in Chicago. “That’s how dangerous it is to him.”
What planet are these people from? Seriously.
Nearly 6 million U.S. children — or about one in 12 kids — are allergic to at least one food, with peanuts, milk and shellfish topping the list of most common allergens, according to research published in Pediatrics in July.
That’s a lot of kids, which will be a lot of adults in a few years.
Peanuts can cause a severe, potentially life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis — wheezing and trouble breathing, vomiting, swelling, persistent coughing that would indicate airway swelling, and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
No big deal, right? Sounds like it’s worth the risk of just licking a peanut…
Some parents described incidents in which family and friends had deliberately given their child nuts to test if the allergy was real.
Yeah. Read that again:
Some parents described incidents in which family and friends had deliberately given their child nuts to test if the allergy was real.
Jail time. That’s all I’m sayin’. That’s like saying that you shot someone just to see if it would really make a hole in their guts.
There should be no question about that, said Dr. Ruchi Gupta, an associate professor of pediatrics at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago who studies food allergies.
“Peanut allergies are very life-threatening,” Ruchi said. “Kids with a peanut allergy can have shortness of breath. Their throat closes. Their blood pressure drops and if not treated immediately, it can lead to death.“
Go, Dr. Gupta, Go!
Families also reported feeling stigmatized and socially excluded, while children reported teasing. Other kids would say, ‘I’ve got nuts and I’m gonna come touch you’,” according to the study.
I’m going to resist the temptation for a joke about a different kind of nuts.
The article goes on to include the lighter side of things, but I’m ranting. Go read the full thing if you know what’s good for you.
@FoodAllergyWalk is someone behind FAAN’s Pittsburgh Food Allergy Walk. Check them out on Facebook, Twitter, or on the FAAN Food Allergy Walk Pittsburgh page. You can also donate to me or Bethany for our walk on Sept. 18th at Hartwood Acres.
Sweet lovely death.
Hey! A post about food allergies, and it’s not from me!
I’ve pointed you to Blurt before. It’s an amusing blog in general, and this is another amusing yet very real story about the seriousness of food allergies. This time, it’s got the perspective of someone who’s not food-allergic themselves, yet understands the seriousness of the situation. I find it to be a fresh take.
It’s also one that’s not in the Top 8, showing us that other allergies exist besides the big ones.
Of course, this is also self-serving, as there’s a shout-out to someone you might know…
via Blurt
So, you need one of these. Luckily for you, there are several ways to get one.
In addition to the article linked above, Erin “Ernie” Payne has generously offered to give a free T-shirt to the first 10 takers who donate $50 or more to me (or Team Deathfish if one is formed) in my food allergy walk.
Don’t forget to enter the coloring contest!
Image via Wikipedia
I haven’t blogged much about food allergies lately, so I’ll let this be a substitute post… with tips compiled from the experts. This is a great list, & I agree with everything stated, though I have my own personal way of going about things.
So, do you have a separate fryer for fish & shellfish?
What do I do different? I don’t like phone calls. Sometimes, the wife calls for me. Sometimes, I peep the menu online. Sometimes, I break down & call ahead.
Shellfish on a menu jumps out at me like this.
My favorite anecdote on this subject… I called an Amish restaurant in Ohio and asked if they had shellfish, and was told that they had lobster, shrimp, and oysters… but nothing was served in a shell.
I’ll let you think about that for a minute.
Anyway, I can’t stress enough… ask the right questions, to the right people. Don’t trust people telling you “oh, they don’t have any [whatever you’re allergic to] on the menu”. Happens to me all the time. 90% of the time, they’re wrong. Check yourself! Ask if there’s any daily specials that don’t show up on a regular or online menu. To relax, it helps to surround yourself with supportive friends & family. It helps to go back to places that you know are safe. Don’t eat w/o your Epi Pen close by. (I have been guilty of this. It’s dumb – like riding a motorcycle without a helmet.)
Allergy Eats, AllerDine, & Eating With Food Allergies are great resources. There are many other resources out there too. Use ’em!
What do you think about the tips? What do you do before dining out with food allergies? What advice would you pass on to the food allergic?
So, I’m checking out my WordPress stats (it’s like an addiction now), and I see this link:
blogger.cbslocal.com/most-valuable-blogger/score/27/1/
I clicked it, and it was asking for a login. Huh? I did a quick Google search and found this: Pittsburgh’s Most Valuable Blogger Awards 2011
It reads…
After much deliberation and careful consideration of many nominees, CBS Pittsburgh has narrowed the field of Finalists down for this year’s MVB. Voting for finalists is open now through September 9th. Let your voice be heard – vote now!
I’m in the list! So, to whoever nominated me, thanks! You forgot to include “obviously insane” in the description:
The topics are enjoyable to read & are written in a way that is highly entertaining, while containing favorable opinions & insight.
Vote for me! Please?
I’m in the Dining/Entertainment category. They have a badge up there, and they say to use it, so I will. And, here’s where I’ll beg for your votes. It looks like you can vote once a day in each category. Apparently, you have from now to Sept. 9th to vote. So, please… be obnoxious with your voting! Vote daily for yours truly, and spread the word!
I have to warn you, if I win it’s just going to encourage more goofiness. Fast food joints will most likely not be amused.
Also… in all seriousness, I was looking through the other nominees. Use this as an opportunity to check out some other cool local blogs! I see Only In Pgh is up, & I love that blog. No one nominated Secret Agent L? None of the blogs listed on UrbanSpoon Pittsburgh are up against me in the dining category? There are a bunch of cool ones there!
Twitter has opened me up to the wonderful world of bloggers out there, both near & far.
You dropped this...
Check out the contest, vote for your favorites, and tell me in the comments below which blogs I should be following & why. (After you vote for me, of course.)
Thanks again to the nominator (whoever you are) and to any potential voters!
Check this post out, and RECOGNIZE the pizza delivery dude.
He takes pride in his service.
via blogdramedy
Some people who read this blog may, like myself, have an appreciation for guitars. I like the weird, the odd, the strange, & the rare.
Guitarz is putting together a 2012 calendar of such guitars.
These guys put together a great blog, and I’m looking forward to their calendar. I might take an artful photo of one of my weird axes, but with only 12 months in the year mine won’t be a slam-dunk… and sadly aren’t the weirdest/rarest out there.
Take some photos of your weird/rare/beautiful guitars and send them in!
They probably won’t take this photo. So, get your axe in gear! (Get it?) Submit a photo of your rare/weird/cool guitar, or take a photo of a friend’s to submit.
World (and Lunar) Domination 