We have some very exciting news to share! We are partnering with Ally Martin, a parent dedicating her life to raising awareness for childhood food allergies. You can follow her work here: https://www.instagram.com/food_allergy_fams_va/https://www.instagram.com/food_allergy_fams_va/ We are elated to have this partnership as childhood food allergies are continuing to rise. To introduce our new course about food allergies, we want to briefly explain the importance of such course.
Incidence of Childhood Food Allergies
· As of 2020, roughly 8% of all children had food allergies, compared to 4% of children in 2007. This statistic relays how food allergies are on the rise, stressing the importance of proper preparedness when faced with a child having an allergic reaction to food.
Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction
· Symptoms of an allergic reaction in one child may appear drastically different than symptoms in a different child, therefore, childcare providers, parents, and caregivers must be able to spot all of the signs and symptoms associated with an allergic reaction
· Mild symptoms include: hives, facial flushing, itching, burning lips, congestion, sneezing
· Severe symptoms include: swelling of face, lips, or tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, wheezing, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and loss of consciousness.
While these lists are not all-inclusive, it must be understood that no two children will have the same presentation of anaphylaxis. Therefore, our partnership with Ally is essential to promoting allergy awareness and safety for our youth because preparedness will save lives.
This course will highlight common food allergies, signs and symptoms of allergies, what to do during and after an allergic reaction, and steps to take to prevent future occurrences. This is an opportunity that you do not want to miss. Don’t be scared to face allergies, be prepared!