Advocating for Your Allergy Warrior: Tips for Communicating with Other Adults So Your Child Can Be Safe and Happy

Welcome to the world of allergy warriors - a world where parents have to go the extra mile to ensure their kids are safe from... regular food 🤯 [mind blown]. As a parent of an allergy warrior, you know firsthand the challenges of managing food allergies. It's not easy and can be hard for others to understand unless they're in your shoes.

When someone has yet to be directly impacted by a food allergy, the entire concept can feel vague and confusing. After all, to someone unfamiliar with food allergies, the food you're trying to protect your kid from is completely benign – and why pay attention if there's no danger, right?

To an adult who's never witnessed an anaphylactic reaction, it can seem like a rare, random occurrence. They might think it certainly won't happen with them... But you know allergy emergencies aren't rare; they can happen anytime, any place, with anyone. That's why we're here to help you make your village safer for your little allergy warrior to play, learn, and grow.

Talking with other adults about food allergies is worth it! It can drastically increase your child's safety at school, other peoples' houses, field trips, sporting events, and even during pickup and drop-off.

We have some tips that can make a huge difference in keeping your child safe and happy.

• First and foremost, explain the severity of your child's allergy to others. Knowledge truly is power.
  
  
• Walkthrough symptoms & tools. Show where to find emergency supplies, and demonstrate how to use an Epi-pen. Share resources, allergy cards, and anything that might help a different adult manage a child's food allergy.
  
  
• Make sure everyone knows when it's time to call for help & who to call. Others must understand how serious this allergy is and what to do in case of an allergic reaction. Better yet, leave a copy of your emergency action plan with them after you've gone over it together. 
  
  
• Next, be honest with others about why certain events or gatherings may be challenging for you and your family. If you're avoiding an event because of food allergies, it's okay to explain why. Clarity is better than confusion. Let others know that safety is your top priority and you appreciate their understanding.

Advocacy is also important. As a parent of an allergy warrior, you know what's best for your child. Be vocal and declarative about what is and isn't okay for your family. This sets clear boundaries and opens the door to positive conversations about allergy awareness in your community.

Being vocal about what's okay for your child can open the door to positive conversations about allergy awareness.

Sharing your favorite food allergy resources with others is also key. From informative social media accounts to follow, articles to read, online courses to learn from, and handouts to have handy – share the world of allergy info! The more insight you share, the easier it becomes for food allergies to become a consideration for non-allergy families, too.

It's easy to get frustrated when other parents don't seem to think or consider allergy warriors. But it's important to remember that allergy missteps come from a lack of awareness, not a lack of compassion. That's why it's essential to be open about what it means to be an allergy warrior and why even the most minor things can make a big difference in safety and happiness.

Allergy Scout is here to help you navigate the world of food allergies. We've created easy-to-share resources for you and your community, such as reference sheets and safety guides. And when there's a resource you want that we still need to make, let us know! We love being as helpful as possible when navigating a food allergy and are open to your thoughts and ideas.

Remember, with so much emotion involved in managing a food allergy, facts are your ally. Be patient with others as they learn, and stay open to questions. Questions about an allergy are often not judgments; they're a sign of interest and concern.

Try to be patient as missteps and questions about food allergies come up. It can take time for other adults to get used to food allergy safety.

The tips in this article can help make your life as a parent of an allergy warrior just that little bit easier. Together, we can make the world safer for allergy warriors!