Learn what medications you should store in your emergency kits and how to stay prepared at home during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The COVID 19 pandemic has taught us one essential truth.
The current healthcare system in all countries, including the US, is not ready to manage a pandemic, in addition to the baseline medical needs of a community. Think of any disease – ulcers, asthma, cancer, trauma, and more. What happened to these cases when all beds were full during the pandemic? The answer is these diseases and patients were put on hold and put at risk.
Food anaphylaxis is serious and affects over 30 million adults and children in the US. The average person with food anaphylaxis will visit an ER once every 2-3 years. Despite best efforts, patients with food anaphylaxis may have an accidental exposure. Despite best efforts, using an EpiPen may not result in complete resolution of the anaphylactic episode. In these cases, your local emergency room (ER) and hospital need to be available.
What To Do in Case of a Reaction
As the pandemic winds down, our food allergy and anaphylaxis community needs to be more aware of what taking control of anaphylaxis means. Control means being aware and careful of food allergens in the environment. More importantly, it means carrying a complete cadre of medications at ALL times. The complete set of medications should include 2 EpiPens, Benadryl, and some form of systemic steroid. In the worst case, using all of these medications buys time and stability. Having these medications available and using them accordingly will likely resolve most anaphylactic episodes. After deploying an EpiPen and medications, it is important to seek medical care at an Urgent Care or emergency room. Finding local medical resources, which are near and open is key in maintaining preparedness.
Take Control and Have a Plan
Strong planning and strategy will allow you and your loved ones to be secure.
- Have your emergency kits and medications at hand.
- Look for local medical resources that are open 24 hours.
- Be prepared on how to use an EpiPen and other medications.
I hope our food allergy community understands the ultimate control of your case is in your hands.
Food Allergy Treatment
Living with food anaphylaxis is scary, but it doesn’t have to be! With a 99% success rate, the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP™) has helped over 12,000 children achieve food freedom – the ability to eat whatever they want, whenever they want, without fear of reaction. Learn more about our program to find out if it’s right for you.