My friend Janice who is a health coach shared something that reminded me that it is a great time to share peanut awareness reminders.
Janice asks — Did you know that peanuts are not actually related to other nuts? They are in the legume family. That’s right, a bean! They grow underground too. If you have a peanut allergy, you have a possibility of an allergy to other beans. It is a small chance, but still there.
Thankful
While thankfully no one in my home is allergic to peanuts we still have to be mindful of others. While we are a crunchy family of homeschoolers we try and remember to not take peanut butter on park days and field trips where peanut oil could end up on door nobs and toys others could touch. Why? Because even though you might not be able to see the peanut oil, it could kill another child.
Anaphylaxis is no joke, it can be very sever and life threatening. Just because a child who had a minor reaction last time to peanuts doesn’t mean the next time they come in contact with peanuts of any kind that the reaction will again be minor. While some children grow out of this allergy, for others it just gets more and more dangerous. Parents can not be expected to keep their children in a bubble.
Peanut allergies have Tripled.
Sadly in the last 15 years peanut allergies have more than tripled. It is the most common allergy out there. While parents with children who have this allergy must be vigilant to keep their children sake I think it is important that the rest of us make efforts as well.
Be Peanut Aware!
School is starting soon and that brings a lot of anxiety to Allergy aware parents. Some schools are great about banning peanuts in certain class rooms, or certain tables. Sadly over and over we hear about parents who just don’t care about those allergies and think more about the inconveniences of having to pack something else for lunch. They argue that students with those allergies should not go to school. Often they argue from a place of ignorance. They do not understand that minor allergy could be life threatening the next. Is that peanut butter cookie really worth another child’s life? As a society we have to do better, we have to be supportive, and we need to keep others children safe too. It isn’t asking too much! Be Peanut Aware!
Yes, peanut allergies are on the rise. Thank you for sharing an important topic. Most teachers often tell parents when buying food goodies throughout the school year not to have anything that contains peanuts for this very reason.