E-Greetings from the Allergy Advocacy Association

March 2023

As Spring comes into focus on the horizon, a welcome energy expands our focus on the opportunities already underway and those that can best serve the community. As work continues for Food Allergy Awareness Day in Albany on May 2, (stay tuned for updates) there are plenty of other projects underway. Those discussed this month include milestones met with Epi Near You New York, wondering why so much epinephrine is locked away beyond the reach of those who might need it, minimizing side effects of OIT and Senatorial shout outs for sponsoring federal legislation that protects kids in schools managing allergies.

Epi Near You New York has come along way. Co-Founder Jon Terry thanks JCC of Rochester for partnering with us to train their staff on the use of emergency epinephrine and stocking epinephrine with financial support from us, fulfilling the mission of broad-based availability of epinephrine.
Mandelbaum re. student EAIs locked up at school, The article discusses the importance of making epinephrine quickly and easily accessible for children with allergies while at school. The author recounts a personal experience and shares similar situations experienced by others. The article provides tips for parents, including familiarizing themselves with state laws and ensuring access to medication is documented in a child's 504 plan. Additionally, the article emphasizes the importance of communication and collaboration between parents and school nurses in creating an effective management plan.
Minimizing reactions to allergy shots,
Cleveland Clinic reminds us that allergy shots can sometimes cause an allergic reaction and offers tips on how to avoid them.
Allergy shots, also known as allergen immunotherapy, can help treat allergies by
building tolerance to allergens. Reactions are rare, but can range from minor to serious. Asthma patients and those on blood pressure medication are at higher risk. Precautions can help minimize the chance of a reaction.
FARE thanks Duckworth/Durbin for introducing Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act.
Thanks to Senators Duckworth and Durbin for coming through for families managing food allergies in school by introducing a bill, Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act to provide training for cafeteria and WIC workers.
FARE thanks Senators Durbin and Duckworth for introducing the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act to provide food allergy training for cafeteria workers and educate WIC workers on preventing food allergies. The bill aims to reduce anaphylactic attacks and save lives.

What is anaphylaxis? How would you recognize an anaphylaxis emergency? And would you know what are the right things to do? For many people, even those that have a life-threatening allergy, the answer is no.

The Allergy Advocacy Association has a solution: Epi Near You New York anaphylaxis emergency training program. This life saving program can be delivered via webinar or at your location.

Upon completion you receive:

Free state approved training presentation,
New York State recognized certification, and
Assistance for public entities to obtain a non-patient specific prescription for emergency epinephrine

Find more information on our this training program here.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for your business, school, or group.

Best wishes to one and all!

Epi Near You New York Update

Epi Near You New York has achieved a milestone in its development. Co-Founder Jon Terry thanks JCC of Rochester and 12 Corners Apothecary for partnering with us to ensure broad based availability of epinephrine. As many organizations have done, staff from JCC Rochester took the course and received certificates of completion and a non-patient-specific prescription for epinephrine. Our new pharmacy partner, 12 Corners Apothecary then received the prescription written by a member of our Medical Advisory Board and dispensed it to JCC Rochester and Allergy Advocacy Association paid for it.

Epi Near You New York Update

By Jon Terry
March 1^st, 2023

Hello, everyone! Regarding our Epi Near You NY anaphylaxis emergency training program, at the end of February we successfully implemented a brand-new procedure for training, certifying, prescribing and funding a non-profit entity wishing to stock non-patient prescription epinephrine. For the first time we are now providing, at no charge, complete services to our clients protecting individuals and families with life-threatening allergies at risk for an attack of anaphylaxis.

Schools and Locked Up Epinephrine: A Dangerous Situation

Great work is done to pass legislation that supports safe, broad-based availability of epinephrine, resulting in more epinephrine in our schools. It is then discovered that much of that epinephrine is locked up in cabinets, rooms and buildings, far removed from those that might need it. Often the keys can’t be found. Read Jon’s thoughts on potentially dangerous gaps in implementation of legislation, where he refers to a recent article by Lianne Mandelbaum of No Nut Traveler for Allergic Living.

By: Jon Terry
January 25, 2023

Unlock the epinephrine!

By Jon Terry
March 6^th, 2023

Greetings to one and all.

Work continues to ensure broad based availability of epinephrine for those managing life threatening allergies, especially in schools. In New York State, there is legislation allowing students to carry their own epinephrine, nurses to stock epinephrine and for everyone in the state to be trained and equipped to know when and how to administer epinephrine. As a result, there is more epinephrine available in the community for anaphylactic emergencies. However, much of this life saving drug currently stocked in schools is locked away in cabinets, other rooms, and even buildings and not readily available in an emergency. Often times, no one knows where the keys are. Because the timely administering of epinephrine in an emergency saves lives and the drug is harmless to everyone else, it makes no sense to keep it locked away in a school setting.

How To Minimize Your Reaction to Allergy Shots

Allergy shots, AKA allergen immunotherapy, can sometimes trigger allergic reactions. Dr. Mark Aronica of the Cleveland Clinic tells us how to lessen the impact of these shots while providing relief to those allergies to improve quality of life by reducing symptoms and side effects.

How To Minimize Your Reaction to Allergy Shots

January 20, 2023

Your medicine cabinet is loaded with antihistamines, and you never go anywhere without a package (or three) of tissues. Maybe your healthcare provider has even suggested allergy shots. This lesser-known treatment for allergies can relieve the sneezy, itchy and watery torture caused by allergens. Some people even see their symptoms disappear entirely.

Known as allergen immunotherapy, allergy shots help treat common allergies to substances such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold spores. They may also be helpful if you’re allergic to the venom from certain stinging insects, like bees, hornets, wasps and yellow jackets.

FARE Thanks Senators Durbin, Duckworth for New Bill to Make Schools Safer, Help WIC Families

Join FARE in thanking Senators Duckworth and Durbin for sponsoring federal Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act to strengthen training cafeteria workers around the country receive information on recognizing and preventing food allergy reactions.

FARE Thanks Senators Durbin, Duckworth for New Bill to Make Schools Safer, Help WIC Families

January 26, 2023 (McLean, VA) –

Today, FARE, (Food Allergy Research & Education) thanked Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth for their leadership in authoring and introducing the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act that would strengthen food allergy training for the nation’s estimated 50,000 cafeteria workers and assist state Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) employees in providing information about recognizing and preventing food allergies to help the nearly 50% of American families relying on WIC for nutritional assistance.