| While kids are picking pumpkins and Halloween | | | | raising awareness about food allergies is |
| costumes, parents of kids with food allergies | | | | what inspired Ria Sharon, a mom of a toddler |
| are bracing themselves. Halloween is | | | | with food allergies to create a line of |
| frightening for these parents, who have to | | | | clothing specifically for children at risk. |
| guard against bite-sized treats that as early | | | | |
| as September, are showcased by many | | | | Sharon started a company called Check My Tag, |
| retailers. What are treats for most children, | | | | which offers shirts and dresses that are |
| are life-threatening "tricks" for the 5 | | | | alert devices for food-allergic kids. Each |
| million American children who are in danger | | | | garment has a sewn-on badge on its left |
| of anaphylaxis. | | | | sleeve that announces, "Check my Tag! I have |
| | | | food allergies." The inside tag can be |
| Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, systemic | | | | personalized by parents with a list of |
| allergic reaction that can involve various | | | | trigger foods and important, life-saving |
| areas of the body (such as the skin, | | | | information. The patent-pending design is |
| respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, | | | | specifically for children under five, whose |
| and cardiovascular system). Symptoms can | | | | parents may hesitate to put an alert bracelet |
| include hives, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness | | | | or necklace on their young child but still |
| of breath, wheezing, swelling of the lips, | | | | want to keep their toddler safe in situations |
| tongue and throat, a drop in blood pressure | | | | when they have to leave them with a |
| and loss of consciousness. Symptoms can occur | | | | caregiver. "I wanted something that would |
| within minutes or hours after contact with | | | | give me back my confidence in being able to |
| the allergy-causing substance. In 150-200 | | | | keep him safe. To my surprise, everything |
| incidents a year, anaphylaxis is fatal. It | | | | that was currently available in terms of |
| can be caused by a trace amount of an | | | | alert products were not practical solutions |
| allergen, the eight most common culprits | | | | for us." Ria applied her creative skills to |
| being peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, milk, eggs, | | | | develop a solution that eased her own anxiety |
| shellfish, fish and soy. | | | | and empowered her son's teachers and |
| | | | babysitters to care for him safely. |
| "It's not just the trick-or-treating | | | | |
| experience that is nerve-racking about | | | | The number of diagnosed cases of food |
| Halloween," says Tom Croghan whose son has a | | | | allergies has doubled in the last five years. |
| severe peanut allergy. "but Halloween also | | | | 3-1/2 year old Colin Depke from Ballwin is |
| kicks off the 'candy-on-the-coffee table' | | | | among them. His mom, Carol writes, "Thanks |
| season. Beginning now and through the | | | | for creating such a great product with a |
| holidays, my wife and I are forced to make a | | | | purpose! Our 3-1/2 year old has severe food |
| clean sweep of every home we visit to clear | | | | allergies and leaving him at camps and school |
| away the candies, chocolates and nuts that | | | | is hard. Your shirts help to let other people |
| could land Brad in the hospital." The | | | | know about his food allergies, yet |
| abundance of accessible food during the | | | | discreetly. We love the colors and unique |
| holidays creates added danger for a child | | | | style to boot! The med pouch is very |
| with food allergies. It is especially risky | | | | convenient to slip into a purse and we love |
| for children who are too young to comprehend | | | | that his action plan is right in the front |
| their medical condition or too young to tell | | | | window. Our son's words sum it up best, "I |
| people around them that they have to avoid | | | | like my tag shirt 'cause it helps keep me |
| certain foods. The challenge of readily | | | | safe! |
| identifying food-allergic children and | | | | |