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