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