Any Place Warm That Is Safe To Go With A Nut Allergy Child?
February 12, 2010 by admin
Filed under Allergy Questions
Other than the US and Canada how safe is it to travel with a child with a life threatening nut allergy?
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Most places are usually okay, with some common sense restrictions. In general, places where the problem nut is a major part of the local diet may not be the best places for your child. Don’t go too far from civilization, because there are few hospitals in the middle of nowhere.
Other than that, know how to say “no nuts” in all possible local languages. Carry a card with translations of “I am allergic to _____. Please do not feed it to me or I will get very sick.” Make sure you are very clear about this. If necessary, mime choking or anaphylactic shock while doing this. Many people will get this. If it seems at all like they don’t, don’t let them serve your kid food. Monitor what your kid eats even more stringently than usual, especially with a young’un. Nuts can hide in all sorts of dishes, and if they’re unusual or new, you may not see them right away.
Know the local emergency numbers and how to say things like “can’t breathe”, “allergy”, “anaphylactic shock”, “Help, call the paramedics” and “I don’t speak ____, does anyone speak English?”. Carry the epi-pens and a doctor’s note with you everywhere. In fact, if you can, get two packs (four pens) before you leave, because they can be hard to replace if you lose or use one.
If you’re really worried, check with the American consulate when you arrive and get recommendations for medical care in case of emergencies.
Other than that, you should probably be okay. I’ve been all over the world with a nut allergy and I’ve managed.