If you have food allergies, the so-called simple act of eating can be anxiety provoking—and even more so with certain food allergies or multiple food allergies.

Having food allergies means you must always be thinking ahead: you must consider where you are going or where you are, what you need to have with you, if the food is safe, if you have to navigate restaurant menus or the kitchen of a friend or family member who may not understand food allergies. You may have to consider calling restaurants ahead, or bringing your own food to events with family or friends to ensure you avoid cross-contamination and don’t take any chances. And of course, if you carry epinephrine in the event of an allergic reaction, you must always be thinking about how you are going to carry it, and hoping you do not need to use it—and hoping that if you do, it reverses the reaction and those around you can respond appropriately by calling an ambulance.

Carrying epinephrine and showing those closest to you or your child how to use it and explaining your “anaphylaxis action plan” works are the main ways you can stay safe with a severe or life threatening anaphylactic food allergy. Wearing a medical ID bracelet is another important step to being prepared with food allergies. Because allergic reaction symptoms can affect your ability to speak and communicate, as well as think clearly, medical ID jewelry can help you in an emergency or provide loved-ones peace of mind. An anaphylaxis medial ID bracelet, food allergy medical ID bracelet, latex allergy bracelet, shellfish allergy necklace, or nut allergy medical sport band can communicate what you need when you can’t.

Ask your doctor what the best engraving choice is for your severe allergy medical ID bracelet or necklace. Common examples are:

YOUR NAME

ANAPHYLACTIC: NUTS, FISH

USE EPI-PEN, CALL 911

YOUR NAME

ALLERGIC: PEANUTS, TREE NUTS

ICE ###-###-#### (NAME/RELATION)

If you or your child carry epinephrine, it may be helpful to engrave where your auto-injector is, such as

USE EPI-PEN IN BACKPACK

CALL 911 THEN MOM

Instructions on what to do that are concise will help save valuable seconds in an emergency.

Food allergy awareness month is a great time to refresh your auto-injector training, update anaphylaxis action plans, and check expiration dates on epinephrine injectors. As well, it is a good time to ensure medical ID jewelry and contact numbers engraved are up to date. If you need to purchase or update food allergy medical ID, we can help, with a variety of stainless steel and other durable medical ID jewelry options.