• Food allergies affect as many as 15 million Americans
• Nearly 6 million or 8% of children are affected
• 1 in every 13 children, or roughly 2 in every classroom may have a food allergy
• 25% of allergic reactions occur in schools involve children not known to have an allergy before
• Food allergy results in more than 300,000 pediatric ambulatory care visits a year
• Every 3 minutes, a food allergic reaction sends someone in the U.S. to the emergency room
• 8 foods cause 90% of all food allergy reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish
• Strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction
• Read food/ingredient labels
• Wear a Medical ID bracelet
• Symptoms of a food-allergic reaction can include hives, swelling (face, mouth, throat), itching, cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, shock and death
• 90% of all fatal food allergic reactions are from peanut and nuts—Don’t take this allergy lightly!
• The treatment for anaphylaxis is Epinephrine and not an antihistamine like Benadryl
• Have 2 self-injectable epinephrine devices available at all times
• Have an Anaphylaxis Action Plan

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