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Loudoun Allergy Network (LAN) takes pride in providing accurate information. To maintain this standard, LAN has established an Advisory Board. As the prevalence for food and other anaphylactic allergies grow, so have the needs of our members. The Advisory Board allows us to provide guest speakers in specialized fields to our LAN members. Currently, LAN has teamed up with two local, board certified allergist, Dr. Courtney Jackson Blair from Allergy and Asthma Associates, P.C., and Dr. Jiun Yoon from Allergy and Asthma Care Centers. LAN hopes to soon expand our advisory board to include specialist in the field nutrition/dietitian, therapy/psychology, and legal and educational advocacy.
The NIAID announced that they will be conducting a new research study on how the immune system responds to food allergens. They are seeking individuals 18-65 years of age who either has 1) Eosinophil-associatd gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) including eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) or eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) or 2) a peanut or milk allergy with severe symptoms such as hives, wheezing or throat closing. For more information including how to participate, see: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/volunteer/ee/Pages/Default.aspx?utm_source=GD&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Volunteer&utm_campaign=FAAW and here: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01212016?term=NCT01212016&rank=1.  Food allergies are very serious. It can be difficult to believe that the very food we need to nurture our bodies, can cause great harm to some, even death. If you know someone with a food allergies, whether it is a friend at school or a co-worker, please take it very seriously. Refrain from joking about food allergies or making fun of the person with food allergies. Never trick anyone into eating a food they are allergic to either. This is very dangerous for the food allergic individual. The best thing to do is help the person with the food allergy, even if you don't understand why they have to avoid a food. You can help save a life by helping your allergic friend avoid exposure. Even the smallest gesture of support could be the biggest help.  Today, Virginia Governor, Bob McDonnell, signed the epinephrine legislation. This new law will require public schools in Virginia to adopt and implement policies to stock non-student specific epinephrine auto-injectors and identify appropriate trained staff to administer the life saving medication. Last week, a $200,000 budget passed to support the purchase of epinephrin auto-injectors for Virginia public schools during the 2012-2013 school year.  Each year, FAAN recognizes individuals or organizations that have provided outstanding service or have made significant contributions to food allergy awareness, education, outreach or advocacy. The awards were named in honor of the daughter of Anne Muñoz-Furlong, FAAN's founder. This year, Loudoun Allergy Network (LAN) Chairperson, Thanita Glancey, was one of the recipients to receive this honor.  New legislation has been signed by the Governor of Virginia to allow schools to stock non-student specific emergency epinephrine injections. The new law will assist in the treatment of anaphylaxis to individuals in school who is experiencing anaphylaxis due to a known or unknown allergy, whether to foods or insect sting. Up to 25% of epinephrine injection at the school setting involved individuals who had no prior history of allergies; first time experiences. Without this law, those individuals, with no prior history of allergies, would not be able to receive this life saving medication unless one was prescribed to them by a physician. In those cases, the individuals would wait for emergency medical personnel to arrive to the school to receive treatment for the reaction. With anaphylaxis, minutes, even seconds, count and can be the difference between life and death. For survivors, delayed treatment may result in permanent brain, kidney, or heart damage, from lack of oxygen (hypoxia)[1]. Loudoun Allergy Network Chairperson, Thanita Glancey, spoke with WTOP reporter, Neal Augenstein about the new law. Read the full text article here: http://wtop.com/?nid=120&sid=2823354 A copy of the legislation can be found here: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+SB656ER [1] MD Guidelines http://www.mdguidelines.com/anaphylactic-shock There are some restaurants that are able to accommodate those with food allergies, and other that may pose as a high risk environment. A new restaurant, Urban BBQ Company, recently opened in the Ashburn Village Shopping Center, could pose as a risk for those suffering from peanut allergies. Upon approaching it's doors, you may be greeted with a "Peanuts Served Inside" warning sign. We are grateful that the management decided to post the warning so that those with peanut allergies can avoid the risk of exposure. Visit our Restaurants page under Resources to review restaurants that LAN members have visited with success. As always, please call the restaurant to discuss your specific needs.
LAN would like to take a moment and congratulate the Loudoun County Public School (LCPS) Food Services Department on their achievement. The Food Services Department received 52 HealthierUS School Challenge Bronze Awards. According to the LCPS article, "The HealthierUS School Challenge was established to recognize those schools participating in the National School Lunch program that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. Nationally, more than 2,800 awards have been presented to schools in 45 states. In Virginia, only 10 percent of schools have won this distinction". The awards were received by Jeffery Platenberg, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services and Jinny Demastes, Supervisor of Food Services. Ms. Demastes was instrumental in implementing and assisting safety measure for students with food allergies, to be able to eat cafeteria food safely, even attending a FAAN conference. We would like to congratulate Mr. Platenberg, Ms. Demastes, and the food services staff in this wonderful achievement.
Prince George County Elementary Student Has Anaphylactic Reaction Due To Valentine's Day Candy02/15/2012 A Prince George County (PGC) 5th grader had an anaphylactic reaction at school during Valentine's Day. The Virginia student had bitten into a peanut filled candy. The school reacted appropriately, following his written plan administering the Epipen and taking him to the emergency room. The PGC incident underscores the importance of providing as much of a risk-free environment as possible for all students but especially for those with food allergies. View the news clip and read the article: http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wtvr-school-nurse-uses-epipen-to-help-fifth-grade-student-20120214,0,7061528.story Due to the overwhelming support, a rewrite of the original bill for Virginia schools to stock non-student specific Epipens, HB1107, has passed the House Committee on Education in a 20:1 vote! LAN received this update from Richmond Food Allergy Support Group's (RFASG) Advocacy Co-Leader, Stephanie Hiss. The original bill requiring schools to stock Epipens, HB1156, was tabled. However, the idea was resurrected in a re-write, HB1107. HB1107 was sponsored by Loudoun County's own Rep. Greason! Loudoun families have much to be proud of. Let's keep this going. Additionally, a similar bill is being introduced, SB656, on the Senate floor for vote!
RFASG has a great article on who to contact and a sample letter: http://www.richmondfoodallergy.org/2012/02/advocacy-now-instructions-and-advice.html. Please continue to write in support of HB1107. No child or school staff member should suffer the agonizing experience of a reaction, just because they did not have an Epipen assigned to them. Support the Stock Eipen bill, HB1107. Text of the House bill (HB1107) that will be going to the House floor vote: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+HB1107H1 Text of the Senate bill (SB656) that will be going to the Senate floor vote: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+SB656S1 |  NEWSFrequently updated information on allergy and anaphylaxis and managing life with anaphylaxis.
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