What's A Friend to Do?
Here are some ways you can help:
Get the specifics. Find out which foods your friend is allergic
to and what the symptoms of a reaction are. Many symptoms are immediate — a
rash, a tingling in the tongue or mouth, or trouble breathing. But others can take
longer to show up. Learn how your friend has reacted to a food in the past, but don't
stop there. Sometimes the same allergy can show up differently at different times.
The more familiar you are with what can happen, the easier it will be for you to identify
triggers and take action if something starts to happen.
Two minds are better than one. Help your friend connect any physical
symptoms to the possibility of a food allergy. For example, if you're headed to class
after lunch and your friend feels sick or dizzy, it could be more than the flu —
it might be a reaction to something he or she ate at lunch.
Take it seriously. Some food allergies can be life-threatening.
If you see a friend about to eat something you suspect will trigger an allergy, speak
up. This is particularly important at times when a friend may be distracted or not
paying attention. Drinking alcohol can sometimes interfere with a person's ability
to make good decisions, for example.
If your friend starts to show symptoms, don't brush them off — take action
and get help. Trouble breathing, faintness, or throat tightness can be a signs of
anaphylaxis, a severe reaction
that can lead to sudden death. It's important that you get help for these symptoms
immediately.
Know what to do. What medicine does your friend take to treat
the reaction? Where does he or she keep it? Find out what it looks like and how it
is used so you can help if a serious reaction starts to happen. If your friend uses
an epinephrine injector, ask to learn how it works in case your friend isn't able
to use it.
Don't share food. People with severe allergies need to be particularly
careful about how food is prepared. So that turkey sandwich you made on the counter
next to your brother's PB&J could spell trouble for your friend. It's also a good
idea to keep your utensils to yourself so you don't accidentally expose a friend to
an allergen. This doesn't mean you can't share your friend's food (provided you're
not allergic to it, of course). You may discover some yummy new treats — just
be sure to wash your hands first.
This brings us to our next tip:
Wash your hands with soap and water after eating. Of course we
all know it's important to wash our hands before we eat. But washing up afterward
could be lifesaving if you've eaten something that might cause a friend to have a
reaction. Be sure to lather up well with lots of soap and warm water. Hand sanitizers
and wipes don't get rid of all the allergens.