Food Allergy Emergency Plans Every Family Needs

About 11% of adults and 8% of kids have one or more food allergies. While you could be allergic to almost any food, the most common culprits include dairy products, eggs, soy, wheat, nuts, peanuts, and shellfish.

When you have a food allergy, your immune system perceives a particular food as dangerous, stimulating an inflammatory response.  Within minutes or hours of eating the food, you can experience a range of symptoms, such as dizziness, hives, nausea, throat tightening, and breathing challenges. 

Because food allergies can become life-threatening, having an appropriate emergency plan is essential.

At her offices in Valencia, Burbank, and Lancaster, California, Dr. Maricar Cutillar-Garcia diagnoses and treats food allergies in kids and adults to minimize or prevent symptoms.

Food allergy emergency plan basics

A food allergy emergency plan is usually a personalized document created by your allergy specialist. It contains important information, such as your specific allergies, signs of an allergic reaction, and steps to take in an emergency, such as properly giving an epinephrine injection.

Your plan should also include emergency contact information and a prompt to call 911 in response to a severe allergic reaction. If you have an anaphylactic emergency, you may not be able to communicate with people around you, making this information vital for saving your life.

Where to bring your food allergy emergency plan

Keep a food allergy emergency plan on hand. For convenience, fold one up to keep in your purse or wallet and your car. You can also add the information to a health app on your phone, which typically remains accessible even when the device is locked.

In particular, keep an easily accessible allergy emergency plan at your home and workplace, and bring one along whenever you dine out.

For restaurants, bring a “chef card” that clearly describes your allergies so the culinary team can accommodate them. 

For your child’s school, provide a signed food allergy emergency plan so teachers and other staff have detailed instructions to follow.

How to get a food allergy emergency plan

While you can create a food allergy emergency plan on your own, your best option is provided by, or at least approved by, a medical provider. 

Dr. Cutillar-Garcia can create your food allergy emergency plan after an exam, as well as any needed allergy testing. She can also customize or recommend changes to a plan you bring in.

To learn more about food allergies or get a personalized emergency plan, call our office or request an appointment through our website today.