Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Information - Blog

This story was on ctv.ca and I just had to share it. See below my comments for the story.

Well done to those that got involved to make this happen. This sort of thing will make it’s way across to Australia at some point I’m sure. But until then we’ll keep paying our subscription and using the Medic Alert service that we have here.

Aaron

Elementary school students with potentially life-threatening conditions such as asthma, diabetes and peanut allergies will have access to a free MedicAlert bracelet under a subsidized national program that was launched Monday.

Under the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation’s “No Child Without” program, with serious health problems in participating elementary schools will be offered full MedicAlert protection at no cost.

“As most parents know, children with medical conditions are at risk whenever they leave their home. Parents worry a great deal about how their child will communicate their medical condition in a crisis,” MedicAlert President and CEO Martin Kabat said in a written statement.

“What we’re announcing today is the expansion across Canada of the No Child Without program to provide every student in every school the full protection of MedicAlert. Our mission is to deliver this free to all these students and to give parents peace of mind.”

Under the program, people with potentially dangerous medical conditions provide relevant information to a central registry.

They wear a readily identifiable bracelet or medallion that is engraved with that information along with an ID number and a 24-hour emergency hotline number.

In the event the person falls ill, such as when a bee sting or exposure to peanuts leads to shock or unconsciousness, a caregiver can call the hotline for details on the condition or required treatment.

“The emergency numbers on the back of the MedicAlert bracelets mean school officials and health care providers have quick access to a student’s condition should there be an emergency,” said Dr. Bruce Minnes, associate director of pediatric emergency medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children.

“Critical conditions such as anaphylaxis, asthma and various allergies need immediate attention by paramedics or doctors. Precious time is too often lost tracking down vital medical information.”

Normally, it costs a minimum $50 to sign up for the MedicAlert service and $39 a year to renew, while the customized bracelets or medallions cost at least $35.

The new program will provide the bracelets at no cost to all eligible children age 4 to 14.

A pilot program launched in January is currently in place in 60 schools in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

However, the Toronto-based organization said that more than 400 schools have indicated they want to join the subsidized program.

The goal is to expand the program to all 10,000 elementary schools in Canada within the next five years.

According to the foundation, about 5 per cent of children in Canadian schools have a serious medical condition.

The foundation also said that about 12 per cent of Canadian children suffer from asthma; up to 6 per cent are affected by food allergies; and between 25,000 and 50,000 are diabetic.

“This initiative will make a positive difference in the lives of the families who rely on the MedicAlert bracelet,” Ontario Minister of Health Promotion Jim Watson said in a release prepared for the event, which coincides with National Child Day.

MedicAlert is a registered charity with more than one million Canadian members. It has operated for more than 45 years.