Anaphylaxis Community Experts Bring Vital Education to Your Area!

-
I am pleased to be a part of what I consider a very important educational initiative- the Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACE) program.  

Co-sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) and the Allergy & Asthma Network - Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), the ACE program's mission is to prevent anaphylaxis deaths and reduce anxieties through education, advocacy and outreach.  In light of the tragic death of a peanut-allergic girl at a Chicago school in December, our mission is even more timely.


Who are the ACE team members?
ACE Teams consist of one board-certified allergist and one community member who each share this mission.

Goal: To understand and improve the care of people at risk for anaphylaxis by providing an evidence-based approach to the identification, diagnosis, assessment and management of anaphylaxis in order to prevent deaths from severe allergic reactions.


Objectives:
  • To help patients, families, and healthcare professionals identify who is at risk, and improve recognition of the signs and symptoms of life-threatening allergic reactions
  • To recommend that auto-injectable epinephrine, the first line of treatment, be administered immediately once the signs and symptoms have been identified
  • To develop prevention models that:
o   Promote identification and avoidance of allergens
o   Encourage patients with history of anaphylaxis to be seen routinely by an allergy specialist
o   Provide an Anaphylaxis Action Plan to all patients who are at risk of anaphylaxis
o   Refer patients with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis to an allergist, support groups and educational programs

How Will Objectives be Met?
ACE teams will provide educational seminars in a variety of community and healthcare settings- schools, day-care centers, hospitals, police/fire departments, etc.  In addition, ACE teams will provide interviews with print, radio, internet, and television media to raise awareness about recognition and management of anaphylaxis.  All seminars will be free of charge.



How Can I Request a Seminar in My Community?
ACE teams are eager to bring a seminar to your community!  To find an Anaphylaxis Community Expert near you, please see the following site: http://www.aanma.org/2010/12/find-an-anaphylaxis-community-expert-ace/




Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for taking the time to comment on this blog's posts! Let's keep the discussion engaging and free of frivolous advertising or vulgarity. It's a family show, folks!

Popular posts from this blog

The Grotesquely Swollen Apple of My Eye- What to do When Bugs Attack Your Child's Face

-
Image
Son #2 woke up this morning looking like a streetfighter! Dramatic swelling of the eye(s) such as this can occur for a variety of reasons: 1. Allergic reaction to ingested food or drug (generally affects both eyes) 2. Direct contact with environmental allergen or food allergen (can affect one or both eyes) 3. Hereditary or acquired angioedema (can affect one or both eyes) 4. Injury (usually affects one eye) 5. Low protein levels (generally affects both eyes) 6. Infection (generally affects one eye) 7. Insect bite (can affect one or both eyes) In this case, my little one endured a mosquito bite at the outer corner of his left eye yesterday afternoon.  It was mildly swollen at the time, and became progressively worse as the night wore on. Does this mean he has a mosquito allergy? Actually, no more than anyone else.  Certain areas of skin, such as around the eyes and on the lips, are more loosely attached to underlying tissues and muscles than skin elsewhere on the body.  Thi
Read more

Keratosis Pilaris - Or, Why My Kid Looks Like a Plucked Chicken

-
Image
The skin is the body's largest organ. The condition of the skin is, in many ways, a window into our internal health. Therefore, it is only natural that people become immediately concerned by rashes. We often neglect our own elevated blood pressure, achey joints, or other ailments. The onset of a new rash, on the other hand, can quickly lead to a call to the doctor. Interestingly, there is one rash I see in my practice which rarely causes alarm among patients and parents. In fact, it is common for a parent to state, "Oh, that? His sister has that too. In fact, so do I!" Keratosis Pilaris is a common, heritable disorder which results in small bumps consisting of accumulated skin cells and keratin at the sites of hair follicles. It is especially common in people who have a history of allergies. Although it can be mildly itchy, the rash generally does not cause discomfort. Commonly described as "gooseflesh", keratosis pilaris can be a concern cosmetically, lea
Read more

Why Drug Allergies Matter (Or Why Penicillin Allergy is Responsible for My Son's Lopsided Neck)

-
Image
My 6 year son old just got over a rite of passage - strep throat and scarlet fever. Unfortunately, before we could even celebrate his recovery, I noticed a swelling on the left side of his neck. It was red and tender, and it was GROWING. The pediatrician in me worried, "Damn. Lymphadenitis (infected lymph node)". No sooner had we finished one course of antibiotics than we were onto another, and the side effects were bad enough to keep him out of school for another three days. Why did my munchkin suffer so? My answer: Drug allergy. Group A streptococcal bacteria (the cause of strep throat and scarlet fever) is remarkably sensitive to penicillin. Penicillin is the first choice treatment for strep throat, and has been proven to reduce the risk of developing rheumatic fever, a post-infectious complication which can result in chronic heart disease. Problem is, my son is allergic to antibiotics in the penicillin family. At 11 months of age (8 days into his second ever co
Read more