Over 32 million Americans have food allergies, and the numbers have been growing over the last few years. Each year, we celebrate Food Allergy Awareness Week. This week, the allergy community has a unique opportunity to raise awareness of their food allergies and anaphylaxis. There are many ways to raise awareness of food allergies, both as individuals and as a community.
Individual Awareness
As an individual, there are many ways to help the allergy community. For people who are open about their food allergies, simply talking to co-workers, schoolmates, and friends can raise awareness. A person with allergies can ask their workplace or school to give a short speech or seminar on this topic and give the workspace guidelines.
Guidelines for the workspace might include not bringing the allergen into the workplace, having a safe snack around (fruit), always having an allergy-safe option at company outings, and providing an introductory course on how to give an EpiPen.
Personal blogs and posts on social media are also a great way to raise awareness of allergies. These messages are posted to your friends and family and help them understand the severity of having allergies and how they can help others like you.
Community awareness
"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley
Communities have the power to make a change and to help people in need. Communities all over the world should make an effort to do something for Food Allergy Awareness Week. Communities can have events where they donate the money to help with allergy research.
The main focus of this week should be the people who suffer from food allergies. This week makes them feel supported and loved by those around them.