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The mission of AllergyHome is to provide free and practical teaching tools for anyone who cares for children with food allergies

Boston, MA (PRWEB) February 29, 2012

Two pediatric allergists have created a free, new and practical way to teach those who care for children with food allergies. The mission of AllergyHome.org is to bring food allergy awareness and education to the entire community (including schools and camps). Teaching modules and other tools have been created to train those who care for children with food allergies.

John Lee, MD, co-founder of AllergyHome.org, notes that “in the past the responsibility to teach others how to care for a child with a food allergy has fallen primarily on the parents.” A major reason Michael Pistiner MD, MMSc, co-founder, cites for creating this site was to “help shoulder some of this burden by providing tools to train all those who interact with these children.”

Food allergies are a growing national concern. An estimated 8 percent of children in the United States has a food allergy which translates to approximately 2 children per classroom. These food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions (anaphylaxis). To protect the health and well being of children with food allergies, the principles of food allergy prevention and emergency preparedness must be carried out at all times and in all settings. Online training modules and resources can offer a convenient and practical way to teach these principles to the community.

A few of the training modules and resources AllergyHome offers include:

• Test your food allergy knowledge (an interactive quiz that addresses common myths and increases awareness)
• Food Allergy Babysitter & Drop-Off Form (created in collaboration with Kids with Food Allergies; an overview of essential skills and information to care for a child with food allergies)
• Camp staff training: Management of food allergies
• How to use an EpiPen
• What is a food allergy? (a short awareness module designed to teach children without food allergies what it means to live with a food allergy)

Current modules are freely accessible online and have been created in collaboration with relevant organizations and governmental agencies.    

AllergyHome’s target audiences include parents, babysitters, relatives, parents of children without allergies, and children with and without allergies. AllergyHome has a section devoted to increasing food allergy awareness in schools (Schools.AllergyHome.org) which includes modules created to train school nurses, all staff, families and students. Additionally, Camps.AllergyHome.org includes modules created to train all camp staff as well as campers. One school nurse describes the AllergyHome school module to be “thorough and communicated in a way that it will be a great teaching and educating tool for our staff!”

About AllergyHome

AllergyHome.org is a free online food allergy training resource that delivers necessary food allergy education in a practical way. The mission of AllergyHome.org is to bring food allergy awareness and education to the entire community by providing training tools to teach those who care for children with food allergies. Co-founders, Drs. John Lee and Michael Pistiner, are two board certified pediatric allergists who trained and currently practice in the Boston area.

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