Most essential safety net when traveling with #food allergies is to carry individually
packed allergy free snacks and the epinephrine auto injectors. “Must do” when traveling with food allergies.Self carry Epipen inside accessories that are attached to your body. Allergic kids,
teens and adults must carry their life saving Epipen's on them at all times. Back
packs, bags and purses can be easily misplaced, lost, or left behind inside baggage
compartments.
Top Ten Travel Tips :
- Research the Airline: Before booking your flight, read the airline’s allergy policy. Many airlines post their policy on their website.
- Check the Airline’s Snack Offerings: If you have peanut allergies, try to choose an airline that does not serve complimentary peanut/tree nut snacks. Call them at least 72 hours in advance and ask if will serve a non-peanut/tree nut snack, such as pretzels, upon advance request. This will greatly decrease the risk of exposure to peanuts/tree nuts during the flight. Keep in mind that no airline will ever give you a guaranteed peanut- or tree nut-free flight.
- Notify the Airline of Your Food Allergy: When booking your flight, notify the reservation agent of your food allergy, and ask if your information can be forwarded to other personnel such as the gate agent, catering/food service, and flight crew. Call again before the flight to remind the airlines about your food allergy also call travel agency booking agent if you didn’t do the reservation directly with the airline.
- Understand Policies for Carrying Medication on Board the Aircraft: For security purposes, keep your epinephrine/adrenaline in its original packaging and a copy of your emergency plan with your medication. It is also recommended that you have your epinephrine prescription, and a travel plan or letter from your doctor confirming your food allergy and indicating you need to carry your medication and food/drinks with you.
- Alert ID and access to Epipen: Wearing a medical alert identification indicating your allergies and carrying the Epinephrine ON you is a must.
- Inspect Your Seating Area: Ask the gate agent if you may pre-board. Explain that you need to inspect and clean your seating area.
- Airplane Sitting Area after boarding airplane: Wipe down the seat to help prevent contact reactions or inadvertent cross contamination like skin contact with food particles or spills. Why? As you might know, eating food off a contaminated surface area could lead to accidental ingestion of allergens through cross-contact. Because some airlines are cleaned at the end of each day, it is advised to choose early morning flights, where the chance of seats containing food residues and/or crumbs or food is minimized.
- Pack a snack and stay away from inflight food: It is safer not to eat airline food. Instead, only eat food that you packed. Just in case, prior to the travel day, contact the airline and find out if there are any restrictions as to which types of food you are allowed to bring on board, which may vary according to your destination.
- Keep Your Epinephrine With You: Once again, always keep your epinephrine/adrenaline with you and do not store it in the overhead bin. Don’t be ashamed of letting others you’re traveling with know about your allergies so they know what to do in case of an emergency on the flight and where your auto-injector is.
- Wear a medical mask: I couldn’t find any third party research or medical organization recommending to wear a medical mask, but in numerous blogs, tweets and from personal experience this is an easy extra step to take.
