DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m feeling pissed off and anxious after a latest expertise involving my 8-year-old daughter.
She has a extreme peanut allergy. Final weekend, I allowed her to spend the night time at her pal’s home for the primary time.
I made positive to tell the opposite youngster’s dad and mom forward of time about her allergy and even despatched her EpiPen along with her, simply in case. They assured me they understood and would watch out.
Nonetheless, when my daughter got here residence the following day, she instructed me that she was given one thing that contained peanut butter. She ended up having an allergic response and had to make use of her EpiPen whereas at their home.
The dad and mom by no means contacted me concerning the incident. If my daughter hadn’t instructed me, I might not have identified that she had a doubtlessly life-threatening response whereas below their care.
I’m making an attempt to resolve the right way to method the opposite dad and mom about what occurred. How would you counsel I deal with this dialog?
— Life-Threatening
DEAR LIFE-THREATENING: Every time somebody wants to make use of an EpiPen, the following step can generally be a go to to the hospital to get examined. The individual having the response have to be monitored by somebody acquainted with their situation to verify the signs are absolutely resolved and don’t return.
It is usually advisable that individuals with life-threatening allergic reactions carry two EpiPens in case a second dose is required.
You must contact the dad and mom instantly and ask what occurred. Inform them that your daughter knowledgeable you of her allergic response and the necessity to use the EpiPen. Ask why they didn’t contact you instantly and have you ever come get your daughter.
There isn’t a excuse for his or her conduct. I think about they had been frightened and embarrassed that this occurred on their watch. Since she gave the impression to be OK after utilizing the drugs, they might have thought they had been within the clear. That’s no excuse!
Try to be upset, and you shouldn’t enable your daughter to spend the night time there once more.
This doesn’t imply that she will be able to by no means have a sleepover once more. As an alternative, make the steps clear with another dad and mom as to the right way to care on your daughter to keep away from an allergic response and what to do if one happens.
DEAR HARRIETTE: In your latest reply to “Guilty,” the one who acquired a pal sick by being round her when contagious, you missed a possibility to spotlight the significance and politeness of carrying a masks when sick and the intelligence of carrying one to forestall your self from getting sick, each day by day and earlier than a giant occasion that you just don’t wish to miss.
Masks have change into foolishly political regardless of having been used like this in Asia for many years earlier than COVID-19 started.
— Get Good
DEAR GET SMART: Nice suggestion! I reside in New York Metropolis, and I bear in mind seeing individuals on the subway and within the streets carrying masks years earlier than the pandemic.
I considered it once we all started to put on masks. Some individuals had checked out these mask-wearers with disdain and curiosity, however lots of the individuals carrying the masks had been from densely populated areas, and it was a security precaution lengthy earlier than COVID-19 unfold. You might be proper that it might probably actually be a lifesaver now.
One other optimistic aspect impact is that carrying a masks throughout allergy season dramatically cuts again on allergy signs in some sufferers.
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founding father of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to assist individuals entry and activate their desires. You possibly can ship inquiries to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
