Baseball/Peanuts

Funny you should post this today. My boys are going to a game tonight. They have been several times and never had a problem. There is a thread on the site somewhere about baseball games that shares a lot of positive as well as some negative experiences. I'll let you know how it goes tonight!
You can find those other baseball posts by clicking on the search button and searching for baseball.

[This message has been edited by PattyR (edited July 21, 2000).]

We went to a Padre game last weekend. The people around us had peanuts but did not throw their shells on the floor. My husband was given the tickets from work so we had great seats! Front row right across from first base. I felt good not being completely surrounded by peanut eating people. When it was time to leave I was astounded at the amount of peanut shells on the ground. I couldn't smell anything and it didn't seem to bother mt daughter at all. I did really check our shoes ( someone suggested that on another thread). We had a great time. We were kinda nervous but we have always loved baseball so we didn't want to miss it. If the people around us weren't so "tidy" I think I would have freaked out though.

I have partial season tickets to Yankee games and people eat peanuts all around me. I haven't had a problem so far, but I watch the people around me like a hawk, making sure that I'm not coming in contact with the shells. I think if you are reasonably aware of your surroundings you should be fine, unless you are one of those people who react to the smell of peanuts.

My boys had a great time at the game tonight with no problems with the peanuts. There were people in the next row eating peanuts but no problems for my PA son at all. I hope your experience is as good!

We are going to a Chicago White Sox game next week. We have attended several local games and I have not been nervous as it is a small ballpark, we can exit quickly, and I know where the hospitals are. I was nervous going to Comiskey Stadium, then I read a post from someone here that they got seats close to the medic people and checked in with them ahead of time. We were not able to choose our seats, but I did talk to the ballpark medic station, found out where they are located, found out they have an ambulance at the ready and have epinepherine on board, they are 5 minutes from 2 hospitals, and that if my sons have a reaction, we can flag down any usher or their roving medic people who carry walkie-talkies and will get us help. We will also check in with the medic station when we arrive and let them know where we are seated. I will still be nervous the whole game, but feeling a lot better having an emergency plan mapped out.

Hi

Does anyone else remember that post from last year about the girl who went to a baseball game and her parents asked people around her to not eat peanuts, a drunk guy threw peanuts at her and she had an anaphylactic reaction? I think she went through 2 epipens at the park and then went to the hospital. I also think it was a Pittsburgh Pirates game - I will try to find the thread and post it here.

deb
I just found the link - it was actually 3 epipens and more ......
[url="http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/Forum1/HTML/000166.html"]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/Forum1/HTML/000166.html[/url]

[This message has been edited by DebO (edited July 22, 2000).]

Hi, we took in yesterday's Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays game yesterday with much trepidation on my part but it worked out ok for Troy. He sat in the middle between my mother and my husband. I sat beside my mother. The people beside me and the people 2 seats away from my husband both ate bags of peanuts but Troy was not at all bothered. I was very worried for awhile because I could certainly smell the peanuts and I worried about aerosolized reactions but I waited and watched Troy and he was ok, oblivious to my worry! I think we were lucky that the people in the rows directly above him were not eating peanuts and therefore none were dropping on him. We have had to leave hockey games when people above him have had nuts. Some of you may wonder why we took the chance and went to this game? We don't go often but we want Troy to participate as much as possible in a wide variety of activities and we evaluated the risk as we went along and were prepared to leave if necessary. Take care.

We have gone to a couple of baseball games. They have been fine except for the last time where the wind was blowing like crazy. Well, all the peanut shells and skins of the peanuts were blowing around like crazy, too. We literally covered my son up with his jacket and sunglasses and literally told him not to breathe (kidding). Anyway, we left immediately because I imagine if a peanut shell or skin flies into his mouth or his eye or gets on his food and he eats it, that would be really like ingesting a peanut. Well, we will not be going to anymore ball games unless we know it's not windy (which is very unpredictible). My son was fine, but I think I was so protective that he didn't have a chance to have a problem. Don't know if I'm being too overprotective, but I do know he's safe. And that's what really matters.

I appreciate everyone responding to my concern. I am glad to hear alot of positive experiences since we tend to view alot of negative but VERY helpful information on this website. I keep second guessing my decision on planning his birthday party at an event where it COULD be harmful to him but taking into consideration there are alot fewer people who attend the Columbus Clippers minor league than that of Cleveland Indians. Thanks DebO for the other thread on peanuts & baseball. I have gathered alot of info from everyone. We plan on 9 kids and their parents to attend so I have reserved 3 rows so that the people above and below us are people from our party and have requested not to have peanuts. The event isn't until August 20th so I will keep you posted. Stay safe.

Chris...I just saw on the news last night that the city of Boston and the Red Sox have finalized the plans for the new Fenway Park (pending legislative approval). Any word on whether the new park includes a nut free section?

you know, my daughter is anaphylactic to peanuts, i don't think she is smell sensitive or touch but am not sure but to have a nut free section in a ball park seems kind of wishful thinking to me. I remember the commotion about having alcohol free sections when they first came out and there are LOTS of people who do not drink. if it does happen, great, that means that the general population is finally taking this seriously but since there is such a small percent of PA people, I would tend to doubt it. Sort of like having latex free areas, etc.

I go to Yankee games once or twice a month. I have noticed that Yankee Stadium had wheelchair accessicle handicapped areas, which are very secluded. The views from there are great, and since there are only about 6 people who sit in that section, I would think it would be easier to avoid the peanuts. I'm sure other ballparks have similar seating. If you're really nervous I would check in to that. Better safe than sorry, in my opinion. I sit in the regular seats when I go, but I don't eat there in case peanut skins or shells were to blow into my food. Also, I don't drink anything that doesn't have a lid or a cap on it.

When we go to Mets games, I bring wipes to wipe down the seat before my PA sits down. I think open air stadiums probably pose less of a problem than domed stadiums - better air circulation. Enjoy the party!

Went to the Red Sox Game last night at Fenway Park in Boston. (Left my PA toddler at home with Grandma) I have never seen so many peanuts in my life - huge mounds of them on the ground. The vendor guy throws the bag of peanuts to the patron and each time he did, my heart skipped a beat. Cracker Jacks were another staple that were everywhere. Even the plastic cups that the beer comes in had peanuts drawn all over them. I washed our sneakers in hot water when I got home for fear of tracking something around the house. I must say it was an incredible game (Sox won in the 11th inning) but I was very sad thinking that I'm not sure my son will ever be able to go.

We've taken our pa son to baseball games. It always worries me but one time in particular he did break out in a single little hive on his hand. I think what happened was he was holding a toy car and dropped it under his seat. He picked it up and when I later looked under his seat, there were many shells and I guess it was enough to make a little reaction. We haven't been this year.

Thanks for the heads-up at Fenway, Heather.

My best friend is dying to take me and my son to a Red Sox game. He said exactly what you did. The vendors chuck bags of peanuts over people's heads instead of handing them to the customers. How then do the vendors get the money? Is money flying over our heads as well? I wouldn't mind that. LOL.

The money gets handed down from person to person to person.

The birthday party at the baseball game was great. I appreciate everyones comments & suggestions. I have been to several Cleveland Indians games & would never take my son there as there are too many peanuts & too big of an event. However the game we attended for his 5th birthday was a minor league team, Columbus Clippers. The event planner for the party was very understanding about the peanut allergy. He confirmed that after each game peanut shells are swept up. We took a blanket to cover the seats my son was sitting, he wore long pants, we had 3 rows reserved for 16 people & sat him in the 2nd row so no one above him or below would have peanuts. At every game there is a paramedic & found out where the paramedic was sitting in case of emergency.

When I mailed the birthday invitations, I made a seperate colorful flyer requesting no peanuts/peanut products be purchased or consumed at the game due to his severe allergy. Everyone was great about it. In fact, one of his friends went to the game with us as his parents could not attend. His little friend saw someone he knew at the game 8 rows above us and was getting ready to throw some peanuts to him. My son's little friend stands up & waves his hand yelling no, no, no. So it is good to keep everyone educated about it!

The only negative thing about it was that when my son saw peanut shells on the ground he got a little upset & worried. I acted calm for him & told him we were being very careful around them & not to touch them.

Even though you take alot of precautions & worry it is well worth it to have my son enjoy life and not with a label. He is educated about his allergy & we do talk openly about how severe it is.

Thanks again everyone! Stay safe