2013 Allergy-Free Checklist

As the holidays draw to a close and kids return to school from winter break at the start of the new year, it's a great time to review and renew your allergy plans and preparations.

Take a few minutes to look over this checklist and be sure you're ready for a wonderful, allergy-free 2013!

Do a mid-year check-in with your child's school or daycare.

Is your allergy action plan up-to-date and still on file? Ask if there are any policy changes being implemented that might affect your child's routine. It also might be time to add a new picture if your child has grown and changed since summer.

Set reminders for epinephrine expiration

Get out your 2013 calendar or pop into your scheduling software and don't just mark the expiry dates for your Epinephrine auto-injectors, remind yourself a month in advance in case you need a new prescription.

Set aside some quality time with your allergic child to ask how things are going.

How do they feel about their allergies? Are things okay at school, and has anyone tried to bully or threaten them? An open and frank conversation can reveal hidden fears or problems they might not have mentioned.

It's a great time to review procedures with family and caregivers too.

Remind them how and when to use emergency medication, which ingredients to avoid, and the symptoms to watch out for.

Take a fresh inventory of your prevention supplies and habits.

Over time, even the best plans can begin to fray.

Is your child still wearing his or her allergy alert jewelry daily, and does it need to be updated?
Are any forbidden foods in the house still clearly marked with alert stickers?
Is your supply of restaurant cards running low?
Is everyone still diligent about always carrying emergency medication or has it occasionally been left behind? It is so critical to have medicine on hand, this one is a big deal! If your child has forgotten the Epi kit before, help them make a resolution to never leave without it this year!

With a little preparation now, you can help keep your child reaction-free in 2013, so take a moment to review all the things you've been doing to help keep them safe. We wish you the best in an allergen-free New Year!