Kids' Corner

Kids Corner

Kids with food allergy can stand up and be counted. Did you know you are not alone?

There are approximately 315,000 children in Australia with food allergies, many of whom have a severe food allergy and are at risk of anaphylaxis.

If we all stood together, we would fill three of the Sydney Olympic Park ANZ Stadiums. During the 2000 Olympic Games, this stadium seated 110,000 people, the largest in Olympic history! Imagine if all food allergic children in Australia stood together?

Allergies are serious, but being at risk shouldn’t stop us from enjoying life and staying safe.

Everybody is different and everybody’s allergy is different. Some people can be allergic to just one food and others to 3 or 4 foods. Some people might get a rash or very itchy while others (especially people with asthma and a food allergy) may have trouble breathing or feel really dizzy and then pass out or collapse.

Now you know you’re not alone, you CAN learn how to manage your allergy. Here are a few tips to help you take care of yourself:

Awareness - Know what you are allergic to. Carry your emergency medicine with you everywhere you go. No adrenaline (epinephrine) injector No Eat!

Avoidance - Read labels, ask questions, and if unsure, do not eat. Just because a food looks safe doesn’t mean it is. Always check first. When others offer to share their food with you, ask questions first.

Action - Allergic reactions do happen to even the most careful people. That’s OK because accidents do happen. Make sure you know what to do if you start to feel unwell. Get Mum and Dad to help you put together a plan.

Share these activities with your family, friends and school.

Jeremy's Childrens Book Series