Ark Autoinjectors
Both parents and schools have been calling for many years for autoinjectors to be freely available on school premises. But it is only since October 2017 that the Human Medicines Act has allowed schools to buy adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) devices without a prescription – ‘for emergency use in children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working’.
Working with Allergy UK, Ark Solutions has now put together affordable emergency treatment kits for schools to buy, including two pens, a wall-mounted storage box and comprehensive instructions on using, storing and replacing the pens. The anaphylaxis kits cost £195 + VAT; similar kits for asthma emergencies costs £58.40 + VAT.
For more information about the kits or to order one go to the Ark website.
Natalie joins the Ambulance service
Many of you will know Natalie and Callum. Natalie runs the Intolerant Gourmand blog and is super active in the allergy world – and Callum, her eight year old son, boasts no less than 13 severe food allergies. (To read about Callum and his first scary days at school, see a series of articles that Natalie wrote for us on the FoodsMatter site.)
As Nat explained in a Facebook post a couple of weeks ago, with the arrival of COVID, much of her work disappeared. Before she got involved with allergy she had worked in the NHS and had always planned to go back. Now seemed to be the moment.
She knows how life-saving an ambulance crew can be in a case of severe anaphylaxis but also how often crews may really not fully understand allergy. So she decided to dive in at the deep end, train for the ambulance service and spread the message from within.
She has now finished her training, passed all her exams and is now taking live calls. Congratulations, Nat – and good luck with spreading the word!
The Little Kent Cook Book
And finally a shout out for little food related project which has nothing to do with allergy but is raising money for an excellent cause, the Marjorie McClure School for children with special needs.
The book has been compiled by Kent-based food consultant & enthusiastic home cook, Kay Coombs, who developed every recipe from scratch using a lot of local products. She also took all the food photos herself at home – even after coming off her bike and breaking her collarbone!
With 24 unique recipes inspired by 8 classic Kent products, this little cookbook celebrates the fabulous food & drink of Kent – and every penny that it raises will go to the charity – an excellent remote stocking present.
The book costs £7 + £2.50 P&P from the Chislehurst Society site.
The latest addition….