Nuts on board - a serious issue!

[Moody]

That was your first mistake: Common Sense - it's not PC!

Or common ...... but it's the same with Common Decency.

 

[Musongman]

Quite frankly, he should consider himself fortunate to be barred from Ryanair, nuts or no nuts!!

 

[Dougo]

I think the problem lies with the word "allergy" and people's interpretation of what an "allergy" is.

I suspect that most people think that having an "allergy" to something could result in a rash or swelling but not necessarily death.

For example, I have an allergy to the furry underside of Grevillea leaves - the affected area turns red but it does not mean I have an Anaphylaxis. However, I also have an "allergy" to some drugs and if administered, those drugs could cause death ie, I have an Anaphylaxis to those drugs.

I had a hard time getting the Medic Alert people to put "Anaphylaxis" on my bracelet rather than "allergy". Their argument was that not everyone would know what Anaphylaxis meant. True ... but the difference IMO between life and death for Anaphylactics is that if there is a medical emergency, medical staff know immediately what Anaphylaxis ... as do many non-medical people.

I think that organisations are wrong to assume that everyone interprets that an "allergy" to nuts could cause death.

 

[Archphoto]

I worked with a client who was allergic to shellfish; carried her epi-pen with her whenever she was on a shoot.

One time, we were having dinner in Bali and she wasn't sure if *any* of the dishes would be safe (Asia-freestyle cooking ), so elected to order a plain, garden salad, just to be safe. All going well until she got towards the bottom, and found 3 lovely prawns under a rather large lettuce leaf. She took it in her stride, but knew that there will always be that one time when no matter how hard you try, Murphy's Law will catch up with you - hence her always being prepared for it.

Asians, don't appear to suffer from nut allergies (and many don't know what it even is). My producer is Thai and well aware of these types of "farang" ailments, so whenever we take a client to dinner, she always asks if they have any food allergies. Easier for her to explain to wait staff at restaurants (and the chef if necessary) when she knows ahead of time.

 

[EmilyHoward]

I think if someone is allergic to something it is their problem and that they should take the necessary precautions.

EH

 

[drron]

Yes my granddaughter is only 50% Chinese but peanut allergy is known in Asian populations though a lower incidence than the west.
Is it genetic?
Well it doesn't matter what a child's ethnicity is those born in Asia have less peanut allergy than those born in the West.
Simiarly where western diets have become more widespread the same thing is found.In Singapore peanut allergy is now the commonest cause of anaphylaxis in 1-5 year olds-it replaces bird's nest.
Food allergy in Asia: how does it compare?

 

[megmcw]

The parents have to take some blame as they should have been carrying the necessary medication for an anaphalactic reaction. If I child is this allergic to a substance just through airconditioning, then why subject the child to plane travel. How does she get on in an airconditioned hotel - you cannot stop all diners eating food containing nuts.
My main concern is not that the man didn't obey what he was asked, but that the parents who knew their child and her reaction to nuts did not take adequate precautions. If I had any child with such a severe allergy I would never ever be without the epipen.
How does she get on at school, kindy etc.,

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I find it useful to substitute 'severe nut allergy' with 'disability' and ask whether, in that context, the actions of the airline, passengers and commentators are appropriate.

would we say a disabled person should 'stay at home'? or that a disabled person is 'unreasonable' asking for additional assistance when flying?

if the answer is 'no' (which is the correct answer), why so harsh on the person with a nut allergy? should they not be afforded the same assistances?

 

[prozac]

I suspect MT that a person with a disability would travel prepared, contacting the airline direct or via travel agent, to alert the their condition in advance of their flight. People I know or have met who have a disability tend to be prepared when they leave home. Could this passenger have worn a hydrophobic/ hydrophilic mask? Breathe Healthy | Dust, Flu, and Allergy Masks No mention in the article the parents had taken the precaution of having the child wear a mask or had any other reasonable precaution.

edit: There are forums online in which parents discuss some of the precautions they take with their nut allergic children when flying...clothing covering exposed skin, masks, taking handy wipes to pre-clean surfaces like the arm rest, seat-back tray, seat-belt etc. Many mention that the aircraft carpets are often covered in dropped nuts and sometimes there are nuts left on the seats.

 

[chunkz]

There are forums online in which parents discuss some of the precautions they take with their nut allergic children when flying...clothing covering exposed skin, masks, taking handy wipes to pre-clean surfaces like the arm rest, seat-back tray, seat-belt etc. Many mention that the aircraft carpets are often covered in dropped nuts and sometimes there are nuts left on the seats.

Definitely agree with coming prepared to mitigate the risks.

By knowing the severity of her condition and not coming prepared, the mother has basically chosen to leave her daughter's life in the hands of a couple of hundred random people - many of which have wouldn't have the slightest clue about nut allergies. It's a big big risk that she took by doing so.

Honestly, how many people would risk their loved one's life like that?

And it's not a case of discrimination by saying that people "can't go out and should be confined to their home because they have allergies".... it's a simple of case knowing/understanding your own circumstances and one of "self preservation".

 

[prozac]

Interesting Delta have a policy for this ... Disabled Travel | Travel Needs | Delta Air Lines
The poster who provided the link leading to this mentioned that she was comfortable with surrounding seats being restricted nut products in addition to her taking her own precautions.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I used to work with someone who was refused a ticket (AUS to NZ) unless he had a doctor's certificate, medication and equipment to inject himself in case of anaphylactic shock in flight. His susceptibility to attack was low, but he was honest and sensible enough to declare it when buying the ticket.

Yes well that can be a mistake in itself. Risks are there to be managed

 

[prozac]

I have moderated my view somewhat after researching nutter's forums (my term not theirs) comparing ideas on how best to travel. There are alternatives to serving nuts in the air and I would be just as happy nibbling an alternative snack with my drink.

This does not alter my view that people travelling with allergies need to fly prepared, taking their own precautions and alerting an airline well ahead of a flight (one week has been discussed) if they have special needs. Parents who just turn up for a flight with an allergic child with no protective clothing, hyper-allergenic mask etc, expecting the world to bend over backwards to accommodate them should be charged with neglect.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have moderated my view somewhat after researching nutter's forums (my term not theirs) comparing ideas on how best to travel. There are alternatives to serving nuts in the air and I would be just as happy nibbling an alternative snack with my drink.

This does not alter my view that people travelling with allergies need to fly prepared, taking their own precautions and alerting an airline well ahead of a flight (one week has been discussed) if they have special needs. Parents who just turn up for a flight with an allergic child with no protective clothing, hyper-allergenic mask etc, expecting the world to bend over backwards to accommodate them should be charged with neglect.

and do you apply the same to a disabled person turning up at the airport?

I can't see any difference asking an airline to have a buffer zone whether it is 30 days or 30 minutes before a flight.

and instructions from the cabin crew, which might well be a lawful instruction in this case, should be followed at any time. No advance notice required.

asking passengers er snot to eat nuts, and asking people to be intelligent enough and civil enough to comply, is not 'bending over backwards'. I guess others may have different views.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I guess others may have different views.

You don't say! I would never have guessed it! :mrgreen:

 

[RAM]

I find it useful to substitute 'severe nut allergy' with 'disability' and ask whether, in that context, the actions of the airline, passengers and commentators are appropriate.

would we say a disabled person should 'stay at home'? or that a disabled person is 'unreasonable' asking for additional assistance when flying?

if the answer is 'no' (which is the correct answer), why so harsh on the person with a nut allergy? should they not be afforded the same assistances?

Isn't the point that airlines DO require advance notice of someone who has a disability that would mean they require assistance in the event of an emergency?

With some they require that the disabled travels with a helper to ensure their safety.

In this "Nuts" case (I have waited this long but cannot any longer - Nuts on Board - wasn't it referring to the girl's parents and relations not to the food?) the parents appeared incapable of administering the epi-pen. If the daughter was as allergic as implied then this cannot have been the first case of her needing it administered.

 

[Robert K]

survival of the fittest.

 

[DrA]

I've got a violent allergic reaction to dairy. I don't travel without an epipen. As anybody who has ever had a doctor diagnose such a serious allergy knows, if you're ever potentially going to be in a position where you're exposed to your allergen, you take your medication with you. Always. You're supposed to just carry it with you full-stop to be honest.

That being said, I've had a couple of incidents in the air. I have VGML specified on my profile, and always check, and re-check it before flying. Again once on board. But that doesn't stop catering company screw ups. Sometimes it's obvious when I get given a tub of full cream yogurt or a chocolate bar, other times, it's not. Only ever had one serious incident though.

I know it's a risk to eat any food that I've not prepared myself, but at the same time, that's not always a practical option when travelling.

 

[DrA]

Isn't the point that airlines DO require advance notice of someone who has a disability that would mean they require assistance in the event of an emergency?

With some they require that the disabled travels with a helper to ensure their safety.

In this "Nuts" case (I have waited this long but cannot any longer - Nuts on Board - wasn't it referring to the girl's parents and relations not to the food?) the parents appeared incapable of administering the epi-pen. If the daughter was as allergic as implied then this cannot have been the first case of her needing it administered.

I concede, this has me curious. When I was diagnosed with a dairy allergy, the doctors kept my parents there until everyone was absolutely comfortable in knowing how to use an epipen. And that was 30-something years ago. I find it hard to believe that if this child had such a serious and potentially life threatening allergy, that her parents were incapable of using one. Her doctors would have made sure of it.

 

[Austman]

Data point. MHi regional flight today. Peanuts galore handed out, several times. I noted that there was a lot of residue around buttons and controls on the armrests.


Anyone with a severe peanut allergy would have to take care on MH.