You’re a parent of a young child with a severe peanut allergy. You are planning a vacation that makes it necessary to get on an airplane. The thought of being on an enclosed, peanut-ridden vehicle that circulates recycled air makes you nearly go into anaphylactic shock. What can you do to keep your child safe?
First of all, you are not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from a peanut allergy. Although there is no miracle solution to the stress and anxiety you might feel, there are precautions you can take that will likely make your trip safe.
To begin, make phone calls to all airlines with whom you may fly. Explain the situation to them, and pay close attention to how they react. If they put up any resistance to accommodating your specific needs, do not fly with them.
Once you have chosen an airline, try to book the first flight out in the morning. This gives you the best chance of having a freshly-cleaned airplane, as most airlines clean the entire plane after the last flight of the day.
Before going to the airport, make sure to have all necessary EpiPens packed, along with a note from your child’s healthcare provider, explaining the need for them. In addition to the EpiPens, bring plenty of safe snacks for your family to eat. The airline might promise not to serve peanuts, but they probably won’t read labels as carefully as you.
When you arrive at your gate, make sure to confirm that the plane will be peanut free with every available airline employee. This includes the gate agent and every flight attendant. Ask the attendants to make an announcement, so that other passengers can to their best to keep peanut-containing products put away.
You will usually be allowed to board the plane before everyone else. Wipe down every seat, armrest, table, even the carpets in the row where your child will be sitting. I even suggest wiping down the seats directly behind, in front of, and across from his seat. This will help eliminate potential peanut dust that may be lingering from previous flights.
Some parents of young children with extremely severe peanut allergies buy cheap bed sheets and put them over their plane seats. Masks are also available to prevent your child from inhaling peanut dust. I can’t imagine my little one keeping a mask on her face, but it might be worth a try.
If you are still worried, you might take some comfort in this quote from The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN): “…severe, or anaphylactic, reactions caused by peanuts occurred on flights from ingestion of peanut-containing meals or snacks. Other reactions from exposure via skin contact or inhalation were generally less severe.” It goes on to explain that, “These noningestion reactions generally occurred when at least 25 other passengers were served individual packages or bags of peanuts; products that had little peanut content did not cause such reactions.”
So, if your airline is not serving peanuts, you packed necessary medicine and food, you have carefully wiped down your seats, and passengers are alerted to the situation, chances are you will not have a major problem. It’s no guarantee, but if you have to fly, it ups your odds of having a problem-free flight.