Recently I received a sample of AllerMates wristbands, a product designed to make sure that children with allergies had some protection. As my youngest son has Celiac Disease, an intolerance to gluten, as well as speech delay, I found this to be an interesting idea. Here’s some more info on AllerMates.
Food allergies among children jumped 18 percent from 1997 to 2007. One out of every 25 children, or 5.9 million, has a food allergy, according to a study published last year in “Pediatrics,” the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Of those children, nearly 40 percent have a history of severe reactions. About 15 percent of all allergic reactions occurred at school. In 2010 researchers found that 8% of children under age 18 in the United States have at least one food allergy.
A mother of a child with multiple food allergies was frustrated by the lack of allergy-related kid-friendly products so she took action and created AllerMates®, a new line of bright, fun, whimsical character-driven wristbands, dog tags, and lunch boxes that her son would happily embrace.
Parents of children with allergies can now enjoy the safety and security of knowing their young ones are better protected against unwanted allergens when they wear or use AllerMates products away from home in places like camp, summer travel, school, daycare, parties, and sleep-overs. AllerMates are now available just in time for summer travel and camp preparations.
AllerMates products are based on 14 fun, original characters that represent the most common allergies: peanut, nut, gluten/wheat, milk, egg, shellfish, penicillin, insect sting, latex, pollen, fish, soy, sesame and cat. The characters and product line was created by Iris Shamus, Founder and CEO of AllerMates, in part to help kids feel positive about their allergies.
“No matter how many forms I signed or how many times I spoke to the teacher the inevitable happened” states Iris Shamus, AllerMates Founder. “My son and another allergic classmate were offered food they weren’t supposed to have. It didn’t go well. So, I set out to create something more personalized so that a camp counselor, caregiver or teacher would always be aware of his allergies,” continues Shamus. “AllerMates wristbands gave me a sense of comfort and security I couldn’t have without them.
Even with posters like nut-free zone or dairy-free zone around a classroom, AllerMates is designed to present a more personalized, visual representation of specific allergies. When a child raises his or hand or carries an AllerMates lunch bag there is that distinctive visually appealing character as a constant reminder to be on alert.
AllerMates products are hypo-allergenic, nickel and latex free and have passed rigorous safety standards and testing. The wristbands are adjustable and fit most children. The AllerMates Gang characters are:
- P. Nutty (Peanut Allergy)
- Nutso (Nut Allergy)
- Professor Wheatley (Gluten / Wheat Allergy)
- Pint (Milk Allergy)
- Eggie (Egg Allergy)
- Crabby (Shellfish Allergy)
- Super-Cillin (Penicillin Allergy)
- Bizzy (Insect Sting Allergy)
- Dr. Strangeglove (Latex Allergy)
- Drift (Pollen Allergy)
- Detective Fin (Fish Allergy)
- Soy Cool (Soy Allergy)
- Teeni Tahini (Sesame Allergy)
- Nine (Cat Allergy)
The AllerMates website (www.allermates.com) offers both parents and children easy to read and understand tips, facts and general information about allergies as well as lots of fun games and activities based on the line of AllerMates characters. The website also has a fully functional social community allowing its members free and easy interaction and sharing of the latest blogs, news, videos and information within the allergy community. You can meet the AllerMates Gang there and get the back story on each character as well as fun tips (did you know a peanut isn’t actually a nut … it’s a legume).
AllerMates products can be purchased at www.allermates.com, at Amazon.com and at independent retailers throughout the U.S. as well as stores in Canada, United Kingdom, Portugal and South America. Look for AllerMates products at national retailers this summer.
MORE INFO
AllerMates on Facebook
AllerMates on Twitter
The product(s) featured in this review was sent to me without my knowledge. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that any personal opinions reflected in this post are my own and have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.