Normally in life I don't like to listen to gossip. When I hear what happened to so and so in such and such place, I usually turn my ears off. I just don't like "second hand" information. But since becoming the parent of a child with a peanut allergy, I make exceptions when it come to what has happened to others with a peanut allergy. I always listen, hoping I can learn something that will protect my little guy.
This week I began receiving physical therapy on my knee. On Friday morning I told my PT about Tyler's peanut allergy during our converstation. She told me about all of the children she knew that had the same problem. I was amazed she knew so many! Then she told me a story about her next door neighbors who have 2 PA children. (YIKES!!)
The family knew their son had a peanut allergy but did not think their daughter did. Doing what many families do this time of year where I live, they went to a Detroit Tigers baseball game. Since they knew the son was allergic to peanuts, they had him sit on Dad's lap. Their daughter had her own seat. No one was eating peanuts around them, thankfully. But during the game the daughter began breaking out in hives. Before they were able to get her out of the park, she began vomiting. They rushed her to the hospital. In the end, they found out she also had a peanut allergy.
What I found so interesting about this story was that no one was eating peanuts around them. The daughter must have ingested some residue from her chair. Many major league baseball parks are having special "peanut free" baseball games this summer. I even saw how one team is designating some sections "peanut free" on certain dates. I thought this was a wonderful idea and have considered writing to the Detroit Tiger to consider this, as well.
The problem, however, is not just the peanuts that are being consumed around PA kids. It is the microscopic residue that parents can't see. Unless the ball parks throughly clean every seat where a potential PA kid might sit, the "peanut free" games are not completely safe.
While this may not prevent me from ever allowing my son to attend a baseball game, it does make me think twice. If a PA kid does attend, bringing cleaning supplies might be the best way to make sure that a game truly is "peanut free."
Sound crazy? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely!
photo courtesy flickr
3 comments:
I find your posts wonderful! You write so well.
As for baseball games, they are a big no in our house. We went to a local game last year and the lady behind us was eating peanuts and kept brushing them off her pants onto the ground near my son.
I told my husband I was taking our son to the playground and we wouldn't be back. Then on the playground I realized that those kids probably were eating peanuts.
I have decided that baseball games just aren't worth it for us. When Alex is older he can decide for himself what to do but right now we can't take the chance.
I just emailed the Detroit Tigers to find out if they would be willing to have peanut-free zones or something like this. Then I googled "peanut allergy, baseball games" and your site came up! I too am in Detroit area and am a pastor's wife and have a PA kid!
Adrianne
HI!
I am the mother of a PA child in the Detroit area as well. I am actually currently searching sporting venue information on peanut free zones/games. I recently took my PA son to a Red Wings game at the Joe, and almost had an anxiety attack! I knew there would be "some" peanuts, but was not aware that the ONLY food item the vendors walking up and down the aisles selling, would be bags of peanuts. They were all around us. We made it through 1 period, then I took my son for a walk for the rest of the game while my husband and son stayed to enjoy it. (fortunately my PA son is only 5 and was restless and happy to go exploring).
Have you received a response from the Tigers or Comerica park? Have you recieved any other information from other venues?
This year we did attend a Pistons game. They sold almonds but I did not see Peanuts. They could have been around, but if so, were not a real hot commodity. We also attended an MSU basketball game at the Breslin center and though peanuts were sold there, they were not predominant.
Thank you for any information you may have!
April in South Lyon, MI
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