This being allergy awareness month, By George features an electronic motion now in Canada’s Parliament on the serious condition of anaphylaxis and safer airline allergy policies.
e-106 (Anaphylaxis) is sponsored by Dr. Hedy Fry, M.P. for Vancouver Centre and it is on-line on the Parliamentary website:
https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-106
This Petition to the Government of Canada reads:
Whereas:
On Wednesday, May 22, 2013, Members of Parliament voted unanimously in support of Anaphylaxis Motion M-230 proposed by M.P. Dean Allison “That in the opinion of the House, anaphylaxis is a serious concern for an increasing number of Canadians and the government should take the appropriate measures necessary to ensure these Canadians are able to maintain a high quality of life.”;
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening medical condition now affecting 2.5 million Canadians for which there is no treatment or cure;
Those with anaphylaxis are especially vulnerable while traveling on airlines at 35,000 feet in the air – far from emergency medical care; and
Improved Transportation Safeguards – relating to airline and public transportation policies that reduce risks for food allergic passengers is a primary goal of the Canadian Anaphylaxis Initiative’s 5-Point Action Policy as it relates to Anaphylaxis Motion M-230.
We, the undersigned, members of the Canadian Anaphylaxis Initiative and citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the above and , call upon the Government of Canada to enact a “Policy to Reduce the Risk for Anaphylactic Passengers” applicable to all forms of passenger transportation falling within its jurisdiction.
For clarification, the stated policy is a two-step approach to air safety for those with anaphylaxis or severe allergies. It puts a procedure in place that, when a passenger identifies him/herself as having a severe peanut or nut allergy, an airline would be required to:
- suspend the selling of peanuts/nuts/sesame snaps
- make an announcement about refraining from eating these products
- allow persons to carry epi-pens
- allow pre-boarding so that persons can wipe down seats
- require flight crew to be trained to administer an epi-pen in emergency situation
- add “allergy notification” to passenger information list
Please take 2 minutes and click onto the on-line form and sign this e-petition.
The e-petition is open for 120 days and closes for signature : July 20, 2016, at 8:44 a.m. (EDT). All persons 14 years of age and older can sign.
For more By George Journal articles on anaphylaxis, click into our archives.
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
