Why AllerMates Loves The Wiggles!
You may know Anthony Field as the Blue Wiggle from the world famous kids’ entertainment group, The Wiggles, but at AllerMates, Anthony is just another parent on a mission to protect his food allergic kid. I was excited to have the opportunity to meet with Anthony and the rest of The Wiggles when they were in New York and to learn about our common backgrounds as parents to kids with food allergies.
We partnered with Anthony and the rest of The Wiggles to design this limited edition multi-charm bracelet for kids with food allergies! Buy one of these multi-charm bracelets, and get a FREE medical alert charm of your choice using the code WIGGLES at checkout. This bracelet is perfect for kids with multiple food allergies or health concerns, and since it has a stamp of approval from The Wiggles, kids will love wearing it, too!
We also had the opportunity to work with Anthony and the rest of The Wiggles on this video where they discuss some simple ways for kids with food allergies to stay safe. You may notice a few familiar faces from the AllerMates gang pop up, too!
We’re so happy that such a well-known entertainment group like The Wiggles is spreading the word about kids with food allergies. Unfortunately, Anthony knows all too well about the dangers that kids with food allergies face. At the age of two, his son experienced anaphylactic shock, and Anthony has been focused on educating parents about being “allergy prepared” ever since. Take a look at this interview he did with Anaphylaxis 101:
When was your son, Antonio, diagnosed with severe food allergies?
I was away on tour when Antonio had his first anaphylactic reaction. When Antonio was about 2, I had a call from my wife Miki to say Antonio had a reaction to a peanut butter sandwich. It was a bit of a shock considering he had been eating them for around 12 months without any problem. It was a very frightening experience for our family.
What actually happened to Antonio when he had his reaction?
When he had his reaction, Antonio had breathing difficulties, he developed a skin rash, his lips swelled and he was quite listless. We now know that these are all tell-tale signs of anaphylaxis. We knew it was serious so an ambulance was called to take him to hospital.
What are the main triggers for food allergies?
Anybody can develop a food allergy and any food can trigger an allergic reaction. The most common triggers for food allergies are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy which cause 90 percent of allergic reactions.
What should you do if you think you have allergies or are at risk of anaphylaxis?
It is best to speak to your doctor about your allergy risk. They will be able to provide advice on diagnosis and management. There are also organizations, like Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, who can provide lots of information about allergies. It helps you to feel calmer once you have an understanding of the allergy and its causes.
xo
Iris
Iris Shamus Wife, mother to three awesome kids and founder/CEO of AllerMates. Based in New York, Iris and her team create helpful content, answer emails, ship their products and obsess every day about keeping kids safe.