How to be mindful of other people’s allergies
Posted: 29th June 2022 | Posted by Costa
How to be mindful of other people’s allergies
Recently, we talked about what bosses and managers can do for their employees with allergies. But, in reality, it’s something everyone should think about. Though not everyone is so considerate. In one recent UK news story, a 14-year-old girl suffered a life-threatening allergic reaction on a flight because a fellow passenger wouldn’t stop eating peanuts.
This happened 30,000 feet in the air even after the person in question was asked not to eat their snack. Thankfully, the girl pulled through. But it shouldn’t happen in the first place. It’s something we have to take seriously. So if you’ve ever wondered if there’s more you could be doing, here are some considerations you should be making around people with allergies.
Food allergies
Let’s start with the news story: food allergies. It can only take a few particles in the air to set someone off. So the lesson here is to listen to people when they tell you something could be potentially harmful.
Beyond that, it’s going to be harder to be considerate if you don’t know someone has allergies. So why not ask? Whether it’s a coworker, family member, or friend, it can’t hurt to know. Especially if you’re cooking for them. If you’re having guests over for food, ask them ahead of time what to avoid.
If they have something they can’t eat, respect that. There’s no amount of cutting it down or hiding it in a sauce that will stop it from causing a reaction.
Read more about food allergies:
Smells and scents
It’s possible for people to be allergic to certain beauty and cleaning products. It might make you smell nice, but people can react to just to smell of something like perfume.
What can you do? As with food allergies, ask people or listen to them if they tell you about their condition. You might run into this at the office if a coworker suddenly starts reacting to your new shampoo. It can be difficult to avoid as it’s usually a specific chemical in the product – of which there are usually 100s. But promise to work with them to eliminate the cause.
You might also find this in your family. For example, a child might react to the fabric softener you use. In that case, stop using it immediately and switch to something fragrance-free or designed specifically for allergies.
Read more about these allergies:
Smoking and asthma
Smoking and asthma are a dangerous risk. The smoke damages and irritates your lungs and airways. It can cause these airways to swell, become narrower, and fill with sticky mucus. This isn’t too far from what happens with asthma, so you’re increasing the risk of causing your own asthma attack.
And this can just as easily happen with secondhand smoke. In fact, some would say secondhand smoke is worse because it contains the harmful chemicals the smoker doesn’t inhale. So if you know someone has asthma, smoking around them is the last thing you should do.
With smoking-specific areas in many places, it might not be something you come across. But if you are a smoker, potentially consider not doing it in a public place where others might walk by, such as on the street. You never know if your smoke will irritate someone just a few steps behind you.
Read more about asthma:
Living with an allergy is difficult enough without other people making it harder. So spare a thought for the people in your life – and those just around you – who might be struggling. A minor inconvenience to you might mean the world to them.
If you ever have any concerns about your own wellbeing and potential allergies, get in touch with one of our specialists today. You can register as a new patient or simply call us on 02031 433 449.