“Extreme Adventures” appeared at the top of the page, followed by a list of activities on the tour. I held my breath as I read the descriptions, to the effect of: “Travel through river canyons at 100 kilometers per hour in a jet boat!” “Bring your courage along as we bungee jump over Queenstown!” “Fall out of a plane from 14,000 feet over magnificent scenery.”

I stopped there. “Are you crazy?” I e-mailed back. “I hope these activities cost extra, and you can’t afford them.”

“Everything is included except for skydiving,” she replied, inserting a smiley emoticon.

Not only did I think she was nuts for considering jumping off a mountaintop attached to a rubber band or parachuting from a plane, but also for sharing this information with me. Having grown up watching me deal with her severe milk allergy, she knew I was wired to worry.

When dining out, I’d interrupt while she was ordering, urging the waiter to check the dish’s ingredients before she had a chance to ask herself. Once the meal arrived, I’d lean over her plate to inspect the food for any trace of butter or cheese.

But that anxiety was nothing compared to what I felt after Arielle, at age 16, had an anaphylactic reaction requiring three doses of epinephrine and hours of monitoring in the emergency room.

From that day on, whenever she was headed out to meet friends, I’d stop her at the door and ask where she’d be eating and if she had her medications with her.

She’d glare back at me. “You can’t keep me in a bubble for the rest of my life.”

***

She was right. Ultimately, I wanted what she wanted – for her to enjoy the same activities and freedoms as any teen. I worked on backing off, and reminded myself that she had always been careful: checking labels, alerting servers and managers to her allergy and passing up a food when she couldn’t be certain whether it contained dairy.

With planning and proper precautions, she spent two weeks without incident in Provence through a high school exchange program. (Full disclosure: my husband and I followed her to France. We stayed approximately 30 miles from her home base and never saw her, but felt reassured that we were only a car ride away in case of an emergency.)

Next page: The trip of a lifetime

NHL & NBA owner Ted Leonsis

From hanging out with movie stars to schmoozing with international royalty, Ted Leonsis enjoys a pretty glamorous lifestyle. Still, days spent on planes, film sets, galas and sports arenas present a special challenge for the Internet executive turned sport-team owner and filmmaker. That’s because Leonsis lives with life-threatening allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, not to mention environmental allergies and asthma.

Leonsis, who’s best known for owning the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards, spoke to Allergic Living’s managing editor Kim Shiffman and revealed a lot about balancing an on-the-go lifestyle with his severe allergies.

Exactly what are you allergic to?

I’m allergic to every nut imaginable, plus cats and dogs, dust, mold, all the pollens, trees and grass. I’ve got a litany.

When were you diagnosed?

When I was a baby, my mom knew something was wrong with me because of how I would react to some foods. It was hit or miss, and she just thought, “Boy, guess he didn’t like that.”

Then one day I went shopping with her at Christmas, and they were roasting nuts in the store. The steam was going up in the air, and as we were walking down the aisle, I went into anaphylactic shock. An ambulance came and they took me to hospital. My mother didn’t know what had happened, but the doctor asked a lot of questions, sent me for skin tests and that’s when they realized how much allergy I had.

What’s the worst allergic reaction you’ve had?

One I remember that was really, really bad happened when I was 9 or 10. I went to a sleepover at a friend’s summerhouse, and he had cats. It activated a really bad asthma attack; I couldn’t breathe and got a bad headache. They took me to the hospital.

But more recently, in 2006, I was producing a movie – Woody Harrelson was in it and a bunch of other movie stars. We were on a studio lot in L.A. and it was late at night, maybe 10:30 p.m. Because it had been such a successful shoot, the crew ordered chicken-salad sandwiches from some famous L.A. restaurant. This is what they always did to celebrate.

The sandwiches came, and I took one. After a couple of bites, I noticed something crunchy. It was cashews. Immediately I started to get hives on my hands, then my ears, then my tongue. And I thought, “Here it comes.”

Next page: “They’re going to find me dead in this bathroom!”

Air Canada unveiled its first formal food allergy policy on December 2. As reported in Allergic Living magazine, it provides for passengers with peanut or nut allergies to request a small buffer zone to lessen the risk of allergen exposure.

Flight attendants will ask other passengers sitting in the buffer zone to avoid eating nut or peanut products and passengers seated in this zone won’t be offered any snacks from the food cart that contain nut products.

For economy class, a buffer zone will include the row of seats the allergic person is sitting in, as well as the row in front and behind. It does not include those sitting across the aisle. In business class, the buffer zone be simply the bank of seats the person is sitting in.

It’s important to note that arrangements for a buffer zone on an Air Canada flight must be made in advance. The airline’s policy requires those who wish this accommodation to:

• Get a “Fitness for Travel” medical form completed by a physician to confirm the nut or peanut allergy.
• Book at least 48 hours in advance with Air Canada Reservations, advising the agent that you have a “Fitness for Travel” form ready to fax in.

(The airline’s new policy says it “will also make a reasonable effort to accommodate” if a buffer zone request is made in under 48 hours, but Allergic Living strongly recommends making the request farther in advance.)

In a recent conference call with two senior Air Canada representatives, the airline made it clear that the implementation of buffer zones and a formal policy is in response to directives from the Canadian Transportation Agency.

In an October decision on how to accommodate nut- and peanut-allergic passengers, the CTA asked the airline to either agree to the buffer zone concept or “submit a proposal for a reasonable alternative that is equally responsive to the needs of persons disabled by their allergy to peanuts or nuts”.

Air Canada opted for the buffer zone. But in its new policy, which can be read in its entirety here, Air Canada makes clear that on international flights, even within a 3-row buffer zone, it can’t be certain that meals served are nut- or peanut-free, which is something to be aware of.

Air Canada lawyer Louise-Hélène Sénécal spelled out in a letter to the CTA that while it was possible to identify and not sell pre-packaged and labeled snacks containing nuts in the buffer zone, that wasn’t the case for meals on international flights, nor for meals in executive class on all flights.

“The largest worldwide flight caterers, namely Gate Gourmet and LSG Skychef have confirmed that no such guarantee can be made since their own assembly lines as well as those of their main suppliers (e.g. for the casseroles) also source peanut and nut content,” she wrote.

Next page: Will It Fly?

This is a unique and progressive step – a majority of airlines only carry a vial of epinephrine and a syringe to use in an emergency involving an allergic reaction.

Since anaphylaxis is a condition that can escalate in minutes to include serious respiratory or blood-pressure symptoms, the availability of an emergency auto-injector, especially in an environment at 35,000 feet, is a move is being warmly received by the allergy community.

“We commend WestJet and King Pharmaceuticals [the makers of EpiPen] for working together on this initiative and trying to provide for greater safety for those passengers flying with allergies,” said Beatrice Povolo, spokesperson for Anaphylaxis Canada.

While allergic individuals are ALWAYS advised to carry their own auto-injectors onboard, a backup in the emergency medical kit is wise because:

- epinephrine shots can wear off and secondary reactions (often as serious) occur in up to 25 per cent of reactions.
- an individual could forget their auto-injectors and begin having a reaction to a food in the air.
- in the event that a shot is not correctly administered, there is a backup.
- many children or adults develop allergies. Anecdotal reports show that first-time reactions in the air do happen.

Next: read the full media release

“Let’s ski the Peanut Trail again,” exclaimed my daughter Taya, as we rode up the chairlift at Silver Star resort in British Columbia. I found the name of her favorite run ironic – since she is allergic to peanuts as well as tree nuts, sesame, kiwi and soy.

The Peanut Trail is a narrow run through the trees with lots of jumps, but fortunately no real peanuts on it. This is exactly the kind of run that 8-year-old Taya and her sister Kieryn, 10, love to ski.

My wife Keely prefers the wide, groomed, cruising runs which Silver Star has lots of, but she was not getting to ski them much since the kids kept insisting on that Peanut Trail.

Ski vacations are great fun for families, and I recommend them as well-suited to people with allergies or gluten intolerance. Condos and chalets with full kitchens are common at most resorts, so you can make your own safe meals.

There are ski resorts within driving distance of most major cities in Canada and the northern U.S. Many resorts now have other activities for après ski, and to keep non-skiers entertained as well.

Our top priority when booking a ski vacation is to always find a place that has ski-in and ski-out access to accommodations. This is a huge advantage with allergies because you can go back to your condo for lunch and snacks and not have to eat at a restaurant. It also means you can start late or stop early and not have to worry about driving or finding a place to meet.

Check the location out carefully though, some places that advertise ski-in, ski-out may be a long walk for little children carrying skis (and even longer for adults trying to carry small children and skis).

Another thing to consider is finding a skiing area that suits your group. Ideally that means a good mix of runs for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers.  Also consider whether non-skiing activities like a swimming pool or shopping are important to your group. A large resort may have a greater variety of runs and après ski activities to appeal to the whole family.

We tend to prefer mid-sized resorts over the largest resorts because the condos are usually closer to the runs and less expensive. After skiing all day, we’re usually content to relax in our condo and don’t use a lot of après ski activities like spa services or fancy restaurants.

When signing up your allergic child into ski lessons, make sure that you clearly communicate the allergies to the instructor and give the child an epinephrine auto-injector to wear inside his or her ski clothes (so it does not freeze). Find out if they stop for a snack during the lesson, and provide your own snack if necessary. If it’s an all-day program, we bring our daughter with allergies back to the condo for lunch.

Another option is to pack a lunch for your child, but be sure to give clear directions to the instructor about how to manage your child’s allergies.

Check where the closest hospital is to the ski hill before you go. All resorts have on-site first aid, but some are more isolated and a long drive from a major city. We try to ensure that we are within a one-hour drive of a hospital.

Many ski resorts are also good destinations for a vacation outside of ski season. It’s common to find them open year-round with golfing, swimming, hiking and biking in the off-season, when prices are lower. Because condos are popular at ski resorts, it’s easy to find a place with a kitchen.

Skiing is one of the few sports that you can do as a family. Unlike soccer or hockey, you actually ski with your children instead of just watching them. In fact, my kids and I often go with my 86-year-old father – he still loves to ski. There is nothing like spending quality time skiing with your kids on a sunny spring day. But watch out, my kids are already skiing faster than their mother and grandfather. It won’t be long before I can’t keep up either.

See Also:

• Our Ski Vacations-with Allergies
• Ski Vacation Tips
• Food Tips for Safe Travel

Share your allergy stories in the Comments section.

The attack quickly escalated to the level that would normally land Silver in the emergency room, and she pushed the button for the flight attendant. “As she got to me, she looked at the man beside me and said, ‘Sir, you can’t have your cat on your lap like that,’” she recounts.

Silver had no idea she’d been seated next to a cat owner and his pet. “He had snuck the cat out of the carrier and had it on his lap under his jacket. And I said, ‘I can’t sit here – I can’t breathe.’”

Silver was immediately moved away from the cat, but it was too late: by then the asthma attack was in full swing, and her inhalers were barely keeping her any relief as she suffered through the flight. “When we arrived, my dad took one look at me and said, ‘What happened?’ He could see I couldn’t breathe.”

Silver’s travel tale could become far more common. As of July, Canada’s largest airline similarly began allowing owners to fly with cats or small dogs. In a policy reversal, Air Canada dropped a  2½-year ban on animals in the cabin – a move that has outraged pet-allergic travelers and asthma and allergy organizations, alarmed medical practitioners and spurred the Canadian Lung Association to launch a write-in campaign to bring the issue to the federal government.

Cash-strapped Air Canada says the decision to drop the ban on pets came after customers complained they were unable to travel with their small pets, as they could on WestJet and other carriers. “We looked for the best way of balancing the needs of all of our customers,” says Air Canada spokesperson Angela Mah. “By doing this, we are aligning our policies with the vast majority of international airlines as well as our major domestic competitor.”

At least three million Canadians suffer from asthma and allergies, and with some of the most potentially dangerous allergens being allowed on board, travel options for hundreds of thousands of passengers are becoming more limited.

Mah stresses that pets are limited to either two or four per flight (depending on the size of the aircraft), and that animals must be kept in their pet carriers under the seats. If an allergy sufferer ends up sitting near a pet, the airline will make “all reasonable efforts” to move one or the other to a different seat or flight.

Pet Hair on Clothes

Even when the pets ban was in effect, Mah adds, the airline could not guarantee a “dander-free cabin”, because many passengers have pet hair on their clothes, and because the airline must allow service animals for passengers with disabilities. Most planes are equipped with high-efficiency HEPA filters, and she says the cabin air quality “compares favourably” to that in other indoor environments.

Dr. Donald Stark is not convinced. The Vancouver allergist lobbied to have animals removed from airline cabins so that people with pet allergies – roughly 10 per cent of the population – could breathe more easily when they travel. Having a pet in the cabin is far worse than having a pet owner with a little hair on the clothes, he says, because the levels of allergen being released into the air are much higher.

Stark adds that air filters can only do so much – especially if they’re not changed frequently – and air moving through the cabin can affect allergic flyers before it even gets to the filter.

While the air quality in some cabins may be similar to other indoor environments, there is one key difference: on the ground, an allergic person can walk out the door.

Ask for what you need. If you have a life-threatening allergy, tell the check-in clerk so he or she can put it on your file. Also double check that if you asked for a room with a kitchen, that’s what you’re getting. If you’re not sure where the closest medical facilities are, ask for that information as well.

Wipe down surfaces. Don’t assume that the cleaning staff have done a stellar job. Make sure to wipe down counters, tables, phones, TV converters, faucets, etc. to avoid accidental contact with traces of the food you’re allergic to.

Call ahead. If you eat at the hotel restaurant or order room service, call ahead and tell them about your dietary restrictions. Many hotels are accustomed to dealing with allergic travelers, and can accommodate your needs. If they can’t, don’t risk it – hit the local market and whip up a stellar, and safe, meal.

Talk to the concierge. If you stay at a hotel that has a concierge, tell him or her about your allergies and ask what resources are available in the hotel and surrounding area. It may be that there’s an allergy-friendly restaurant, bakery or shop just around the corner.

Pack your medications. Always remember to bring your allergy and asthma medications with you – and if you’re flying, don’t pack them in your checked baggage. Keep them with you at all times.

Pack food. If you’re not sure what foods will be available on the road or in the air, bring some of your favourite safe foods and beverages along for the ride. Always bring plenty of non-perishable snacks that don’t require any preparation. And if you’re taking a car trip, pack a cooler and keep it in the trunk. Travel cooler bags come in many shapes and sizes, and are a cheap and simple way to make your food portable.

Pack cooking supplies. If you’re staying in a hotel or even with friends, it never hurts to travel with a basic cooking set. Lightweight, compact sets are available at any major retailer that sells camping supplies. While you’re there, pick up a lightweight cutting board, and a small cutlery and dish set, and you’ll be all set to go.

Pack wipes. Hand wipes can be wonderfully convenient when you’re traveling. Use them to wipe your hands and other surfaces.

Talk to the staff. If you’re flying, mention your allergies to all airline employees that you deal with – in particular the employees at the check-in counter, at the gate, and on the plane. That way it’s less likely there will be any crossed wires.

On the Plane

Pre-board. If you have a serious allergy, you can take advantage of pre-boarding, and use the extra couple of minutes to wipe down the table tray and the arms of your or your child’s seat, and to cover the seat with a sheet, blanket, or seat cover.

Ask if they can make an announcement. Some airlines’ official policy is that they will not make an announcement asking other passengers to refrain from eating foods that could cause you trouble. But sometimes the crews at the gate and on the flight are more flexible, do don’t hesitate to ask.

See Chart: Comparing Airlines

Wash your hands. Before you eat, make sure to wash your hands to remove any allergen that you may have picked up in the airport or on the plane.

Only eat your own food. If you’re thousands of metres up in the sky, you don’t want to experiment with new foods. Bring foods that you know are safe and stick with them. And even if you bring foods that have been safe for you in the past, make sure to re-read the ingredients in case they have changed.

Talk to the flight attendants. If there is anything that causes you concern, or if you experience any reaction in-flight, tell the flight attendant. They are trained to deal with all kinds of medical emergencies and are generally happy to help.

In her experience, airlines had stopped serving nuts years ago – pretzels were the norm now – so she didn’t think to contact Air Canada in advance.

But 10 minutes after takeoff, Humphreys’ tropical vacation became an allergy nightmare: Thousands of feet in the air and locked in the thin metal tube with nothing but hours of ocean ahead, the flight attendants began handing out packages of cashews – by far Humphreys’ worst allergy.

The 43-year-old knew she had to speak up, so she tapped one of the flight attendants on the elbow and explained that she was extremely concerned about the possibility of a serious reaction.

“The flight attendant was nasty. She said, ‘Well, we just can’t take care of everybody,’” recounts Humphreys. The crew continued to dole out the nuts. “So I had to bide my time and hope that nothing happened.”

Luckily, nothing did. But Humphreys and her husband spent much of their vacation trying to figure out how to get Paige home safely. Air Canada told them, as they do all allergic travelers, that it would be “unfair to other passengers” to withhold nuts, and that it was the couple’s responsibility to “bring the proper medication and to have the proper protection.”

Problem was, the “proper protection” included not being surrounded by people eating cashews. Humphreys began looking into other options. “But the other airlines serve nuts, too,” she says. So I thought, ‘I’m no better there – and I would be alone, too.’”

When it comes to nerve-wracking and sometimes dangerous experiences of flying with food or environmental allergies, Humphreys is definitely not alone. In the past decade, allergies themselves have taken off: roughly one million Canadians and 11 million Americans now have food allergies, and approximately 23 million North Americans have asthma.

Still, airlines have not adapted to this new reality. Few have clearly defined policies and procedures in place for allergic passengers, and they continue to serve some of the most highly allergenic foods, including nuts, sesame, fish and shellfish. Some even still hand out peanuts, the most prevalent trigger of serious reactions.

But many allergy sufferers and parents of allergic kids think it’s high time airlines made the skies safer for the millions of travelers with allergies. Dozens have filed formal complaints with airline regulators such as the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Canadian Transportation Agency.

WestJet, however, remains cautious in what it tells passengers. “It should be noted that we cannot confirm all of our snacks are free of trace amounts of peanut or nut products,” a WestJet spokesperson told Allergic Living. While WestJet won’t serve any nuts or peanuts, other travellers are free to bring them on board.

Still, an optimistic Rousseau is asking people to contact the airline: “We need to encourage WestJet to keep the policy, and let them know the positive impact it has. And maybe other airlines will follow suit.” To provide feedback, write to Lorne MacKenzie, lmackenzie@westjet.com.

First published in Allergic Living magazine, Summer 2008
(c) Copyright AGW Publishing Inc.

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