Allergy New Zealand in the community

Last Friday our CEO, Penny Jorgensen, gave a presentation to a group of whanua support workers and Registered Nurses involved in the Mana Kidz programme.

Mana Kidz is a project with the National Hauora Coalition and Counties Manakau DHB to manage the Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme. As part of this they are establishing health clinics in schools in the CMDHB area which is being managed by registered nurses and whanau support workers.

Aside from educating them about allergies and risk management strategies, Allergy New Zealand donated 16 education kits on the day and will be donating more kits as Mana Kidz health clinics open in more schools in the south Auckland area.

However, these kits could not have been donated without funding from Auckland Airport’s '12 days of Christmas', which Allergy New Zealand is very grateful for.

The $120,000 was collected through the generosity of the travelling public, donating their unwanted currency into donation globes situated throughout the airport. Auckland Airport collects the money and donates it to charitable organisations on behalf of the travellers.

Allergy New Zealand was one of twelve chosen charities to receive $10,000. These funds went towards putting together 50 allergy education kits for low decile schools across Auckland.

The education kits are full of useful resources about allergies. Including books, cds, auto injector trainers and the Allergy & Anaphylaxis Guidelines for Early Childhood Services & Schools.

If you would like to purchase an education kit for your child or local school go to our shop online.
 

Penny talks group through the ASCIA e-training course for community

Group learns about anaphylaxis and receives action plans

Penny demonstrates how to use an Epipen to the group

Group learning how to use the Epipens

So far kits have gone to the following schools:

Primary School

Wiri Central

Rongomai

East Tamaki

Bairds Mainfreight

St Johns

Sir Edmund Hillary

Dawson Primary

Mayfield

Yendarra

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Piripono Te Kura Whakahou Ki

Chapel Downs

Wymondley

Flatbush

Intermediate

Fergussen

Kia Aroha

Sir Edmund Hillary

Have a great week,
Allergy New Zealand group

Free anaphylaxis e-training for the community (ASCIA)

As most families know, when your child has severe allergies it is difficult to keep them safe when you are not around.

It can be very daunting to leave your child’s life in the hands of others, whether it be the staff at school, friend’s parents or even other family members.

Yes, you may have told them about the allergies and how severe they are, but do they take it seriously and know what to do in case of a reaction? We have had some families tell us about the difficulties of getting even grandparents to understand.

All this can be very overwhelming for families as people are generally uneducated about allergies and how to treat them.

We also know that there are many people in the community who are willing to help, and just want to know what to do.

A new resource has just become available that might help. This is a FREE anaphylaxis e-training for first aid (community). It was created by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) to be undertaken by the broader community such as parents, friends, carers, patients, workplace or student colleagues and club members.

It is simple and easy to do if you have access to the internet. People are able to take part in the free course and gain a printable certificate of completion with their own name and mark.

This means that you can step aside and point those around your child towards the online course, which will help them understand allergies and how to take action in the case of a severe allergic reaction.

It will not only give you a piece of mind but it will give your family confidence to let your child go to play with friends, stay with extended family, or go on camps and sleepovers.

You or others can sign up for the course here by clicking on "anaphylaxis first aid" at bottom of page, to begin the course.

ASCIA also has online training for school staff and health professionals.

Give us feedback

Let us know how the course went and get a discussion going. Do you think this course is a good idea? Did you enjoy it? Was it difficult? If so what about it? Was it easier/harder than you expected? Who else would you like us to recommend this course to? Did it help your family? Do you feel better knowing others around you took this course?

Anaphylaxis 

 

Want more information about anaphylaxis? Visit our website here where you can find many helpful resources.