Ahead of Allergy Awareness Week, which begins on 25th April, Edward has met with Helen Blythe, founder of the Benedict Blythe Foundation, in Parliament to discuss how to make schools safer for those with severe allergies, and at risk of fatal allergic reactions.
Helen's son, Benedict, died three years ago aged 5 from anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, while he was at school. Helen set up the Foundation in his memory to raise awareness of severe allergic reactions in children, and to campaign for improvements in schools to make them safer for every child. 1 in 5 fatal allergic reactions in children occur in school, and the event in Parliament further highlighted what further, simple, steps could be taken to makes schools safer, as well as providing a workshop on allergy response training.
Edward said: "It was a pleasure to meet with Helen and to hear directly from her about the Foundation and its work, the real issues around responding to allergic reactions in schools, and the simple steps she is advocating to improve the ability of schools and those who work in them to respond to a severe allergic reaction in a child. She highlighted just how easy auto-injector pens (AAIs) are to use, and how they can save lives when someone suffers severe anaphylaxis. Helen highlighted the urgent need for better awareness in schools of severe allergic reactions, and the need for better access to AAI pens in schools, and the training to enable people to use them with confidence to help save lives."
