HomeGet involved – August 2020

Get involved – August 2020

August 12, 2020

Register for our upcoming webinar for youth on the physical and emotional sides of severe allergic reactions. Check out our “encore presentation series” with this month’s focus on back-to-school. Attend an upcoming small group webinar on managing food allergy and anaphylaxis. Plus, learn about our support groups and connect with one virtually.


August 19th: Webinar for youth on the physical and emotional sides of severe allergic reactions

Dr. Julia Upton and Kyle Dine
Kyle Dine and Dr. Julia Upton

A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can bring on different physical symptoms and emotions. Join us for an insightful and interactive webinar on this topic aimed at youth/young adults with food allergy.

Webinar details:

  • Who is presenting: Dr. Julia Upton, Canadian allergist, and a panel of four youth with food allergy who are currently attending high school or post-secondary school. Kyle Dine, food allergy educator and leader of our youth programs, will be moderating. This will be an interactive webinar where the majority of the time will be spent answering your questions.
  • What you’ll learn: What happens to your body during an allergic reaction, the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and the emergency treatment. You’ll also hear how the youth panel managed their allergic reactions and overcame barriers in using epinephrine auto-injectors.
  • When is the webinar: Wednesday, August 19 from 12 pm-1 pm EDT
  • Who should attend: This is a must-attend session for youth with food allergy. Parents, caregivers, and others who are interested in this topic are also welcome to attend.

Register now, and please share with others who may benefit from the session.


Back-to-school encore presentation series

Introducing our “encore presentation series” where we feature past online events and webinars. This month, you can watch our back-to-school series to help you and your kids prepare for the new school year. Although this school year will be different due to the pandemic, many of the tips and recommendations from our previous sessions still apply.

You’ll learn tips for managing food allergy confidently, navigating in different school environments, communicating your allergies with others, the role and importance of using epinephrine as the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, and more.

Check out the videos for youth and adults below and share with others who may benefit!

For youth

For elementary/middle school students:

Topic: Back-to-school with food allergies
Learn how to speak up about your food allergy, how to deal with unwanted teasing or bullying, how to stay safe at lunch/snack time, spreading allergy awareness at school, and the importance of carrying your auto-injector with you at all times.

Topic: Food allergies and epinephrine
Learn how epinephrine treats anaphylaxis, not to be afraid of using it, and stories on reactions and using epinephrine. Plus, learn how to practice by using an auto-injector training device, tips on remembering to carry your auto-injector, and ways to carry and take care of it.

For high school students:

Topic: Managing food allergy in high school
Learn what to expect, tips and strategies for managing in a high school environment, and how to prepare for the transition. Hear from a panel of youth with food allergy on first-hand experiences, learn how to educate others and build a support system, and discover relevant resources to prepare.

For college/university students:

Topic: Managing food allergies in college/university
Learn tips and best practices on how to navigate post-secondary school, and live safely on campus with food allergy. Hear from a panel that shares their experiences, insight, and strategies on how youth can identify food allergy risks on campus and how to prepare accordingly.

For parents

Topic: Back-to-school top tips for managing food allergy at school
Learn the top tips for managing food allergy at school and discover the many school resources we have available to support you and your child.

For anyone interested in food allergy

Topic: Managing anxiety and bullying with Samara Carroll
Learn effective and healthy strategies on how to manage food allergy and learn how to deal with bullying if it happens.

Topic: The emotional and social challenges experienced by families living with food allergy
Learn about the potential impact living with food allergy has on children, siblings, and caregivers and ways to address the range of emotions experienced by families.


Small group webinar: Managing food allergy and anaphylaxis

Parent mentors (left to right) Sarah, Elaine and Jen

Do you have questions on managing food allergy and anaphylaxis? Get your questions answered while connecting with others who can relate, right from your own home! Attend one of our free 90-minute interactive webinars led by a trained parent mentor. You’ll learn fundamental information about daily management and living confidently with food allergy and anaphylaxis.

These sessions are geared towards parents of children who have been recently diagnosed with a food allergy; however, anyone looking to learn more about food allergy is welcome to attend.

Following the session, you’ll be able to answer:

  • What are food allergy and anaphylaxis
  • How to avoid a reaction
  • What are the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis
  • What to do in an emergency

We have extended the number of participants that can attend these sessions. Make sure to register now to save your spot, as spaces fill up quickly! Our next sessions are Tuesday, August 18th and Saturday, September 5th.

If you have already attended one of these webinars, please help us spread the word so others can also benefit. Please share!


Learn about our support groups across Canada and connect with one virtually!

Support groups provide a warm and caring environment for you to get help in dealing with the day-to-day stress of being at risk of anaphylaxis or having a child who is at risk. Plus, it’s a great way to keep updated on any new developments in the food allergy community.

Visit our support group page to connect with one of our other support groups and learn about their leaders. Most of our support groups have social media pages where you can connect virtually with them. Find one near you and connect online! If there isn’t one in your community, we’ll help you get one started.


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