Empowered Toddler Series Can Save More than 3,000,000 Lives of Children Across the Globe

Foods kill children. Empowered Toddler books can help to save them.

(PRWEB) January 16, 2006 – 4 Alexander Publications introduces the launch of “Peter Can’t Eat Peanuts,” a new book designed to empower the lives of over 3,000,000 true food-allergic children across the globe, in particular those with peanut allergies.

Peanut allergies are responsible for nearly 100 deaths and 15,000 visits to emergency rooms in America, approximately half of the deaths and emergency room visits caused by all food allergies each year, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN).

I am eager to see how many lives ‘Peter’ can touch, and eventually save

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, 4 out of 5 deaths due to food allergies occur in schools.

Approximately 125 people die each year in the United States due to food-induced anaphylaxis. And the numbers are rising.

Fatal food allergies are not exclusive to the United States:

• In Australia, a 13-year old boy died from ingesting peanut butter on a dare at camp;

• In Canada, there were 6 deaths due to food anaphylaxis in 1997 and 8 deaths in 1998 (Statistics Canada). The numbers have risen drastically over the past 5 years. Most recently, a young girl died from kissing her boyfriend, who had eaten a peanut product prior to kissing her;

• In France, there were 107 reported cases of serious anaphylactic reactions due to food allergy in 2002, including two fatalities.

• In the United Kingdom: 5 fatal reactions recorded each year are due to food (Clin Exp Allergy 2000 Aug;30(8);1144-50).

“’Peter Can’t Eat Peanuts’ is based on psycho-educational principles of language development, social-emotional growth, and cognitive awareness in children,” according to O’Reilly.

Parents of food allergic children have historically had little resource to aid in their communication with their allergic children, to help them understand the severity of their condition without frightening them,” says O’Reilly. “Information is generally shocking and inappropriate for children.”

Empowered Toddler utilizes a different strategy altogether. With “Peter Can’t Eat Peanuts.” Parents will find a non-threatening story for toddlers, to help them recognize symptoms, understand anaphylaxis, and cope with the daily modifications they must make to enjoy life as do their non-disabled counterparts.

4 Alexander Publications will donate 10% of the proceeds from the sale of “Peter Can’t Eat Peanuts” to FAAN, to help raise money for research aimed at educating the public about food allergies in general.

Future publications include “Ethan Can’t Have Eggs,” “Whilton Can’t Have Wheat,” “Shelley Can’t Have Shellfish,” and “Millie Can’t Have Milk.”

“I am eager to see how many lives ‘Peter’ can touch, and eventually save,” says O’Reilly.

Contact Information
Nadine O’Reilly, M.A.
4 Alexander Publications
http://www.access4allergickids.com

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