Clearwater, FL, June 9, 2017 (Newswire.com) - There are around 15 million people in this country who suffer from food allergies, one of whom is Brian Dahlberg. A day in the life of any of these 15 million people is a daily struggle in which they must avoid their triggers, because an allergic reaction can be life threatening. In fact, every three minutes, somebody in this country is admitted to the emergency room as a result of anaphylaxis caused by a food allergy.
Dahlberg has therefore decided to launch a new awareness campaign about food allergens in Clearwater, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Saint Petersburg, and Tampa. Mainly, he wants to make sure that people, whether they have a food allergy or not, understand that even a tiny exposure to an allergen can lead to a lethal reaction. Specifically, he has started the "One Trace Is All It Takes" campaign. On the one hand, he aims to help those who suffer from allergies gain a proper understanding of the severity of their condition. On the other hand, he wants those who do not suffer from allergies to build a greater empathy and respect for those who do.
Dahlberg wants the launch of his awareness campaign to coincide with Food Allergy Awareness Week, which was first started in 1998 and has now been running for 20 years. However, the Food Allergy Awareness Week only lasts for a week each year. Dahlberg's campaign, by contrast, aims to be permanent. His focus during the overlap week, however, will be on providing advice and information on how serious the consequences of an allergic reaction can be, what the most common signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction are, and how others should respond if someone does suffer an allergic reaction. These are also the three main goals of the Food Allergy Awareness Week.
Dahlberg says: "These three key elements will be the driving factor behind my awareness campaign throughout. In addition, I also aim to listen specifically to those who have allergies and to those who look after them, in order to make sure that information is made available that they feel is lacking. For instance, I hope to be able to offer free training in auto-injector administration in Clearwater and Hillsborough County.
He adds: "I was really surprised to see how many people are somewhat skeptical about food allergies. They just don't believe that even breathing a small trace of the allergen in can cause such a significant reaction. Others then offer well-meant but completely useless advice about the idea that there is an increase in the number of people with allergies because of genetic modification of crops and other pollutants. Whether that is true or not is irrelevant - it won't stop someone from having an allergy."
Experts agree that this lack of understanding, and the skepticism, place undue stress on those who suffer from allergies. On the one hand, it makes them feel as if they should somehow just get over things. On the other hand, they find it even more difficult to avoid their allergens because they don't want to draw attention to them. "As if the life of an allergy sufferer isn't hard enough already," adds Brian Dahlberg.
Brian is preparing a number of specific campaigns already in Pinellas County, Saint Petersburg, and Tampa. He is working together with corporations, community centers, medical practices, hospitals, and schools in order to raise awareness. He is doing this through social posts, digital displays, posters, public speeches, and more. He has also launched a website to further raise awareness among the public, and to encourage public discussion and debate.
Fifteen million people in this country are diagnosed as having a food allergy, and many more have not received a diagnosis yet. Not all of these people will suffer from anaphylaxis if they come into contact with the allergens, but there is always the risk. Furthermore, 1 in every 13 American children are affected by allergies, which means every single classroom in the country is affected as well.
Brian Dahlberg has brought together a team of experts from various channels and industries. These include health brand marketers, patients, technological experts, physicians, and more from Clearwater and Saint Petersburg. Their goal is for them to look into every aspect of allergies and hopefully come up with solutions. Dahlberg's personal background is in marketing, but he has always had a focus on the greater social good. He has worked as a motivational speaker, helping people to change their ingrained attitudes that stem from social and cultural norms, rather than from true knowledge and information. He hopes that the food allergen campaign will be a great success and make a true difference in others.
Source: Brian Dahlberg
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