Travel with Food Allergies:
Three Core Principles
Make a Plan
(Prepare for the Adventure),
Follow the Plan
(Stay Safe by Following the Plan)
Plan for the Plan Not to Work
(Plan for the Unexpected)
I. Make a Plan
- Food Allergy Travel Check List
- Check Travel Insurance
(Buy if traveling internationally!) - Print “First Aid for Anaphylaxis“ (Translated into 26 languages)
- Food Allergy Alert Cards
- Allergy Alert Cards Comparisons
- Allergy Alert Cards Dangers
- Bad Translations Kill
- Alert Card Sources by Language
- Do It Yourself AI Cards multi languages with images (Coming Soon)
- Research an International Destination for Food Allergies
- Search Social Media for Hints on Traveling with Food Allergies
- Contact Local Resources:
- Google/AI search for key words in the country’s language; e.g.
- “groupes de soutien allergies alimentaires [city in France]” (food allergy support groups [city in France])
- Use Google/AI to translate relevant keywords like “food allergy,” “support group,” “association,” “foundation”
- World Allergy Org: 115 regional and national societies list at bottom of page.
- EAACI Knowledge Hub: Over thirty Patient Organisations, which communicate directly with patients affected by allergic diseases and asthma worldwide.
- Google/AI search for key words in the country’s language; e.g.
- Enroll in State Department Smart Traveler Program When traveling overseas insures accurately and quick contact in case of emergency
II. Follow the Plan
- Communication Key for Safe Traveling
- Technology an invaluable Food Allergy Travel Tool
- Read the Labels to Stay Safe
- Have a friend, travel buddy, or tour guide who knows
- What to do if you react.
- Your Allergies:
- Signs of a Reaction
- How to Use Your EpiPen
- Insurance info or medical ID number
- Your emergency contacts
III. Plan for the Plan to Fail
If it can go wrong, it will—unless you’ve already planned for it
- First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis First Aid Plan:
(To Help Unfamiliar with Emergency Procedure) - 911 Numbers: Country Specific
- Know/Find nearest hospital location
(Google Maps understands English even abroad) - Have a numbered list of translated phrases
(When needed can hold up fingers for the needed phrase.) - Have phrases saved as spoken language
- Always carry two (2) auto-injectable epinephrine devices
( have a pictogram how to use for universal understanding.) - Insurance cards
- Emergency Contacts