eqeqeqx

Well, as long as mikem004 gets his nuts, eh? Certainly the most ignorant post I've seen in a while. As another poster said, the "surgical masks" worn are not at all related to helping the wearer of the masks, but are for the benefit of everyone else. Indeed a courtesy thing we in the west should adapt.

Possibly N95-rated masks would help some, as I read they are claimed to be effective against at least some airborne allergens. I have used N95 masks myself for other reasons and know they are not very comfortable to wear for longer period of times, so I think it would be quite difficult to get a child to wear them for a plane ride, though an adult could suffer through it

It was very interesting to read the references to needle length in the tragic article you linked. I was not aware of this possible problem.

eqeqeqx

It's one of those "can't fix stupid" things I suspect.

LTN Phobia

It's both. Certainly not just for altruistic reasons. Quite a few also wear it in the belief that it prevents hay fever.

And actually, for aeroplanes, for prevention of dry mouth and nose (that is in fact why JL amenity kit includes "moisture mask" - I thought they were like a moisturising mask for the face before I opened the pack!).

The effectiveness of commonly-used, average, cheap masks for sale over there against airborne contaminants is rather dubious though! Some on sale there are, let's say, rather porous.

thebigben

They do have legal control. It's an instruction from cabin crew and we all know what happens if you don't follow the instructions.

Also what happens if the announcement goes off, someone eats nuts, causes a reaction because somehow they were sat next to the allergic person, and now the flight is diverting? Or if the allergy sufferer sues the person who ate nuts? Accountability is easy. If you know you shouldn't eat nuts and you do, you are accountable.

BarneyMcGrew

Slightly OT here, but I was recently surprised to hear the train manager on a train about to depart from Euston announce that due to a person with a severe allergy, could passengers in coach B not eat products containing nuts. He went on to say that there was space in another coach if people did wish to eat nut products.

First time I have ever heard this on a train.

BM

Akoz

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlobeTrotOnPoints

yeah, but where does it stop?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsCapricorn

On my flight down from Glasgow on Friday they made an announcement that a passenger had a severe allergy to bananas and asked people to not eat them and keep them in their bag.

Quite interested in this thread, my aunt has a VERY severe egg allergy. Contact with / cross contamination with egg leads to Anaphylaxis, constriction of airways can happen if eggs are being cooked in a confined space near her. On a morning Short Haul flight would BA apply the same principle in this case? What would happen to breakfast in CE?

Can I help you

vintagepilot

Had this on a LHR-OSL service and the CC asked if someone could make the announcement in Norwegian.

windycityf

I was recently on a flight where a fellow passenger was yelling at the flight attendant because there were not "enough" vegan snack options. Apparently he did not fancy fruit.
What is insanely interesting? You can request vegan meals, but there is no option for "allergen free" meals. I have a severe fish allergy and some airlines make it a big more challenging then others.
I can not see Japan Airlines not serving fish, because I am on board. If I get a bit a juice, my throat will close. I still fly JAL, because sometime they fit best with my schedule/budget. After my first mishap have not eating on a 9 hour flight, I've learned to take care of myself.

That being said, I have no issue with not eating nuts on a flight. BUT there is no way, I trust 150 other strangers to not eat nuts to protect me from getting sick. I wouldn't doubt some jerk doing it just to prove a point.
Allergies are no joke, but one should take their own precautions and not trust others to do it for them.

aakaa

It seems half my posts on flyertalk are about this issue, but there is so much garbage information going around even among doctors (as can be seen from this thread).
Please remember - peanut allergy CAN NOT cause severe reactions unless you get peanut in your mouth (or nose). In those cases even trace amounts are dangerous, but peanut particles do not float in the air, they are too heavy for that.
The smell of peanuts does not cause any allergic reaction at all, physical contact can cause slight localised reddening in some cases of severe peanut allergy, and could probably be prevented by taking antihistamine before the contact. There is absolutely no need to wipe the surfaces (unless you're going to lick them, in which case I would hope you also wipe them afterwards).
Only thing you have to do is to read the labels of what you put in the patient's mouth, and think about possible cross-contamination. And enjoy your flight!

MitchR

I second this. My father was a physician in the Navy. His was on a Marine recruiting base one day and a group of Marines had just returned from a training run. They were eating "cheese" crackers. One Marine had peanut allergies and didn't realize that the crackers had peanut butter filling. He started showing signs of a reaction and by the time they could carry him to the Emergency Room (about five minutes) he was in cardiac arrest and died shortly afterward. True allergies can be serious stuff.

Yeoman5

I've twice seen the results my daughter coming into contact with peanuts which she is allergic to. I truly hope you never have to experience such a thing. If you really think that a reaction can be prevented by a surgical mask or that having an allergy "inconveniences" others, I'd be more than willing to suggest some reading material to enlighten you.
As to her experience when travelling with BA, I must say they have been exemplary, including allowing her to pre-board in order to sanitize the tray table and making an announcement asking that peanuts not be eaten during the journey. This is in stark contrast to UA who having been advised by her that she had an allergy, suggested that not travel on her return leg.

Dublin_rfk

Just how did these people survive before they started inconveniencing everyone else in the world?

lloydah

Am I the only one here at a loss to reconcile the facts/opinions here. They are either only dangerous if in physical contact as per aakaa or even the slightest whiff of them would affect you, as in many other posts. Do we have a definitive answer or is it the fact that the thought of having a reaction induces a panic reaction in some people? I can't see that both can be true and it would be good to know which was which.

thebigben

With both parties so convinced of their view and neither citing anything - I can't be sure. Only thing I know of is severe reactions to fish vapours. Such cases are extremely rare, but one of them was an example my consultant did work with.