If I educate one person today then it’s worth it.
I have a latex allergy. I am airborne anaphylactic to latex. Every time I go to a shop, go to bowling, go out it is anxiety inducing because I never know when or where I will see a balloon. I never know if this time my antihistamines and inhalers and everything else will work or this time I need my epipen just from this balloon. Latex allergy is progressive, this means every time I am exposed the allergy gets worse. There’s no way to make it better and exposure therapy is not an option. I can tell you there’s latex in a room as soon as I am in it without seeing it because I react. I have reacted at drs only to be told I can’t be reacting or there’s no latex only to find latex gloves, a single rubber band in a drawer etc. A single balloon makes me sick for days up to a week even using everything I can to not end up in hospital. The allergy doesn’t stop just by having an epipen or antihistamines etc. It’s hard and bowling is often a difficult thing, I love bowling but there’s so much latex and there’s always balloons. I have given feedback to companies but it falls on dead ears and I am only one person. There are latex free balloons but no one wants to buy them. This is only a small part of my daily life. Latex kills. Not only people but the environment, latex balloons don’t biodegrade the way people think. It should be banned, we have better options.
Jay's World 