Seattle, Washington - On August 14, 2010, Washington FEAST, a local food allergy support, education and advocacy nonprofit, will hold the first food allergy education conference to take place in the Northwest. The conference is entitled “Living Well With Food Allergies at All Ages and Stages.” The conference will take place at Talaris Conference Center in Seattle, Washington.

The conference will include the following special guest speakers and sessions:

• Keynote speaker: Author and food allergy parent Linda Coss (Orange County, California) will speak on the topic of “Managing Your Child’s Life Threatening Food Allergy.”
• Canadian food allergy musician and advocate Kyle Dine (Toronto, Ontario) will work with food allergic tweens and teens and their siblings on coping strategies.

• Dr. Jennifer S. Kim, board certified pediatric allergist and researcher from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Jaffe Food Allergy Institute (New York, NY), will provide a research update.
• Local allergist Dr. David Naimi will lead a panel discussion on anaphylaxis and epinephrine.
• Washington FEAST President Kelly Morgan will speak about school food allergy management resources.
• Breakout support sessions for adults with food allergies and for grandparents or other caregivers.

The conference is dedicated to Daniel Sargent, local sports writer and soccer organizer, who died from peanut-induced anaphylaxis at Magnuson Park at a potluck party in 2008. Tragically, Daniel’s anaphylaxis progressed quickly and epinephrine was not on hand. Potluck meals pose many dangers to those with life-threatening food allergies.

Food allergic teens and young adults, especially those with asthma, are at increased risk for death from anaphylaxis. Food allergic individuals should avoid reactions by learning how to identify and avoid risky foods and by informing companions about their food allergy. An epinephrine autoinjector, preferably two doses, and a food allergy emergency action plan developed with a physician, should be on hand at all times. In all cases of anaphylaxis, it is critical to call 9-1-1 and go to the closest emergency room.

Washington FEAST will also sponsor a concert by conference speaker and Canadian food allergy musician Kyle Dine at the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) Walk for a Cure on Sunday, August 15, 2010.

For more information about the conference, Washington FEAST or links to info about the FAAN Walk, visit www.wafeast.org. For information about food allergies, visit the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network at www.foodallergy.org or the Food Allergy Initiative at www.foodallergyinitiative.org.

Washington FEAST (Food Allergy, Eczema, and Asthma Support Team) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides education and support to individuals and caregivers who are affected by lifethreatening food allergies and who may also deal with related atopic disorders such as eczema and asthma.