By Alfie Whitehead
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April 26, 2024
Collective understanding around disabilities has developed greatly in recent years. We now know that not all conditions are as visually apparent as people once believed they were. Many people suffer from ‘invisible illnesses’ which are not always obvious to the external observer. Of the 61 million Americans with physical and mental ailments, it is estimated that 10 percent are afflicted by so-called invisible illnesses. Such conditions include cognitive processing disorders, autoimmune disorders, anxiety, depression and allergies. Invisible illnesses can be of great concern to parents when they have to spend extended periods of time away from their children. While no-one wants to spend time away from their kids, it is a simple reality that they must go to school and eventually they will think it's much cooler to spend time with their friends than their parents. Two conditions which can be cause for concern, autism and allergies, will be discussed here. Autism is a broad term that refers to a spectrum of disorders caused by differences in the brain. Typically, these disorders are characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. Estimates suggest that as many as 1 of every 36 children in the US are dealing with autism of some kind. Given that autism is characterized by difficulties with social settings and communication, it is not hard to imagine the challenges it may present in a medical emergency. My Angel Alert Band can help to mitigate these difficulties in two key ways. For one, it will immediately alert a first responder that your child has autism allowing the medical professional to adapt their behaviors and communication style accordingly. Furthermore, it will communicate your child's essential medical information when they are unable to do so themselves. This will eliminate the risk of medical mistakes such as the administration of the wrong medication leading to harmful or even fatal drug-drug interactions. Allergies are another prevalent invisible illness within the US with around 18 percent of children being afflicted. Severe allergies are extremely concerning in part because they are so easily provoked. For example, a peanut allergy can be triggered by as little as 1/44,000 of a peanut kernel. When triggered, children can enter into anaphylaxis, a severe life-threatening reaction to an allergen. Anaphylaxis must be treated immediately and appropriately or it can be fatal. This is where the revolutionary chip technology of My Angel Alert Band can be life-saving. Upon arriving, first responders will immediately be privy to your child's specific medical needs, providing them with exactly the treatment they need. My Angel Alert Band can be the angel that watches over your child when you can't be there to speak for them.