At VIOOH, we host regular Expert in Residence sessions that allow team members to share their specialised knowledge, on a variety of topics, with the whole company. Through these sessions, we not only boost our collective knowledge but also foster a culture of learning and collaboration, highlighting the diverse skills and experiences of our employees. 

One of our recent sessions, hosted by Caroline Ingman was centred on food allergies - debunking common misconceptions, discussing ways to support individuals with allergies, and her personal experiences living in an allergy-conscious household.

Here at VIOOH, we are committed to creating an office environment that is both accessible and safe for everyone. Following this session, Caroline has taken the lead in advocating for change, partnering with KITT Medical to install an adrenaline kit in the VIOOH London office.

Caroline Ingman, Product Marketing Director at VIOOH, shares her insights on her specialist subject, allergies, below.

I’ve happened to become a subject matter expert on something other than my job over the past 6 years; Food allergies. My eldest daughter was diagnosed as a toddler with allergies to various nuts, and our family life changed almost overnight. I realised how oblivious I had been to basic awareness of food allergies and considerations for those who live with them.

I immersed myself in the allergy world to try and keep my daughter safe but also raise awareness about how others can help her live the best life she can, and never feel excluded. The allergy community is super pro-active and there are many helpful resources and products emerging that will change the way people with allergies move around the world. 

We have several colleagues with food allergies at the office, so I felt it was important to educate everyone on how we can keep each other safe. I recently hosted one of VIOOH’s ‘Expert In Residence sessions’ on my experience with allergies, how confusing and varied allergy labelling can be and looking after a child both physically and psychologically through school and beyond. 

Working with VIOOH’s People team and Office Manager, we are pleased to now partner with KITT Medical to install an adrenaline kit in the VIOOH London office so we have immediate access to life saving medication. Did you know that even someone with no previous history of allergies can develop a food allergy at any time? In an ideal world these kits would be as universally available as defibrillators. KITT Medical were recently on the UK Dragons Den and secured investment, so I hope to see KITT everywhere I go in the future - get one for your office!

For those without previous knowledge of food allergies, here are some quick takeaways:

DO:

• Take allergies seriously -  Listen and respond to anyone asking about food allergies in a clear and supportive way
• Wash hands after eating - especially in shared areas or public transport as many people are contact allergic
• Avoid eating nuts on planes - planes are scary places if you have a severe allergy
• Get savvy with reading allergy labelling - Saving labels is very helpful when you host so keep the packaging of any pre-bought foods being served so the guest can double-check the labelling
• Speak up for your allergic friends - advocate for their safety when eating out!  
• Be aware of the signs of anaphylaxis and know what to do in an emergency

DON’T:

• Make allergy jokes - who thinks it is funny to joke about allergies that can cause serious illness or death?
• Assume that they can have ‘a tiny bit’ or you can scrape allergies off a food - traces can be fatal
• Think it will never affect you - allergies are on the rise and you or someone you love may develop one

Here are some great companies for resources:

• Equal Eats - Translation cards so you can communicate your allergies in any language when you travel 
• Creative Nature
• Natasha’s Foundation
• The amazing Dr Helen

#timetotakeallergyseriously