Car Accidents and Latex Allergies: Which is More Deadly?

You have a latex allergy. One stormy night while driving alone you lose control of your car and it rolls down an embankment. You’re unconscious and badly injured. The ambulance comes speeding to your rescue, full of equipment to help save your life. Or is it?

There are a number of things about the opening scenario that aren’t good for you. First of all, the car accident. But what about your latex allergy? You’re unconscious, so you won’t be able to tell the ambulance crew about your medical history. They will come running to your aid with bags full of medical equipment, some of which may be made of natural rubber latex (NRL). On top of that, they’ll take you to the closest emergency department. While a haven of safety and help for most people, for you the additional latex exposure could make you sicker, or it may even be deadly.

So how does someone with a latex allergy prepare for events such as this? The following are some helpful tips that might make emergency care just a little bit safer.

First, you must take control of your allergy - don’t let it control you. Find out exactly which NRL products cause you to have an allergic reaction, as well as the type of reaction you have to those products. Do you get hives? A runny nose? An asthma attack? Any reaction that involves difficulty breathing is potentially life-threatening. This doesn’t mean you should needlessly expose yourself to latex products. However, with over 40,000 items containing NRL all around us in daily life, it’s inevitable that you’ll be exposed sometimes – use those times to learn more about your allergy and how to better protect yourself in the future. (I highly recommend keeping a journal of your reactions.)

Secondly, get a Medic Alert bracelet, or similar product, and wear it at all times. This is the best way to protect yourself if you’re ever in an accident on a dark and stormy night. Ambulance crews are trained to look for Medic Alert identification. They will have access to your medical history, allergies, and physician and family contact numbers with one phone call to the number on the ID. (You choose the information to be included in your file.) Your Medic Alert ID serves as a red flag and can speak for you when you cannot. There are also stickers that you can purchase for your car and house windows. You can find these on the American Latex Allergy Association website listed in my list of links. Go to http://www.medicalert.org for more information about Medic Alert.

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