That's an ambulance and I was in it. March 11, 2016 or the Eagan Speech tournament was the first time I almost died. I have not had any seizures, strokes or heart problems. No, I had eaten an almond. Seriously, I had eaten an almond. I immediately found myself in the infirmary where the police, paramedics and my trainers surrounded me. Needless to say, the whole situation is very scary. That day I learned I had anaphylaxis, more commonly known as a life-threatening allergy. I have discovered, however, that I am not alone. Millions of people around the world suffer from an allergy and studies conducted in 2016 by the Hopkins Medical Research Center showed that 1 in 50 people have a life-threatening allergy, this is the same number of people who have hair red. As anaphylaxis becomes more prevalent in our society, it is important that understanding and familiarity with this condition increases so that people like me can be safe when out and about. Today we will learn about the complexity and prevalence of anaphylaxis in three ways; first, understanding how anaphylaxis works, then taking a look at how our community dealt with the recent uprising, before finally looking at how airlines have responded in recent years. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay 1st point: Let's first explain how anaphylaxis works. As I quickly learned, eating something you're allergic to isn't the best idea. My body immediately rejected the almond protein and went into anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a process in which your body overreacts to a foreign antigen, causing a sudden and potentially fatal allergic reaction. When the allergen is inhaled, touched or ingested, your body releases chemicals that in small amounts protect you, but during anaphylaxis too many of these chemicals are released causing symptoms such as difficulty breathing and low blood pressure. As the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America explains in their 2015 article, aptly titled “Anaphylaxis,” these symptoms can begin minutes or even hours after exposure to an allergen. When your protective cells overreact, your body panics. Many first responders believe that this initial reaction is the first and only stage of anaphylaxis, however there are two different types of anaphylaxis that can affect a person's body. They are: the most common allergen-induced anaphylaxis and exercise-induced allergies. So, if a person has an exercise-induced allergy, they are basically allergic to sports, even though it seems like the perfect excuse for talkative kids to ditch gym class, as the Huffington Post writes in their article titled “No Runny Business - Why it Matters” People can in fact experience an allergic reaction to exercise. People usually associate working out with an increased heart rate and a rush of endorphins, not with hives, fainting or itchy skin rashes. According to studies from the University of Michigan, up to 11% of young adults, most commonly males, experience this form of anaphylaxis. When a person goes into anaphylactic shock, regardless of the cause, there is only one known way to treat it, with epipen. The epipen provides the correct amount of epinephrine to the individual, as the amount of medicine changes depending on whether you are a child or an adult who has the correct epipen. Adrenaline relaxes muscles and allows for increased flowblood to the brain and other organs. Epipens are an essential device for anyone suffering from anaphylaxis. The chances of meeting someone who needs an epipen are increasing, but unfortunately, so are epipen prices. In 2007, epipens cost an average of $97, but today they cost more than $600. As Forbes stated in an article on January 3 of this year, the price has increased 450% in just 11 years. This price increase has made it even more difficult to obtain the life-saving device, even as the need for the epipen has increased. 2nd point: Even though the first time I had anaphylaxis I ate an almond, now that my allergy has progressed, even if my skin comes into contact with a nut, I may have a reaction. Allergies progress over time, you are more sensitive on the second and third exposure as your body has identified the allergen as dangerous and is ready to attack it. Staying away from an allergen may seem like a simple task. However, it can be especially difficult in large public places like schools, where the cafeteria is filled with homemade and school lunches. Learning about anaphylaxis concerns is becoming increasingly important because anaphylaxis is becoming more common. The American College of Allergies and Asthma found a 377 percent increase in anaphylactic reactions, from 5 to 22 percent. In the mid-1990s, 1 in 250 school-age children had a food allergy; this ratio has changed to 1 in 13 children, or about 2 in each class. Scientists don't know exactly what caused this wave of anaphylactic reactions, but there are many different possibilities. Luckily, however, there are many known ways to raise awareness and create a safe environment for everyone. One way the community is getting involved, even those without food allergies, is through the Teal Pumpkin Project. The blue pins on the map represent addresses that offer allergy-free treats on Halloween. An easy way to tell if a home is participating is to see a teal pumpkin outside the door. The Teal Pumpkin Project has skyrocketed in recent years and lets the community know which homes are allergy friendly. Another way the community is working to become more allergy friendly is in schools. Massachusetts became the first state to issue guidelines for managing food allergies in schools, requiring “peanut-free” tables in the cafeteria. And post peanut-free classroom signs throughout the building. While the different dining table setting for allergy-prone students may seem over the top, restaurants are taking the same approach. In 2015, Panera Bread Co. released an allergy action plan that, as evidence, called for 40% of locations to add an "allergy-free" table where meals without the top 5 allergens could be safely served. This new addition to the restaurants has proven to be a success, and by 2020, Panera plans to add allergy-friendly dining at nearly all of its locations. It is important that the community is involved and aware of these changes as anaphylaxis is becoming increasingly common. 3rd point: Airlines have a long history of serving peanuts on flights and often serve little or nothing else. But this also poses a challenge for travelers with severe nut allergies, who may suffer a reaction simply by touching a surface that has been exposed to nuts. As the prevalence of anaphylaxis increases, along with passenger concerns, the airline industry is starting to recognize these concerns. But tensions between passengers with food allergies and airline staff members have increased in recent years, as airlines have.