Posted on 09/03/2014 10:02:25 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The parent of a child with a life-threatening peanut allergy is fighting for new rules to protect airline passengers who have severe food allergies.
Lianne Mandelbaum, who says she was practically kicked off a United Airlines flight last year because of her son’s condition, has been lobbying for new protections for allergy sufferers.
Now, more than 14,000 people are coming to her aid, petitioning lawmakers and federal regulators to establish a "buffer zone" around passengers who are allergic to certain foods.
“I am not after a nut ban,” Mandelbaum said. “Just the ability to preboard, wipe down the seat area and make an announcement that will let everyone live with their own moral compass around me.”
The petitioners are calling for a rule that would prohibit airlines from serving snacks containing nuts to any passenger sitting near someone with a peanut allergy. Furthermore, passengers who bring peanuts on board would not be allowed to eat them during the flight, if they are sitting within the buffer zone.
The buffer zone would extend to passengers sitting in the three rows in front of or behind someone with a severe peanut allergy.
The rules would also prevent airlines from removing passengers who have peanut allergies.
When Mandelbaum reported her son's allergy to United Airlines, she recalls being told: "Well, if you think he's going to die, don't get on the plane."
"Children and adults with food allergies should be able to report their allergy without fear of being kicked off a flight," Mandelbaum said. "As it stands, they have no such rights and cases have been reported of people being taken off a flight for reporting a food allergy."
Currently, there are no federal rules protecting airlines passengers who have peanut allergies, Mandelbaum says — something she is hoping to change.
Mandelbaum successfully convinced the New Jersey Senate to protect airline passengers with peanut allergies in 2013.
But she is pushing for federal rules that would expand the protections for passengers around the country.
Mandelbaum is also meeting with officials at top airlines, asking them to establish company policies protecting passengers with peanut allergies. She noted that "different flight crews on the same airline will react differently to a food allergy request" without set policies.
She has had some success in her efforts.
WestJet has stopped serving peanuts on board, while Jet Blue Airways will create a buffer zone for allergic passengers upon request, Mandelbaum said.
However, United Airlines has shown "no signs" of changing its policy, following the incident where she was asked to take her son off the flight, Mandelbaum said.
Delta Airlines has not responded to her request, she added.
The petition is being hosted by Care2, an activist website that hosts petitions from public interest, environmental and health groups.
“Just the ability to preboard, wipe down the seat area and make an announcement that will let everyone live with their own moral compass around me.”
Another unique snowflake wants early boarding. Ugh..
Wow, you really think that the mythical dragon of “Second hand smoke” is real? Amazing what people can be brainwashed into believing.
I remember when my mother tried to smoke. I was 4 and thought she was dying...and for a few minutes I think she wanted to.
You assume a lot.
Yeah. . .back in the day when people were civil to each other and airlines treated travelers with dignity and respect. . .*sigh*. . .days gone by and never to return, I’m afraid.
“Are you kidding? That never happened.”
I suppose you meant that as an idiomatic intensifier to make a point, but if not, let me ask; are you kidding? Happened all the time.
It was considered the polite thing to do, back when people were civil and social and not its-all-about-me-me-me.
The rest of your post has no relevance to the point I was making.
I agree with you.
Much like the sudden explosion of ADD and ADHD and the ‘need’ to drug little boys for being, well, little boys. . .to be treated with Ritalin.
I wasn't addressing your irrelevant point.
There was a study released in New Zealand a couple years ago that determined that 95% of peanut allergies are false positives. The only way to really know is to check into a hospital and eat a bowl of peanuts. If you react, you get treated, if not, you’re not allergic.
Very few people will take it that far. When my daughter was one, she had a reaction so the doctor said to wait a year and try again. We did and she was fine.
I also coach a high school robotics team. One kid is supposedly highly allergic to peanuts. Someone brought a 5 lb bag of peanuts in the shell to the shop. His mom said he would be OK and he was. Peanut dust was all over that shop for weeks.
I’m allergic to cats. People bring cats on planes. I suffer through the flight. Life goes on.
I was also referring to those days and everybody asked permission..............or at least in the circles my parents,grandparents, and extended family traveled..........I am terribly sorry you were raised amongst such rude people.
I was referring to PUBLIC places where people smoked.
How many people stood up in your theaters and asked if smoking bothered anybody? How many people in restaurants asked neighboring tables if they would be bothered by smoke?
BTW, in the circles my parents traveled, ladies didn't smoke.
Thanks.
I would say you have no idea how painful it was to write that, but...being freepers, I am sure you do know.
Thanks for the ping!
I have an allergy to PORK and pork products. I am careful about what I order, but I don’t think I have a right to force those around me to abstain from consuming whatever they may want.
If the person is SO deadly allergic, an alternative travel arrangement should be in order.
To hell with peanuts. I want a GUM-FREE ZONE on airplanes. I’m sick of being stuck next to a cow-munching gum chewer who is too stupid to chew with his/her/its mouth closed.
I hate the look, the sound, and the stench of gum chewing. Not welcome or refreshing in the least to me. To me it’s about as welcome as a hot steaming pile of fresh feces in the face.
“And it seems I’m still stuck with rude people. Certainly fits you, Sunshine”
Reading Gabz posts to you, there is no hint of rudeness. I think you need to realize that when people disagree with you that doesn’t make them rude.
Your response to him, on the other hand, even Ray Charles can see you are rude to him.
To close this, it is clear you are a smoker or used to be a smoker (protestations aside).
All that has been said has been said on the subject of this thread. There is no need to add anything more. This means you have a choice, you can act as an adult or you can cave to a childish need to have the last word.
Adult?
Child?
Your choice.
Buh-buy.
“BTW, in the circles my parents traveled, ladies didn’t smoke.”
—
That’s a damned shame-—they didn’t know what pleasure they were missing.
Here in liberal MA lots of ladies smoked,and some still do.
.
Do you post on Ye Olde Rocket Forum? Your style is exactly like one guy there.....
Original...you ain't.
Excellent idea!
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