Peanut Allergies and College Baseball

I don't have any direct experience with peanut allergies, but I did go through college as a dyslexic student.  While the college coach wouldn't so much have an "interest" in if a player had an allergy, as an employee of the school who could be sued for violating the American's with Disability Act, I think he will care very much, and so will the disability office on campus, every school has one.

If you want my opinion, here it is, a bit blunt.  College coaches will care less about your sons allergies.  In college they expect the student to be able to manage his own life.  If he has an allergy they expect him to be able to manage it.  You maybe able to work with the athletic trainer to make sure the trainers assigned to his team know about his allergy and that they have an epi-pen with them, and are trained on its use.  But other then that I would not expect much from the coaches.

I ran track in college, back in the 80s.  We were provided sack lunches for our road trips. I got so sick of eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every weekend that its now lower on my list of foods to eat.  If this is the case at your sons school then it would be up to him to coordinate with the cafeteria to make sure his dietary restrictions were met.  I would not expect the cafeteria to change the menu for everyone though.

Don't know if you are familiar with the AviQ pens or not. They talk the user through the procedure as it is applied. He should have a couple of those with him in a separate, conspicuous, brightly colored case or stuff sack. He should try to establish some trusted partners who he can train to medicate him in an emergency. Maybe the trainers and coaches. He should talk to the coach and the disability office to see what precautions can be taken and what the coach is willing/required to do.

He needs to understand that he should not be embarrassed or reluctant to address this matter openly. It is a very common problem now and every school will have to deal with it at some point.

Good luck,

Ted

He should be open with coaches, and go to a school/program that will help him.  And I don't mean pens, but ban nuts from dugout/locker room.  People die from anaphylaxis reactions.

Our son (2015 and now at D1) was diagnosed with peanut allergy at a very young age.  We've only had 2 episodes where he accidentally ingested (both my fault BTW........Reeces pieces looked a lot like Halloween Skittles and a protein bar that mentioned "nuts" but not peanuts").

Anyway, school was very proactive when they were told, as were all his roommates.

2015's reactions have been mild (throwing up, coughing, etc), but believe it is because we had an epipen handy......which we've provided to the school trainer.

Good luck. 

It is difficult to completely manage exposure which is why the pens are important. You only need one person to make a peanut free zone a non peanut free zone. I agree with you, that bans should be enacted just not always enforceable.

russinfortworth,

Did you implement the pens with his mild reactions, or were they mild on their own?

I am curious because we have a child with some peanut allergy but we have never had to implement the epipen yet. I am always questioning our strategy though.

Thanks,

Ted

+1

-2  Some people have severe nut allergies.  Leave your Payday in the truck.  They aren't sneezing b/c they ate a can of nuts, their airways constrict and they can't breathe b/c someone else did and then shook their hand.

Talking with the coaches and preparing contingency plans is managing it. Keeping quiet about it and hoping nothing happens may endanger the player and also put the programs at risk. This is a widespread condition with varying severity that can change over time. The problem will present itself at every university. They have to deliver plans to help manage it whether you think so or not.

All things that the son can manage on his own. 

BBalldad, I don't mind the blunt answers at all...but you are dead wrong on your last statement.

I don't so much worry about my son being able to "manage" his allergies, as he already does that.  What worries me is the last part of your post where you discussed the weekly PB&Js on the trips.  I am sure he would be able to get an alternative meal...but it is the incidental exposure that scares me.  It literally takes just a trace amount for him to have a potentially serious reaction (i.e. somebody has a PB&J, gets a little PB on their hand, touches a bus seat, my son touches that spot, rubs an eye...eats something, etc....boom > reaction.)

As parents, it is these incidental exposures that are really tough on us.  He/we can "control" most everything else (what he eats, what we eat, etc.)...but you can't (and really shouldn't) control what others do.  He carries handi-wipes and hand sanitizer in his allergy bag and lets everyone know he has it, and several of his teammates have asked him for some on occasion (which we really appreciate)...but there are those times when the kids forget or don't even think about it and we have had problems.

So to say that a person with a peanut (or other serious) allergy can manage what others do is not accurate.

For example, this past spring season....before HS game, kids all go their separate ways to get dinner before the game.  When they return they are hanging out, getting ready to warm up.  One of my son's teammates had gotten a pouch of Big League Chew and offered my son a "wad".  My son asked..."Did you eat any peanuts or peanut butter?"  The kid replied "no"...because he hadn't.  However, he had gone to a Chinese restaurant for dinner that used a higher quality of peanut oil to prepare the food (oddly, peanut oil of lower quality isn't an issue.)  His teammate apparently had some oil residue on his hands and it transferred to the gum in the pouch...my son grabbed some gum and 10 minutes later he was injecting himself with an epipen and waiting on the ambulance.  Now, we have since said...no eating anything at all while at the field in an effort to combat this.  However, as you can see in this case my son was trying to be vigilant and careful...and he still got himself in trouble.  Aside from having him wash his hands every two minutes to wash off anything he may have come into contact with, I don't really see how you combat this incidental exposure.

Just a point of clarification, it was i who talked about the pb&j sandwiches not bballdad.  I am bowing out of this discussion as I can only see it developing into an argument.

Gotcha bballdad...I did combine two different posts there....and I misunderstood what you meant when you said "he can manage it on his own"  Sorry about that.

I totally agree, it will be up to him to communicate all of this when he gets to school..and for the rest of his adult life for that matter. He has to learn to be his own advocate (if that's the right word here.)

What I was looking for when I started this thread was perhaps some advice from those who had been through this before, and some avenues they used to work around their son's allergies while playing ball in college.  There have been some really good replies (yours included) and I appreciate the info on people he needs to make sure he talks with when he gets to school.

Sorry, I'm having an aggravating day here but gesh people, it's like there is a competition on this board to jump on anyone who implies they as a parent would talk to a coach, faster you jump, the more points you get! 

Okay, everyone knows that college kids have to address problems themselves, that ballplayers from age 9 and up need to address things themselves, but this poor dad just wanted to know how college coaches have responded to peanut allergy issues, if anyone has had a problem, that's it people.

If he rephrased it to say "Have any of you had son's who had to address allergy issues with their college coach?  And what has been their typical response?"...would anyone have any insight then?

Joes87...my apologies if I ran you off here.  It wasn't my intent at all.  I appreciated your reply and your honesty in giving me that information...that was exactly what I was looking for when I started this thread.

I inadvertently misunderstood bballman's comment.  As a parent of a kid with allergies, we often hear that it is somehow our kids "fault" he had a reaction or has allergies...or that they aren't really that big of a deal...and we ( I ) tend to get a little over-sensitive about the topic.  I kind of jumped the gun when I responded to him without really thinking about what he meant there.

Thanks for your reply earlier...and if you have any other info, I would appreciate it.

No prob.

Only the one time with the protein bar.  He ate 1/2 of it before he realized (this was just this past spring).  The other time he only ate 1 piece of candy and didn't like it.  Gave him Benadryl and he was ok.  He can be around peanuts, peanut butter, etc, just can not injest.

All the more reason that this is ultimately going to be the responsibility of your son. No shaking hands. Always wipe surfaces, always wash his hands, etc.

You can't expect others to take on this responsibility.

This is something he will have to do for his entire college experience, plus the rest of his life. It really has nothing to do with baseball, per se.

The only thing the team (and his roommates, and his teachers) can really help you do is have epipens nearby, and try their best (they will likely fail) at keeping PB away from him.

I would wonder what happens if he has a reaction on a team bus, in the middle of nowhere.  You need to decide if this is a situation that you want to be faced with. (I am facing somewhat similar health questions myself at the moment)

It would be wise to make the coaching, training and medical staff aware of the situation and prepared to deal with an emergency. But after that the player will be expected to manage the situation himself.

if a kid has a 95 mph fastball maybe he can get the coach to ban peanut products on the team. If not, the kid better be prepared to handle the situation himself. Once past jaw dropping studs a lot of players are the same. Coaches want the easiest to coach.

Is he actively being recruited?  If he is then this needs to be brought up so you can gauge what the coach says and does and will react.  Some coaches will be active in helping your son and some will not while they let the training staff deal with it.  This is why it's key to find out this stuff in the recruiting process.

You guys know this but you can't control what others do so best thing you can do is teach your son to manage for himself.  Sounds like you've done that but it's a lesson that needs to be repeated forever.  This is a serious situation and it's best to communicate so there can be an Emergency Action Plan developed in case he needs it.

Thanks for the great replies.

You guys are all right in that this is something he will need to manage and be cautious of his entire life. 

Bringing it up during the recruiting process is something I hadn't thought of.  You tend to think you don't want to do anything to "scare" away a potential school...but then, you look at the priorities, and making sure everyone is aware of what is going on and on the same page with this situation is more important than being able to continue to play a game (also, good point about the bus ride...something else we need to consider.)

Thanks again.

russinfortworth,

Thanks for the reply. Our situations sound somewhat similar. Our son appears to be very mildly allergic. We have peanut goods in the house and it doesn't really seem to be a problem. We only investigated the issue because he has always intensely disliked any nut products. Definitely uncomfortable to consume though.

Thanks again,

Ted

Son's team travels with jars of peanut butter and jelly. Someone always has a sandwich in their hands, dugouts, bullpens, busses, etc,.. Its a running joke about how many cases of pb&j the team must go through.

Son had a double header last weekend that we attended... I spent almost $70 on subs and snacks.. We had taken a sub along for my son initially, he gobbled that right down. Then I made the mistake of talking to him and his roomie in the press box. ( they were happy to get wifi to follow fantasy leagues, I mean do their homework).  I told them to place an order on line and I would go pick it up.  I knew they would take advantage of free food! 

Parents of freshman, be prepared to haul food to games... feed the beasts!!

For this reason, I would definitely not mention this allergy during the recruiting process.

Maybe this is the question to be posed by this thread.  What do coaches think is the correct answer to this?  When do you bring this up?  Before or after you commit?

I guess the kid needs to give up his peanut allergy.

Seriously, it depends on the severity of the allergy.  If a risk of death, I'd lean towards mentioning it.  If it causes a sneeze, maybe not.

My son does not have any allergies, so I feel bad for your son and what he has to deal with.  It can't be easy at all.  Personally, and it might sound harsh, but I really don't think you can go into a situation expecting everyone else to change their behavior and eating habits to accommodate your son.  I think it is appropriate to let the coaches and trainers know that your son has this issue and maybe provide the trainer with an emergency antidote in case something happens, but to expect 34 other kids/ballplayers to completely change everything they do for your son is not a reasonable expectation.  

I think your son is going to have to be hyper-vigilant about not coming into contact with peanut butter and the coaching staff/trainers need to know how to respond if something happens, but to expect everyone to change is probably not going to happen.

I would think that when you fill out forms for entering school and for baseball, there will be a question on there about health and any allergies.  Coaches and trainers will find out at some point.  But providing them with what they need in case of emergency is a good idea.

I agree with what you are saying.

We have never expected people to change their behavior based on our son's allergies.  However, we have asked that they be considerate of it in so much as, if they do eat peanuts/peanut butter that they try to remember to wash/rinse their hands off before heading into the dugout.  We keep our son's allergy bag stocked with handi-wipes and hand sanitizer and let the team know that those are available for them to use.  We have found that pretty much everybody understands and does their best to be careful.  Having my son not eat (seeds, gum, etc.), or put anything into his mouth, while at the fields has helped quite a bit.  

(On a side note, it stinks for me because peanut butter is one of my absolute favorite foods...which I have to do without now for the most part.  On those rare days when I go fishing or hunting and  my son doesn't come along...I make sure to load up and get my "fix" in, and then wash like I am going into surgery before getting into my truck or going home.)

The info I was hoping to get from this thread was to find somebody who had a son with a similar issue/health condition and get their advice as to what they did to help prepare their son for the challenge of managing their health issue in such tight quarters as a college team setting (on buses, locker rooms, etc.)  (I differentiate college vs. high school here in just the sheer amount of time spent in those places.)  

The advice on who to talk to, and even when to talk to them, has been very helpful.

Honestly, I think your question is looking for a needle in a haystack because it such an unlikely of thing to happen.  You're right in asking the question here because you may find that needle in here but who knows.

The athletic training department will know how to handle this situation but have to probably develop a plan for it.  That's their job and they will probably have access to or get the epipens needed so I doubt you will have to get extra just for that.  I may be wrong though.  Is your son currently on a 504 plan?  If so I believe that can continue into college.  You'll have to set it up once he's properly enrolled but student services (pretty sure it would fall under them) or health department would be who you need to talk to.

As for the recruiting I can see why someone wouldn't bring it up because you don't want to have that be a reason to not be considered.  But think of the flip side - if a coach is going to drop you over you being proactive about a serious health issue.....do you want to play for that guy?  What happens if you get an injury - will he drop you over that?  If it was my son I would want to know if he would take it serious and that means even if he turned it over completely to the training staff to handle.  If that coach doesn't want to do deal with it then is that the best fit for you?

Another way to look at it - if you don't say anything and once you sign on the dotted line then tell him what's to keep him from thinking "what else is wrong that wasn't told".  I'm a big believer in up front, honesty and communication.  Solves a lot of problems before they become actual problems.

coach2079,

I hear what your saying, but I think that bringing up this allergy during the recruiting process might severely limit the player's choices.  It's similar to "better to beg forgiveness later than to ask for permission now."

Do u envision your son having issues in general w life at college and his allergies?

 Guess roommate cannot have peanuts in room, but what about kid eating p b j  while walking in dorms/elevators then touching buttons, door handles, etc. sounds like their are

dangers for him in general, not just in dugout or w team. Hope he can make it work, good luck

playball...yes, that is something his mother and I are both worried about when he heads off to school.  

The reason I differentiate between school and being on a team are a couple of reasons.  The first is, the last few times he has had reactions have all been during baseball season.  During the school day he seems to be able to manage it and keep himself "safe"...or he has just gotten lucky...either way, I'll take it.  As I said earlier, having him not eat anything during his time on the field has seemed to help (knock on wood)...I hope that trend continues.

The second is, from my understanding, peanut butter is a main staple of college sports teams as a cheap meal.  You are right, he can probably control his living environment a little better in regards to peanut exposure.  However, on a team with over 35 players and coaches...it is a little tougher.  Combine that with the tight quarters of long bus/van rides (with PB&J sandwiches), much of the time on a highway not really near medical care...and it worries me a bit more.  

You are right though...it is a challenge, and something he/we deal with on a daily basis.  I mean, the alternative is not to play ball in college (assuming he makes it)...but I really would hate to do that to him because he loves the game so  much.  But then you weigh that against putting him in a greater situation of having a life threatening reaction...and it is a tough call.  All we can do is hope we make the right one.

Totally understand and I've used the "beg for forgiveness" philosophy many times haha

We had a guy on my college team with a pretty severe peanut allergy. The player was fine with holding himself responsible and making sure to do his best to avoid a situation where he could have a breakout. Also, our coach was aware and would accommodate him if he needed it. For example, if we went to a place that cooked all their food with peanut oil (Chick-Fil-A) our coach would give the player money to go grab food at the restaurant across the street.

Wanted to bring this post up to mention that the Auvi-q pens I spoke of earlier are now under recall. Anyone who has those should be able to go to this link to get instructions for replacement.  https://www.auvi-q.com/

Thanks,

Ted