Trace Adkins photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.
June 10, 2008 — When Trace Adkins used "The Celebrity Apprentice" to call attention to children’s food allergies, he had no idea how much of a difference he would make. Yesterday, he joined two Tennessee senators at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville to show support for legislation that would help schools protect children in the U.S. from life-threatening reactions to food allergies at school.
"I don’t think that Rhonda [his wife] nor I envisioned six years ago when we first started workin’ and doin’ things with the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network that it would culminate in an event like this," Trace said. "We are both proud to be part of this. We both know that education is the key, and talkin’ about education, it’s educating the educators on how to deal with these beautiful children. These are wonderful, deserving children. They deserve a chance to go to school just like every other kid and have the administration at that school know how to deal with the problems that they have."
Allergies to such common foods as milk and peanuts can lead to vomiting, swelling and breathing difficulties. If not treated quickly, a severe reaction can even result in death. The legislation provides federal support to local school systems that voluntarily develop guidelines to prepare faculty and staff to deal with the issue.
Some 3 million students across the U.S. have severe food allergies. Not only are the children affected, so are their friends and fellow students, school staffs and parents — particularly mothers and fathers who are not convinced their school system understands their children’s health concerns.
"Their parents are just as terrified every day that their kid goes to school as Rhonda and I both are, because you just never know if this day is gonna be the day that you get the phone call that she’s havin’ an anaphylactic reaction," Trace said. "This legislation, once it passes and is active and put into practice, is really gonna make those families feel more comfortable, knowin’ that there are people on the faculty that know what to do."
A version of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act, co-sponsored by Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, has already passed in the House. Trace is confident that the bill will also succeed in the Senate and be signed by the president.
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