Majority of Canadians unprepared for an allergy emergency. Team Allerject educates to save lives.

The survey also found that:

• Half (50%) of Canadians feel they would be unable to recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis.
• A similar percentage (51%) say they are unfamiliar with epinephrine auto-injectors (a device used to treat a serious allergic reaction) and wouldn’t know how to use one.
• Four in ten (39%) say they’d be terrified of injecting someone with an auto-injector incorrectly and hurting or harming the individual.

So is this something all of us should be concerned about?

Because so many people are allergic today (about 2.5 million Canadians self-report a food allergy²), it’s very possible you could find yourself faced with such an emergency.

In response, a team of young adults who live with food allergies has been mobilized to help educate the public. They will be in major centres across Canada during the week of May 4-8.

Dylan Brennan, one of the Team Allerject™ members, is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. “We’ll be providing tips and advice, and demonstrating the steps to take in an allergy emergency,” he notes. “I’m excited to be part of this important education program because it may save lives.”

The national initiative is being supported by Allerject™, the ‘talking’ epinephrine auto-injector, and is being launched to coincide with Food Allergy Awareness Month this May.

Team Allerject members will be doing media interviews and guest appearances in six locations across Canada – Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. They will be discussing how to recognize the symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, explaining the emergency steps to take to treat a reaction, and demonstrating the proper use of an auto-injector.

“It’s great to see young people engage the community in public awareness about anaphylaxis. Knowing what to do in case of an emergency can help save a life,” says Beatrice Povolo, Director of Marketing and Communications with Anaphylaxis Canada.

As well, the public will be able to access information and download resources at www.allerject.ca.

The Ipsos Reid survey, commissioned by Allerject, is considered accurate to within +/ - 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Allerject is distributed by Sanofi Canada. To learn more, visit www.allerject.ca.

About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi entities in Canada include Sanofi Canada (pharmaceuticals), Sanofi Pasteur (vaccines), Sanofi Consumer Health (cosmeceuticals, over-the-counter products and specialty care), Genzyme (rare diseases) and Merial (animal health). Together they employ close to 1,700 people across the country. In 2013 Sanofi companies invested $129.1 million in R&D in Canada, creating jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.

Media

To arrange an interview with a member of Team Allerject, please contact:

Robert Stephens
PR POST
416-777-0368
[email protected]

Niki Kerimova
PR POST
647-278-3375
[email protected]

¹ Anaphylaxis in Schools & Other Settings, 3rd Edition, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
² https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/allerg/index-eng.php