Jun 29, 2010 - 02:50 PM

Parvaneh Pessian

WHITBY -- For Tom and Michelle Park, the anxiety associated with raising a child who suffers from a serious medical condition is doubled since they have twin children allergic to peanuts.

It’s why the Whitby couple decided to enter the MedicAlert program for Naomi and Harrison, 12, to ensure they are protected from every possible risk.

“Peanuts are everywhere and you never know when they’re going to encounter them,” said Mr. Park, who attended a special presentation on MedicAlert, an emergency medical information service, at St. Paul’s Catholic School on June 24.

“They might be at school, a friend’s house or a party so the program works for them and can be there when we’re not.”

MedicAlert has offered more than one million Canadians quick access to crucial medical information services through customized bracelets for more than 50 years.

At the school presentation on Thursday, the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation, the Durham District School and Durham Catholic District School Boards recognized the support of the government of Canada for MedicAlert’s charitable program, ‘No Child Without.’

The program is designed to provide students at participating elementary schools with a MedicAlert bracelet linked to a managed electronic health record with the child’s medical information, member identification and a 24-hour emergency hotline number.

“Children need and deserve our protection, especially when it comes to a life-threatening medical condition, allergy or special needs,” said Robert Ridge, president and CEO of MedicAlert.

“‘No Child Without’ focuses on children because they have the most difficult time communicating medical issues in the middle of a crisis.”

Students with chronic medical conditions, including allergies and asthma, from more than 40,000 elementary schools across Canada currently benefit from the program. It is offered at no cost to families or schools due to $5 million in grants set aside by the government over the past couple of years.

“It is about the power of information and protecting the health of young and old alike,” said federal Finance Minister and Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty, while addressing students, parents and staff at the event. “MedicAlert really helps save lives.”

Visit: www.medicalert.ca