16-Year-Old Dies From Allergic Reaction

Jassen M. West · 09-14-2006, 01:31 PM

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Life changed in the matter of an hour for the Schivley family. It was in that short span of time that the youngest family member, 16-year-old Brent died from an allergic reaction to peanuts.

"It's hard to believe one bite of a cookie took my son's life," said Caryl Schivley, Brent's mother.

Brent was at a friend's house when he unknowingly took a bite out of a Nutty Bar. At the time the cookies were away from its original box and individually wrapped in plastic.

"And then he said, this is what his friends told me, 'I should not have eaten this.' He threw it in the trash can and he went and took Benadryl, which has always what's worked," said Caryl.

But about an hour later, Brent had an allergic reaction as he walked home. He collapsed on the side of the road and didn't respond to administered EPI-Pens or the care of emergency workers.

"I think the reaction just got away from him."

The Schivley family says Brent has always been good about monitoring his food allergy. While they don't fault Little Debbie for his death, they wish all companies would put labels on all food packaging.

"If there was a label on the clear package that said peanuts or said contains nuts then he never would have taken a bite," explained Caryl.

Added Chuck Schivley, Brent's father, "If they have an opportunity to know what they're eating and read that label that can be the difference between life and death."

With allergic reactions coming on so quickly, the family says the best advice is to be prepared.

"Keep an EPI Pen on hand because really with such a limited time frame when you have that type of reaction, you need to have it there almost immediately," he said.

Maybe its just me but if I were allergic to nuts and I saw the name of a product was NUTTY bar I think I would stay away from it.

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"If they have an opportunity to know what they're eating and read that label that can be the difference between life and death."

How did they know it was a nutty bar if it had no label?

Jay Taylor · 09-14-2006, 01:42 PM

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How did they know it was a nutty bar if it had no label?

Because the box that was in another location was labeled Nutty Bar but the plastic wrapped individual bar that he ate was not labeled:

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At the time the cookies were away from its original box and individually wrapped in plastic.

D. Scott MacDonald · 09-14-2006, 01:42 PM

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Maybe its just me but if I were allergic to nuts and I saw the name of a product was NUTTY bar I think I would stay away from it.

But the article clearly says:

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At the time the cookies were away from its original box and individually wrapped in plastic.

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If there was a label on the clear package that said peanuts or said contains nuts then he never would have taken a bite

Does this clear it up for you?

Johnny Angell · 09-14-2006, 01:49 PM

When you were 16, was every decision you made smart? I was not a reckless kid, but there were a couple of times I took a chance I shouldn't have.

It's amazing how many teenage boys make it to adulthood.

Holadem · 09-14-2006, 02:00 PM

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Originally Posted by Jassen M. West

Maybe its just me but if I were allergic to nuts and I saw the name of a product was NUTTY bar I think I would stay away from it.

The article suggest he didn't see the name of the product. The wrapper had no label.

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How did they know it was a nutty bar if it had no label?

Because they know the box where the individually wrapped bars came from. The bars were away from the box. The kid never saw the original box. Also, are there no candies you can recognize even without a label?

No one is arguying the fact that the kid should have been more careful. But when one is allergic to something as mundane as nuts, such oversights are bound to happen. The kid's reaction suggest that not only he is no stranger to such occurences, he underestimated the severity of the situation.

In their grief, the parents simply wish there were a label on the candy wrapper.

This is an unfortunate and tragic accident.

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Jassen M. West · 09-14-2006, 02:07 PM

Not every decision, but I knew I was allergic to bee's so I stayed away. Plus nutty bars smell like peanut butter and almost taste like it. This isn't a choice if he should jump his bike off "the awesome jump" we just made out of plywood and duct tape over sharp rocks. This is open the package and smell the nuts, maybe take a bite. I'm not making fun of the kid or his family but nut allergies are one of the worst I just think he could have been more cautious. Also nut allergies can get worse over time making the reaction get worse over time as well. I knew a 9 year old that had diabetes and she could administer her own shots and knew how to read her blood sugar. Age should have nothing to do with how well you know your own body or how quickly you can dial 911.

D. Scott MacDonald · 09-14-2006, 02:27 PM

OK, but that is entirely different point than your first point. In your first post, you said that he knowingly ate a bar that was clearly labelled "Nutty Bar". Now you are saying that he's an idiot even if it wasn't labelled.

Joe D · 09-14-2006, 02:37 PM

Here is a rule if you are allergic to something:

If you don't know what you are eating, don't eat it.

Holadem · 09-14-2006, 03:11 PM

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Originally Posted by Jassen M. West

Not every decision, but I knew I was allergic to bee's so I stayed away. Plus nutty bars smell like peanut butter and almost taste like it. This isn't a choice if he should jump his bike off "the awesome jump" we just made out of plywood and duct tape over sharp rocks. This is open the package and smell the nuts, maybe take a bite. I'm not making fun of the kid or his family but nut allergies are one of the worst I just think he could have been more cautious. Also nut allergies can get worse over time making the reaction get worse over time as well. I knew a 9 year old that had diabetes and she could administer her own shots and knew how to read her blood sugar. Age should have nothing to do with how well you know your own body or how quickly you can dial 911.

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Originally Posted by Joe D

Here is a rule if you are allergic to something:

If you don't know what you are eating, don't eat it.

Yes. We know. The parents know. The kid probably did too. Yet he fucked up and died. It's his fault. We know. The parents know. No one said, or implied otherwise. So I have to ask... what exactly is your point?

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