Allergies in the CAF 2003 - 2015 [Merged]

[FutureQYR]

Thanks for the tip "Zombie",  (if that is your real name), I went to my doctor and scheduled an appointment with a allergy specialist. Basicly they stick me with a bunch of needles with different things on them to check a) if i am infact still allergic and b) if so, how allergic I am. Though I am hoping the allergy is completely gone, I'd settle for a "mild" reading. I do find it hard to believe though that If this allergy is infact still active, I have never had a reaction to it. 16 years! and your telling me that I've never reacted to a food that i'm apperently allergic to? I live with 5 other people who eat eggs all the time. Though it is possible, I'm thinkin' positive!

 

[B0nes]

What are the restrictions on people who have allergies to dust or mold mainly in a poorly ventilated room? This question is geared towards that for whom are specifically meant to be in combat situations. I doubt being a reservist or reg would have an impact on the policies.

This is off topic but, im assuming up to date booster shots are required? Also, is it necessary to have all strains of hepatitis vaccinated? 

 

[Pte.Butt]

What are the restrictions on people who have allergies to dust or mold mainly in a poorly ventilated room? This question is geared towards that for whom are specifically meant to be in combat situations. I doubt being a reservist or reg would have an impact on the policies.

This is off topic but, im assuming up to date booster shots are required? Also, is it necessary to have all strains of hepatitis vaccinated? 

When I enrollment testing, I told the recruiting staff about my allergies to dust and penicillin, they said it wasn't a problem. Also, during RegF BMQ, theyw ill be giving vaccinations, so I would imagine that they would give Hep A, B, C etc... vaccinations. Just bring a record of all the needles/vaccinations you've ever had to BMQ, and you should be fine.

 

[PMedMoe]

The military does vaccinations for Hep A and B.  Pte.Butt is right, bring a copy of your vaccination record.

 

[Rayman]

Just a small hijack but if you could get those vacinations as a civilian before you go in, and could produce a record to prove it, would you then be exempt from them on basic or would you still have to take them anyways?

 

[NL_engineer]

If it works like any other needle parade you should be exempt

 

[PMedMoe]

Why would you want to pay for them when you can get them for free?  ???
It's not like they'll let you in faster if you have the immunizations.

 

[RejectedSoldier]

Hi everyone, i'm new here. I joined because I just got my letter of rejection from Ottawa. It was due to my allergies to bees. I am very upset over this since the recruiter said it shouldn't be a problem and my allergist said she had others applying with the same thing. I haven't been stung since I was 12 and had localized swelling past 3 joints. My allergist said a normal person has a 5-6% chance of a bad reaction and I have a 9-10% chance. In the RMO's letter he says that I have severe allergies so I am unfit to blah blah blah...

I was wondering if there are others with bee sting allergies who have gotten accepted so I know if I still have a slight chance of pursuing my childhood dream of joining the military. I am 18 years old, very fit, very intelligent and think i would make an excellent soldier.

 

[the 48th regulator]

My allergist said a normal person has a 5-6% chance of a bad reaction and I have a 9-10% chance. In the RMO's letter he says that I have severe allergies so I am unfit to blah blah blah...

Hey Welcome,

Unfortunately you were denied.

But looking at your stats, you are twice as likely to have a bad reaction than normal person, when stung by a bee.

If your Doctor and allergist feel that you were denied without ground, I would appeal, and have them appear as witnesses, or provide medical documentation to refute the military assessment.

I know the finding must sting, but unless you have evidence to counter the results, you have no grounds.

dileas

tess

 

[RejectedSoldier]

Alright, thanks. I'm going today to talk to the Medical Officer at my recruiting centre and try to get in with my allergist to see if anything can be done. If not I guess it's RCMP for me.

 

[medicineman]

Those machines are to check sugar - if they were insulin pumps they'd be GONZO.  And if they aren't able to manage things, they go bye bye too.  People with severe allergies put not only themselves in danger, but those that have to look after them if they go into anaphylactic shock, those that have to replace them, and those they leave whilst getting treated without the replacement.  It's a really interesting domino effect.  For someone who wants to be a soldier so bad, I'd have thought they would have known that things can't be all about you - they're all about EVERYONE.  Ergo, when something bad happens to to one person, others often get affected.  Like the 1-2 medics that have to look after you, the four litter bearers to get you to the casualty collection point, the ambulance or helicopter crew that has to extract you, the CQ staff that have to drive your replacement out and the people that have to escort all the people taking you out and bringing others in and the guys left without medical coverage while this is all going on and are you starting to see where this is going?  I've seen people with "worse allergies and desease (sic)" too - and if they have potentially rapid fatal consequences (and sometimes not so rapid), they too don't tend to be around too long.

BTW - I grew up wanting to be either a fighter pilot or a cop, but alas, since I need glasses to see, I had to think of something else to do.

MM

 

[medicineman]

the military ration packs dont even have peanut ingredients in them.

Hate to tell you this, I've literally had the rations from 3 different countries in the back of my ambulance at one time - and none of them Canadian.  You can't always pick what or where you eat, and therefore you won't always know what's in the food.  This is why people with food allergies (especially ones that tend to cause quick and nasty reactions, as ground or tree nut and seafood allergies often do) are either looked at very closely or passed by altogether - it's not personal, just business.

MM

 

[LtBradshaw]

I just had my medical rejected in Ottawa because I said I have a peanut allergy and required an EpiPEn or over the counter antihistamine to counteract the effects.  The standard rejection letter mention stuff about long deployments away from proper medical facilities and living in remote places or combat situations.  I applied for Reserve Military Police, not likely to ever leave Toronto and the MOC for the profession, which the MO should have read, mentions nothing about being in the field or in theater for that matter.  Besides, how many nut filled candy bars or chocolate sundeas does the army give out anyway?  It's not like I want to be a Ranger, deployed for days or weeks behind enemy lines:  I'll probably never be more than 30 minutes from a hospital in Ontario.  Has anyone heard of this issue being cause for rejection???
Ok, all kidding aside, is there a work around on this matter or am I out of luck completely?

 

[aesop081]

Heard it many times.

You also better get a better understanding of the trade you applied for and the CF in general because every single thing you have said is wrong.

 

[ark]

I just had my medical rejected in Ottawa because I said I have a peanut allergy and required an EpiPEn or over the counter antihistamine to counteract the effects.  The standard rejection letter mention stuff about long deployments away from proper medical facilities and living in remote places or combat situations.  I applied for Reserve Military Police, not likely to ever leave Toronto and the MOC for the profession, which the MO should have read, mentions nothing about being in the field or in theater for that matter.  Besides, how many nut filled candy bars or chocolate sundeas does the army give out anyway?  It's not like I want to be a Ranger, deployed for days or weeks behind enemy lines:  I'll probably never be more than 30 minutes from a hospital in Ontario.  Has anyone heard of this issue being cause for rejection???
Ok, all kidding aside, is there a work around on this matter or am I out of luck completely?

As a reservist, you could be mobilized for domestic emergencies which may require living in remote places without access to specialized medical facilities for extended periods of time. 

You can always visit a dermatologist/allergist, show the letter and seek their opinion. Some people can grow out of allergies so maybe if you had the test done a long time ago, you can ask for a retest.

 

[the 48th regulator]

I just had my medical rejected in Ottawa because I said I have a peanut allergy and required an EpiPEn or over the counter antihistamine to counteract the effects.  The standard rejection letter mention stuff about long deployments away from proper medical facilities and living in remote places or combat situations.  I applied for Reserve Military Police, not likely to ever leave Toronto and the MOC for the profession, which the MO should have read, mentions nothing about being in the field or in theater for that matter.  Besides, how many nut filled candy bars or chocolate sundeas does the army give out anyway?  It's not like I want to be a Ranger, deployed for days or weeks behind enemy lines:  I'll probably never be more than 30 minutes from a hospital in Ontario.  Has anyone heard of this issue being cause for rejection???
Ok, all kidding aside, is there a work around on this matter or am I out of luck completely?

Out of luck completely.

What I think you should do is review the ideology of a country's military.

That will answer your question completely.

If you are looking to join a patriotic club, that serves the country and stays in house, there are plenty abound in Canada.

Good luck, and keep away from those addictive Nutella and Peanutbutter sangys.

dileas

tess

 

[Sig_Des]

I just had my medical rejected in Ottawa because I said I have a peanut allergy and required an EpiPEn or over the counter antihistamine to counteract the effects. 

When I first applied, I'd put on an allergy to peanuts that I'd had all my life, and I received the same letter. Little bit disheartening.

I applied for Reserve Military Police, not likely to ever leave Toronto and the MOC for the profession, which the MO should have read, mentions nothing about being in the field or in theater for that matter.

 

The only thing the MO needs to check regarding your trade is the minimum medical requirements, and wether you meet those AND the universal service medical standards as well.

And maybe what YOU should have read is a more in-depth description of what service in your trade includes, as it DOES mention being in the field and theater. Personally, if you're going into the CF with a mindset that you will never be 30 minutes away from a hospital, never be in the field, never go on tour... Being declined for a peanut allergy is the least of your worries.

Has anyone heard of this issue being cause for rejection???

Yes, and other allergies as well. It's a liability and safety issue.

Ok, all kidding aside, is there a work around on this matter or am I out of luck completely?

The only "work-around" is this. You will need your personal MD to refer you to a local allergy specialist. That specialist will do an allergy test. If the results of that test are such that ingestion of peanuts would NOT be life-threatening to you, and that in the specialists expert opinion, you do not require an epi-pin, then you can bring a letter from the specialist saying such to your Recruiting Center's Medical Cell, and they will send it to the MO for reconsideration.

BTW, the specialist's allergy testing wasn't covered by OHIP for me when I did it.

 

[Redeye]

I just had my medical rejected in Ottawa because I said I have a peanut allergy and required an EpiPEn or over the counter antihistamine to counteract the effects.  The standard rejection letter mention stuff about long deployments away from proper medical facilities and living in remote places or combat situations.  I applied for Reserve Military Police, not likely to ever leave Toronto and the MOC for the profession, which the MO should have read, mentions nothing about being in the field or in theater for that matter.  Besides, how many nut filled candy bars or chocolate sundeas does the army give out anyway?  It's not like I want to be a Ranger, deployed for days or weeks behind enemy lines:  I'll probably never be more than 30 minutes from a hospital in Ontario.  Has anyone heard of this issue being cause for rejection???
Ok, all kidding aside, is there a work around on this matter or am I out of luck completely?

I guess you should do a search on "Universality of Service".  There is no distinction among trades or components for some standards.  You would have to consult medical professionals to get a more detailed assessment of your allergies and see what the MOs say after that, but I suspect a peanut allergy is basically a showstopper.  Besides, without peanut butter and the "F" word soldiers would starve to death and wouldn't be able to tell anyone!  (that's just a little joke).

As a matter of Army.ca policy, if you do not actually hold the rank of Lieutenant, and/or your initials are not L.T., then you had best change your user name post-haste.

 

[ModlrMike]

Your questions can be answered in three words...


COMMON ENROLLMENT STANDARD

 

[Greymatters]

Its a valid question but quickly - if you have been rejected, why do you label yourself as a 'Lt', implying you are a 'lieutenant'?

Other than that, there are serious liability issues for an employer to take on a person with a life-threatening allergy when they cant guarantee the employee can be free from said life-threatening issues...