Sunday, September 16, 2018

NHTSA Form: “Request for Air Bag On-Off Switch” Due to Corn Allergy


I do NOT recommend that anyone request that their vehicle air bags be turned off due to their allergy to corn; however, especially if you are anaphylactic to corn, following are the instructions for disengaging the air bags.

Even though I am not anaphylactic to corn (yet), I recently requested that my mechanic turn off the air bag in my car due to my allergy to corn (I always wear my seat belt), since cornstarch and/or talc are the primary ingredients.  He stated that this disconnect can only be approved by the NHTSA; and if it is due to a medical condition; e.g., allergy to corn, the request must be accompanied by certification from my physician.

This is the 2-page "Form to Request Air Bag On-Off Switch" that I will be submitting to the NHTSA due to my corn allergy.
United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Instructions for Completing Form:
"An individual with a medical condition is safer if the frontal air bag is turned off. A written statement from a physician must accompany each request based on a medical condition unless the request is based on a medical condition for which the National Conference on Medical Indications for Air Bag Deactivation recommends deactivation. (For driver and/or passenger frontal air bag as appropriate.)"

Contact the NHTSA via email (I sent them an email 9/16/18 with documentation confirming that cornstarch is NOT safe for corn-allergic individuals)

Since I believe the NHTSA has determined that cornstarch is safe based on the blatantly false statement by the ACAAI, I emailed them my rebuttals to the ACAAI concerning cornstarch and corn syrup.

Argo Cornstarch Oral Challenge to Test Hypothesis Presented by the ACAAI
 [Conclusion: If you are allergic/intolerant to corn, do NOT consume cornstarch. I suffered a significant allergic reaction as a result of this oral challenge.]

My March 27, 2018, Certified Letter to the ACAAI  Re: Cornstarch and Corn Syrup

ACAAI - My Rebuttal Concerning Cornstarch and High Fructose Corn Syrup

Petition to Demand that the ACAAI Remove False Statement Re: Cornstarch/High Fructose Corn Syrup

Removing a Food Protein Does Not Guarantee an Allergen Hypoallergenic

Corn Allergy Statistics (Monthly) [Corn allergies have increased by over 700% in the last 62 months.]


Other supporting articles you can submit with your request that your air bag be disconnected:

"IS THE DUST THAT COMES OUT OF AN AIRBAG TOXIC?", The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary
"The dust released from an airbag after deployment is not toxic, but rather a mixture of corn-based powder that helps the rapid propulsion of the airbag. It might cause irritation of the throat and itching, watery eyes."

"So, the smoke and dust particles you see when an airbag deploys may come from these various chemicals used to make the airbag open and expand rapidly in the event of an emergency. Sodium azide (NaN3) ensured the airbag device worked efficiently as soon as impact triggered it but it is a potentially deadly chemical. Also, all the sodium azide from discarded airbags was dangerous for the environment."

"Airbag saves man, then kills him,' by Chris Matyszczyk, May 31, 2012, CNET

". . . a forensic pathologist talked about how Smith's lungs were infected and that he died of bronchial pneumonia."

"Washington University's chemistry department says that inside airbags is a mixture of NaN3, KNO3, and SiO2. The end result of the chemical reaction is supposed to be silicate glass, which is safe."

"Still, even if Smith had known the airbag contained dangerous chemicals, what could he have done to prevent himself breathing in the noxious fumes?

"The Hidden Dangers of Airbags" June 22, 2010, SciJourner
"Although in only small amounts, the NHTSA has found that sodium hydroxide is causing coughing fits and asthma attacks in the drivers and passengers. Rescue workers are advised to wear gloves and safety glasses and to completely ventilate the car for several minutes before entering. The excessive coughing caused by the air bag powder can also make a chest injury worse."

"Sodium azide is an extremely toxic poison, capable of destroying entire ecosystems. An undeployed airbag contains between 50 grams for the driver side and 200 grams for the passenger side. After the airbag reacts, all of the sodium azide should be converted to harmless nitrogen gas. Undeployed airbags should be removed from cars before they are “junked” or put into landfills in order to prevent unreacted sodium azide from getting into the environment, recommends Betterton."

"Talc," Wikipedia
"In loose form, it is (in ratio with or without corn starch) . . ."

"The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents not use baby powder because it poses a risk of respiratory problems, including breathing trouble and serious lung damage if the baby inhales it. The small size of the particles makes it difficult to keep them out of the air while applying the powder."

"With intravenous use, it may lead to pulmonary talcosis, a granulomatous inflammation in the lungs."

"In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have set occupational exposure limits to respirable talc dusts at 2 mg/m3 over an eight-hour workday. At levels of 1000 mg/m3, inhalation of talc is considered immediately dangerous to life and health."

Healthline
"If you’re allergic to corn, you’ll want to stay away from all of its forms, whether the corn is cooked, raw, in syrup, or in flour."

Strict avoidance of a person's allergen is always advised to avoid a possible anaphylactic reaction.
“Symptoms of a food allergy can range from mild to severe. Just because an initial reaction causes few problems doesn’t mean that all reactions will be similar; a food that triggered only mild symptoms on one occasion may cause more severe symptoms at another time.”

"Patient education: Food allergy treatment and avoidance (Beyond the Basics)," Scott H. Sicherer, MD, FAAAAI, UpToDate, April 25, 2017
"People with food allergies can have serious or even life-threatening reactions after consuming certain foods. The most important strategy in the management of food allergies is to avoid eating these foods."


UPDATE:  NHTSA’s 9/18/18 reply to my email:

Workspace:
NHTSA Hotline Center
Case:
Cornstarch is NOT safe for corn-allergic individuals
Case Number:
1270581

Date:
09/18/2018

Time:
11:00:27
Creation Date:
09/16/2018

Creation Time:
18:32:50

Symptom:
Entered on 09/18/2018 at 11:00:27 AM EDT (GMT-0400) by Ann Marie L Ambrose:
Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Vehicle Safety Hotline Information Center.

You may visit our web site at 
www.nhtsa.gov for information on Vehicle Air Bags. This site will provide you with answers to Frequently Asked Questions as well as the following:
 •Applying for Air Bag On/Off Switch
 •Air Bag Deactivation Requests

 
You may also send a request in writing to:
 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Attention: Air Bag Deactivation Requests
1200 New Jersey AVE, SE
West Building
Washington, DC 20590

The request can also be faxed to 202-493-2833.

The request must contain the following: Name and address of the vehicle owner. The justification for the request (must be one of four conditions as stated in Under what circumstances will NHTSA allow air bag deactivation?). The letter should be as specific as possible about the justification and state whether the request applies to the driver or passenger air bag, or both. A description of the facts creating the need for deactivation.

A statement from a physician based on a medical condition—only if the condition is not one for which the National Conference recommended deactivation (see What are the medical conditions for which an air bag may be deactivated?). [Emphasis added.]

The physician's statement must identify the particular condition of the patient and include the physician's judgment that: Air bags pose a special risk to the person with the medical condition, and The potential harm from the air bag outweighs the potential harm from turning off the air bag and allowing the person's head, neck or breast bone to hit the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield. Note: Hitting the vehicle interior is likely in a moderate to severe crash, even if the person is using seat belts.  


If the request concerns a child who must ride in the front seat to enable the driver to monitor the child's medical condition, the supporting physician's statement must identify the condition and state that frequent monitoring by the driver is necessary.

We hope that you find this information helpful. However, if you need additional information on our services please feel free to contact us at 1-888-327-4236.

Thank you,

NHTSA.dot.gov Response Team

Disclaimer: "This response is for information purposes only and does not constitute an official communication of the U.S. Department of Transportation. For an official response, please write U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, West Building, Washington, DC 20590.


UPDATE, 9/19/18:  “What are the medical conditions for which an air bag may be deactivated?
Note that an allergy to cornstarch is not addressed.

“National Conference on Medical Indications for Air Bag Disconnection”
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/airbag_conference_report_july_1997.pdf


UPDATE, 9/19/18, ARE FOOD ALLERGIES CONSIDERED DISABILITIES UNDER THE ADA?:

My request to have my air bags deactivated due to my allergy to corn should be honored, since food allergies (in certain cases) are considered a disability under the ADA.


"Are Asthma and Allergies Disabilities?" -  Article by Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
http://www.aafa.org/page/asthma-allergies-and-the-american-with-disabilities-act.aspx



Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources
@CornAllergy911

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