Justin Mathews Case Study Answers

Words: 566
Pages: 3

Justin Mathews was just doing his job when he entered the Rossdale fire station in Canada to inspect the air quality, something he has done many times before, but this time he ended up fighting for breath after he inhaled the air.

CBC News reports the Edmonton man's throat began to swell up as he inspected the air that was recently filled with a product containing walnut shells that was used for sandblasting the walls, which he was unaware of, a material that is also used in the United States.

The 33-year-old man who had a nut allergy, went into anaphylactic shock from the air filled with the nut particles. He rushed outside to catch his breath, but it was too late.

His parents, David and Mabel Mathews, rushed to the hospital to be by their son's side. They received devastating news when they arrived. Mabel said:
…show more content…
Sadly, his parents explained Justin was very cautious about his nut allergy when it came to food, not worrying about the air he was breathing, so he did not have his epinephrine autoinjector when he went in to inspect the building.

His sister, Shari Reklow, wants to see warnings issued about products that include nuts in them that people wouldn't expect:

"It's not just a food. It's being used in commercial and industrial applications and that needs to be regulated. You can find walnut shells in tires, in sandblasting. It's in places you don't even think to look look for it. If you're not made properly aware, how can you protect yourself? How can you protect your family?"
Reklow is hoping to see warning at job sites and placed on labels along with having the products that could take a life regulated as food has been since it shows up in places you wouldn't know