Allergies are perhaps the most common medical condition in the UK with about a third of the population suffering from an allergy at some point in their life. An allergy is just an abnormal reaction by the body's immune system to a normally harmless substance.
The symptoms of an allergic reaction include itchiness, reddening of the skin and swelling. Not all these may appear. In most cases they’re nothing more than a nuisance with the sufferer sneezing more than normal or developing a small rash.
In some case it can be more serious and the person may suffer from anaphylaxis. During anaphylaxis, the blood vessels can widen causing blood pressure to drop, and the airway constricts causing problems with breathing. Anaphylaxis constitutes an emergency and urgent medical attention is required.
Phone 999 and advise them of the patient’s condition.
Many people know they are severely allergic to certain stimuli – wasp stings, peanuts etc. – and try to avoid a severe allergic reaction by avoiding the allergen. This is not always possible however so they help themselves further by carrying an auto-injector Epi-pen®* to relieve the symptoms. If they are carrying an Epi-pen® then help them to use it. Unless you are trained to use one it would be inadvisable to use it yourself. My wife carried out an audit among health professionals using a dummy pen and many of them used it incorrectly with some of them injecting themselves. Had it been a real pen they would probably have lost their thumb.
Until help arrives, make sure the casualty is comfortable and help maintain the airway. This can be done by sitting them in an upright position.
Should the patient lose consciousness then check their airway, check their breathing and be prepared to perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Otherwise monitor the vital signs as you are able to do, take their pulse and check their breathing – rate and strength for both.
For further information on allergies visit the Allergy UK web site or for advice on treating allergic reactions visit the St John Ambulance web site.
*The Epi-pen® contains epinephrine which is adrenaline.
The symptoms of an allergic reaction include itchiness, reddening of the skin and swelling. Not all these may appear. In most cases they’re nothing more than a nuisance with the sufferer sneezing more than normal or developing a small rash.
In some case it can be more serious and the person may suffer from anaphylaxis. During anaphylaxis, the blood vessels can widen causing blood pressure to drop, and the airway constricts causing problems with breathing. Anaphylaxis constitutes an emergency and urgent medical attention is required.
Phone 999 and advise them of the patient’s condition.
Many people know they are severely allergic to certain stimuli – wasp stings, peanuts etc. – and try to avoid a severe allergic reaction by avoiding the allergen. This is not always possible however so they help themselves further by carrying an auto-injector Epi-pen®* to relieve the symptoms. If they are carrying an Epi-pen® then help them to use it. Unless you are trained to use one it would be inadvisable to use it yourself. My wife carried out an audit among health professionals using a dummy pen and many of them used it incorrectly with some of them injecting themselves. Had it been a real pen they would probably have lost their thumb.
Until help arrives, make sure the casualty is comfortable and help maintain the airway. This can be done by sitting them in an upright position.
Should the patient lose consciousness then check their airway, check their breathing and be prepared to perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Otherwise monitor the vital signs as you are able to do, take their pulse and check their breathing – rate and strength for both.
For further information on allergies visit the Allergy UK web site or for advice on treating allergic reactions visit the St John Ambulance web site.
*The Epi-pen® contains epinephrine which is adrenaline.
