Anaphylaxis is a potentially life threatening reaction to a trigger such as an allergy.
Some of the possible triggers of anaphylactic shock could be; food, medicines, insect bites or stings, latex or anaesthetic/contrast agents.
If someone has an adrenaline auto-injector this should be used - provided the person administering it knows how to use it.
This video is a snippet from our range of First Aid Courses that we offer - www.ihasco.co.uk/courses/bund...
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COURSE TRANSCRIPT
If someone with an allergy tastes, eats, swallows, inhales or touches the substance they’re allergic to, their immune system sees it as a threat and reacts by trying to fight it off.
Some reactions can be mild or moderate, such as:
* Itching
* Sneezing
* Runny nose
* Itchy, red puffy or watery eyes
* A red, raised, itchy rash or red flushed blotchy skin
* A tight chest and wheezing
* Difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking
* Abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea
But some reactions can be more severe. Anaphylactic shock is the most severe type of allergic reaction. It can develop within just a few seconds of the person coming into contact with the substance they’re allergic to, and, if not treated, can prove life-threatening. A casualty with anaphylactic shock needs immediate emergency treatment with an injection of adrenaline (or epinephrine).
As well as the mild or moderate reactions, a casualty in anaphylactic shock may also have:
* Severe difficulty breathing, causing them to wheeze and gasp for air
* Visible swelling of their tongue and throat
* A feeling of terror
* And they may go into shock, collapse and become unconscious
If someone in your workplace has severe allergies, they should make sure you’re aware of this. This’ll help you give them the right first aid much more quickly, which could save their life.
This is what to do for a severe allergic reaction:
* Call the emergency services immediately. Tell the operator the casualty is having a severe allergic reaction and give them any information you have on what may have triggered it, such as an insect sting, or a particular food, like peanuts.
* Check whether the casualty is carrying their own medication, such as an auto-injector. If they are, and you’ve been trained to do so, you can help them to administer it.
* Help them to sit up in the position that best relieves any breathing difficulty.
* If they become pale and have a weak pulse, help them to lie down, raise their legs and treat them for shock.
* Monitor and record their vital signs while you wait for the emergency services to arrive. If they become unresponsive or their breathing stops, follow the steps from the primary survey.
* If there’s no improvement or the symptoms return, repeat doses of epinephrine can be given at five minute intervals.