What to do in an emergency

If someone is having a severe allergic reaction, it is vital that they receive an adrenaline injection. If they have their own adrenaline, this must be given as soon as a severe reaction is suspected to be occurring and an ambulance must be called immediately. If the patient is alone or is unable to self-administer, the adrenaline should be administered first then an ambulance should be called immediately after.

Practical points:

• Try to ensure that a person suffering an allergic reaction remains as still as possible
• Preferably they should be lying down and if they are feeling weak, dizzy or appear pale and sweating their legs should be raised
• When dialling 999, say that the person is suffering from anaphylaxis (anna-fill-axis)
• Give clear and precise directions to the emergency operator, including the postcode of your location
• If adrenaline has been given, make a note of the time this was administered. A second dose can be given after five minutes if there has been no improvement
• If the person’s condition deteriorates after making the initial 999 call, a second call to the emergency services should be made to ensure an ambulance has been dispatched
• Send someone outside to direct the ambulance crew when they arrive
• Try to ascertain what food or substance may have caused the reaction and ensure the ambulance crew knows this.

Reviewer

The above text has been peer-reviewed by Sue Clarke, Specialist Allergy Health Visitor in West Essex. Disclosure: Sue Clarke received an educational grant from ALK for a research project with ANSWER nurses group.

All the information we produce is evidence based or follows expert opinion and checked by our expert Clinical and research reviewers. If you wish to know the sources we used in producing any of our information products, please let us know, and we will gladly supply details.

Published date:  October 2016

Review Date:  October 2019

All the information we produce is evidence based or follows expert opinion and checked by our expert Clinical and research reviewers. If you wish to know the sources we used in producing any of our information products, please let us know, and we will gladly supply details.