Education
Recognizing and Responding to a Reaction
Learning to recognize symptoms and how to react can help save the life of someone with food allergies.
Know how to react and respond to the life-threatening food allergy reaction, anaphylaxis
If two mild symptoms or just one severe symptom is being experienced, give epinephrine and call 911. Explore symptoms throughout the body and create a plan to react.
FOR ANY SEVERE SYMPTOMS
- INJECT EPINEPHRINE IMMEDIATELY
- Call 911. Tell emergency dispatcher the person is having anaphylaxis and may need epinephrine when emergency responders arrive.
- Consider giving additional medications following epinephrine:
- Antihistamine
- Inhaler (bronchodilator) if wheezing
- Lay the person flat, raise legs and keep warm. If breathing is difficult or they are vomiting, let them sit up or lie on their side.
- If symptoms do not improve, or symptoms return, more doses of epinephrine can be given about 5 minutes or more after the last dose.
- Alert emergency contacts.
- Transport patient to ER, even if symptoms resolve. Patient should remain in ER for at least 4 hours because symptoms may return.
FOR MILD SYMPTOMS FROM MORE THAN ONE SYSTEM AREA, GIVE EPINEPHRINE.
FOR MILD SYMPTOMS FROM A SINGLE SYSTEM AREA, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS BELOW:
- Antihistamines may be given, if ordered by a healthcare provider.
- Stay with the person; alert emergency contacts.
- Watch closely for changes. If symptoms worsen, give epinephrine.