Transcript Lesson 17: Allergies and Anaphylaxis

Lesson 17:
Allergies & Anaphylaxis
Emergency Reference Guide p. 25-30
Objectives
• Describe basics of allergic reactions &
treatment
• Define anaphylaxis
• List signs & symptoms of anaphylaxis
• Describe conditions when an injection of
epinephrine should be considered
• Describe use of EpiPen® and Twinject®
systems
Objectives (cont’d.)
• Describe function of oral antihistamines in
anaphylaxis
• Discuss when and how much oral
antihistamines to use
• Describe situations when evacuation is
required
• Describe how some allergic reactions can
be prevented
Allergies and Anaphylaxis
Overview
• The immune system releases histamines in
response to presence of foreign substances (i.e.
allergens).
• Allergic reaction occurs when there is an
overproduction of histamines
• 2 stages of allergic reactions, life threatening &
non-life threatening
• Anaphylactic shock is a severe, life threatening
allergic reaction
Allergies and Anaphylaxis
Overview (cont’d.)
• Epinephrine is prescription drug that
reverses overproduction of histamines
• Allergens can be ingested, inhaled,
injected, absorbed
• What kinds of substances can cause an
allergic reaction?
Allergies and Anaphylaxis
Overview (cont’d.)
• Some allergens are:
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Foods
Drugs
Pollen
Bee venom
Plant oils (poison ivy, most common)
• Know what allergies people in your group have:
– Medical forms, medical ID tags
– Friends/family history
– Medications
Signs/Symptoms for Non-Life
Threatening Allergies
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Stuffy noise/congestion
Flushed & itchy skin
Sneezing
Nasal discharge (i.e. runny nose)
Itchy & watery eyes
Swelling (i.e. around a bite)
Hives (i.e. smooth, itchy, burning patches of skin)
Care for non Life Threatening
Allergies
• Remove allergen, or move patient away
from allergen
• Help patient self-administer oral antihistamine, if he can swallow & has no
known reaction to it
Anaphylaxis
• Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction,
& is life threatening
• Signs/symptoms can appear in < 5 min &
most often in 45 min. to 1hour
• Look for medical ID tag for info about
allergies, or if patient has a prescribed
auto-injector
• Determine whether allergen is still
present, possibly causing the reaction to
re-occur.
Signs/Symptoms of Anaphylaxis
• Look, listen & feel for signs/symptoms:
– Signs/symptoms of non-life threatening
allergies followed by shock & altered mental
status
– Extreme wheezing
– Redness of the skin or hives
– Inability to speak or only 1 or 2 work clusters
– Swelling of face, lips, tongue, sometimes
hands & feet
Caring for Anaphylaxis
• Epinephrine is available commercially by
prescription. Injected into patient using
EpiPen® or Twinject®
• Know who has allergies & who has
injectors
• Know where the injectors are located
• Epinephrine can be ruined by extreme
heat or cold (caution: do not use, if expired or liquid
cloudy)
Caring for Anaphylaxis (cont’d.)
• If patient is experiencing anaphylaxis:
– Remove allergen
– Immediately help patient admin. epinephrine
– Repeat injection, if first one fails or relapse
occurs
– After injection & once patient can breathe and
swallow easily:
• Help patient self-administer oral antihistamine
• Keep patient well hydrated
Guidelines for Evacuation
• Some allergic reactions & anaphylaxis
require rapid evacuation
• Non-life threatening reactions can be
managed in the field
• GO FAST for anyone treated for
anaphylaxis. During evacuation keep
patient well hydrated
Preventing Allergic Reactions
• How can allergic reactions be prevented?
– Avoid taking a known allergen on a trip (i.e. no
peanuts, if someone allergic to them)
– Be aware whether any member of group
might experience an allergic reaction
– Make sure that everyone in group is aware of
different types of allergens
Preventing Allergic Reactions
(cont’d.)
• Avoid taking a known allergen on a trip (i.e.
no peanuts, if someone allergic to them)
• Be aware whether any member of group
might experience an allergic reaction
• Make sure that everyone in group is aware
of different types of allergens
Questions???
What else could you add to your
First Aid Kit?