Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction to something, whether an insect sting or food, and it can be fatal if not treated immediately. It occurs within 20 minutes to two hours after exposure to an allergen, anaphylaxis requires crucial medical attention. Often affecting more than one body system, it can cause numerous life-threatening symptoms without pre-emptive measures in place.
While there is no cure, people who are predisposed to anaphylaxis, should always carry an EpiPen in case of an emergency. These auto-injectors comprise of adrenaline, which will help decrease the patient’s symptoms.
Although EpiPens are designed to be used by everyone, it’s suggested to receive training so you know how to administer the treatment appropriately. It’s normal for people to unintentionally inject themselves with the treatment, rather than the patient.
In some cases, the anaphylaxis patient’s heart might stop beating or they might even stop breathing. Therefore, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) will need to be started to restart the heart and increase airflow around the body to all the major organs.
Regardless of the situation or whether you have administered an EpiPen, you should always contact emergency services as soon as possible so the patient can be assessed by medical professionals. You do not want to risk anyone’s, especially not by something that can be prevented by medical professionals.
Learn how to be more prepared and properly treat an anaphylaxis emergency by taking a First Aider at Work course. At least one person in every office needs to have this training, to ensure that no fatalities happen.
Look no further than Wimbledon Training to get you upskilled.