Allergies and Anaphylaxis Powerpoint Presentation - Interior Health

Adapted from the Ministry
of Education BCSTA website
Interior
Health
July 2013

WHAT IS AN ALLERGY
Allergies occur when the immune system becomes
unusually sensitive and overreacts to common
substances that are normally harmless. Examples are:
Foods – peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, milk
eggs, seafood, soy, wheat, sulphites and mustard
Insect bites – bees, wasps, hornets and some ants
Medications – penicillin, sulfa drugs
Exercise
Latex – gloves/medical devices
Reference: Anaphylaxis Canada (2013) 2

WHAT IS ANAPHYLAXIS
Occurs when a person is exposed to an allergen
causing a severe, life-threatening allergic response
Reactions occur within minutes or, more rarely, up to
a few hours after exposure
Reference: Anaphylaxis Canada (2013)
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COMMON SYMPTOMS
Skin – hives , swelling, itching, warmth,
redness, rash
Respiratory (breathing) – wheezing, shortness
of breath, throat tightness, cough, hoarse voice,
chest pain/tightness, nasal congestion or hay
fever-like symptoms (runny itchy nose and
watery eyes, sneezing), trouble swallowing
Reference: Anaphylaxis Canada (2013) 4

Swollen lips/face and
hives present
www.sovereign-publications.com/.../ANAPHYL.jpg
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COMMON SYMPTOMS
Gastrointestinal (stomach): nausea,
pain/cramps, vomiting, diarrhea
Cardiovascular (heart): pale/blue colour, weak
pulse, passing out, dizzy/lightheaded, shock
Other: anxiety, feeling of “impending doom”,
headache, uterine cramps in females, metallic
taste
Reference: Anaphylaxis Canada (2013) 6

MOST DANGEROUS SYMPTOMS
Trouble breathing caused by airway swelling
A drop in blood pressure causing dizziness,
light-headedness, feeling faint or weak, or
passing out
Reference: Anaphylaxis Canada (2013)
7

Anaphylactic Reaction
Normal Appearance
Hives and Swelling of face
Important: Not all reactions have hives
www.natureshomoeo.com.au/image/student.JPG
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health.yahoo.com/media/healthwise/h9991075.jpg
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WHY ARE TEENS AT HIGHER RISK
Increased independence
Increased risk taking
Eating unsafe food and eating out
Not carrying auto injector,
The part of the brain that makes decisions is the
last to mature
Not telling friends, wanting to fit in
http://www.allergysafecommunities.ca/challenges/
Reference: Allergy Safe Communities (2013)
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PREVENTION = HAVING A PLAN
Ensure the medical alert list is up-to-date and familiarize yourself
with students who have medical conditions and allergies
Review emergency care plans for each student
Note where auto-injectors are stored for each student. Ensure
auto-injectors are immediately available
Recognize allergy sources and triggers
Know when and how to administer the auto-injector
Prepare for outdoor and off school grounds activities
Anaphylaxis Awareness/Avoidance Strategies and Checklist 11

WHAT SHOULD I DO
1. Administer single dose auto-injector
2. Call 911
3. Notify parent/guardian
4. Administer second auto-injector in
5 to 15 minutes after first dose is given IF
symptoms do not improve or if symptoms recur
5. Have ambulance transport student to hospital
*Epinephrine is the only way to reverse the effects
of anaphylaxis. Give ASAP
**Remember, the epinephrine may only last for 15
minutes, calling 911 is very important
Reference: BC Anaphylactic and Child Safety Framework (2007) 12

WHAT SHOULD I DO
When in doubt, administer epinephrine. Symptoms
of anaphylaxis can be as simple as tingling of the lips
or as severe as cardiac arrest.
If a person says they are having a reaction it is
important to believe them, and immediately
administer epinephrine regardless of the symptoms
present
Antihistamines and asthma medication must not be
given as first line treatment for anaphylaxis
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WHAT IS AN EPINEPHRINE AUTO-
INJECTOR
An auto-injector is an easy way to give epinephrine to
someone having an allergic reaction
There are three auto-injectors available in BC:
Allerject TM
EpiPen®
Twinject®
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WHAT IS AN EPIPEN ®
A disposable, pre-filled automatic
injection device that administers
a single dose of epinephrine
Reference: www.epipen.ca
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HOW TO USE EPIPEN ®
Hold firmly with ORANGE tip pointing downward.
Remove BLUE safety cap by pulling straight up.
Do not bend or twist.
Swing and push ORANGE tip firmly into midouter
thigh until you hear a “click.”
Hold on thigh for several seconds.
EpiPen video link
Built-in needle protection
When EpiPen ® is removed, the ORANGE
needle cover automatically extends to cover
the injection needle, ensuring the needle is
never exposed.
Reference: www.epipen.ca
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WHAT IS ALLERJECT TM
A disposable, pre-filled
automatic injection
device that administers a
single dose of
epinephrine
Talks users through each
step
Reference: www.allerject.ca
17

HOW TO USE ALLERJECT TM
•youtube demonstration link
•Pull Allerject from the outer case
•Pull off RED safety guard
•To reduce the chance of an accidental
injection, do not touch the BLACK base of the
auto-injector, which is where the needle
comes out
•Place BLACK end against the middle of the
outer thigh, then press firmly and hold in place
for five seconds
•Do not inject into any other location
•Once the injection is complete, replace the
outer case
Reference: www.allerject.ca 18

WHAT IS TWINJECT ®
•A disposable, pre-filled automatic
injection device that contains two
doses of epinephrine in a single device
•First dose of epinephrine is
administered by auto-injection, just like
the EpiPen® and Allerject TM
**Remember, staff are not
recommended to give dose two
(manual intramuscular injection of
epinephrine)
Reference: www.twinject.ca 19

FOR INFORMATION ONLY: HOW TO
USE TWINJECT ®
Pull off GREEN end cap labeled “1”. Never put
thumb, finger or hand over the RED tip.
Pull off GREEN end cap labeled “2”
Press RED cap into outer thigh until unit
activates. Hold Twinject® in place for about 10
seconds
video link
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Reference: www.twinject.ca

WHAT TO DO AFTER GIVING
EPINEPHERINE
• If dizzy or faint have student lie still on his or her back
with feet higher than the head
• If nauseous or vomiting, have the student lie on their
side to prevent choking
• If breathing is difficult, have the student sit up
• Loosen tight clothing and cover student with
blanket
• Don’t give anything to drink
• Send auto-injector with student to hospital
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CONCLUSION:
FOLLOW THE THREE A’S
Awareness
Know the triggers
Know the emergency plan and how to administer
epinephrine via the auto-injector
Avoidance
Avoid contact with allergens, make classrooms safe
Action
Give auto-injector and call 911.
Don’t delay!
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RESOURCES
For more information contact your Public Health Nurse and see:
www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/bc_anaphylactic_child_safety.pdf
(BC Anaphylactic and Child Safety Framework)
www.anaphylaxis.org (Anaphylaxis Canada)
www.whyriskit.ca/pages/en/home.php (Why Risk It- Teens)
www.aaia.ca (Allergy/Asthma Information Assoc.)
www.allerject.ca (Allerject®)
www.epipen.ca (EpiPen®)
www.twinject.ca (Twinject®)
www.medicalert.ca Medic Alert
www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles Health files
https://dsweb.bcsta.org/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-
7655 BC Ministry of Education Core Anaphylaxis Resources
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REFERENCES
Anaphylaxis Canada (2013)
http://www.anaphylaxis.org/
AAIA Anaphylaxis Reference Kit (2007) by the Allergy
and Asthma Information Association, Health Canada
Anaphylaxis in Schools & Other Settings (Second
Edition, 2009) by the Canadian Society of Allergy and
Clinical Immunology.
Allergy Safe Communities. (2013)
http://www.allergysafecommunities.ca/
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ANY QUESTIONS
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