In recent years there has been an increase in the number of children ...

Anaphylaxis – A guide for teachersshould be called, these carry the equipment necessary to deal with asevere reaction, and it should be stated at the time that the child issuffering from anaphylaxis. The child must go to hospital for observation,even if recovered, in case of relapse.MedicationAll children at risk of anaphylaxis will be prescribed medication for use inthe event of an allergic reaction. These may include antihistamines, anadrenaline inhaler or an adrenaline injector. The adrenaline injectionthat is most commonly supplied is the EpiPen. These devices arepreloaded with a single pre-measured dose. It is the responsibility of thechild’s parents to supply the school with the necessary medication,labelled with the child’s name and marked for use by trained school staff,to use in an emergency. If the medication is used or out of date theparents should be asked to replace it.Storage of medicationMedication should be stored under secure conditions, clearly marked foruse and easily accessible by designated school staff or qualified personneland showing an expiry date. The EpiPen should be kept at roomtemperature. If exposed to extreme heat or sunlight the adrenaline turnsbrown. Looking through the viewing window can check this. It isrecommended that two EpiPens are kept in school, both because of thepotential need for a second dose and in case there is a problem such asfaulty technique or damage to equipment.Administration of adrenaline injectionAs soon as a severe reaction is suspected an adrenaline injection must begiven. Do not wait to be sure. The administration of this medication issafe. It will not harm the child. A paramedic ambulance must be calledand it should be stated that the child is suffering from anaphylactic shock.The EpiPen is a disposable pen with a concealed needle that delivers asingle pre-measured dose. The following steps should be taken: Place the child in the recovery position. Remove the grey safety cap. Hold the EpiPen with the black top at right angles to the outer thigh. Press hard until the auto-injector mechanism functions, 3-4mm, (thereshould be a click). Hold in place for 10 seconds. Remove the EpiPen and massage the area. The time of administration should be noted, as the paramedics willneed this information.Health, safety, security, and contract management section 2