PREVIOUS MYTH:
The autoinjector needle is huge
NEXT MYTH:
Only students will experience allergic emergencies in school
PREVIOUS MYTH:
The autoinjector needle is huge
NEXT MYTH:
Only students will experience allergic emergencies in school
Staff Training: Food Allergies & Anaphylaxis in School – What School Staff Need to Know
This 30 minute module is designed to assist the school nurse in staff training of management of life-threatening allergic reactions and increase food allergy awareness for all school staff including teachers, food service personnel, administrators, aides, specialists, coaches, bus drivers, custodians and others.
FOOD ALLERGY MYTH
“You need to call an ambulance because epinephrine is dangerous.”
FOOD ALLERGY FACT
All people experiencing anaphylaxis should be taken to the emergency department by ambulance. Epinephrine is short acting and additional epinephrine, as well as additional medical care, may be needed. Epinephrine is not dangerous and has mild side effects.
COMMENTARY:
Expected side effects of epinephrine are paleness, shakiness, fast heartbeat. Some people may get a headache or experience nausea. Going to the emergency department by ambulance instead of car is important, as emergency personnel can give additional care while driving safely to the hospital. Those that experienced anaphylaxis should be observed for 4 to 6 hours or longer based on severity of the reaction to monitor for biphasic anaphylaxis.
RESOURCES:
Living Confidently With Food Allergy: Epinephrine: Chapter from parent handbook that discusses auto-injectors and involving children in age appropriate management skills.
Anaphylaxis: What School Staff Need to Know : Written supplemental material that supports the AllergyHome training module. This is designed to reinforce key principles in the management and recognition of anaphylaxis by school staff.
“My Child is Afraid of Using The Auto-injector, What can I do?”: Allergic Living Q+A addressing auto-injector fear and how to address a fearful child or caregiver.
REFERENCES:
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID)-Sponsored Expert Panel. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States: Report of the NIAID-Sponsored Expert Panel. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 126.6 (2010): S1-S58.
