What to Do When Emergency Allergy Attacks Strike

For many people, allergy attacks mean the sudden onset of sneezing, a runny nose, a headache, or other minor symptoms.  Even when these symptoms disrupt work or leisure, they are often not too serious.  For some individuals, however, an allergy attack can trigger a life threatening situation.  Learn what you should do if you or someone near you experiences severe allergy attacks.

Severe allergy attacks present themselves in an alarming way.  Swelling of the face, mouth, and throat are often the first symptoms, followed by hives on the skin (itchy red bumps) and airway constriction.  These symptoms can become severe or life-threatening in a matter of minutes or even seconds, and knowing how to react immediately is crucial. 

 

The first thing you should do is to call 911.  Contacting emergency personnel will ensure that they can reach the patient as quickly as possible and provide any treatment that is necessary to help get the patient’s allergy attack under control.

Once emergency personnel have been contacted, it is recommended that you ask if anyone in the room, including the patient, has an Epi-Pen.  This is a small injection that puts epinephrine into the patient’s bloodstream to counteract their allergy attack.  Using this devices can help save a life.  In order to use the pen, you need to first remove it from the case.  Push the device into the bare thigh of the patient rapidly.  This will cause the needle to penetrate the skin, injecting the epinephrine.  Within a few minutes, the symptoms should subside.  Medical attention is still crucial even after using the Epi-Pen, but this can take a great deal of the risk out of allergy attacks.  Knowing how to use an Epi-Pen is crucial, and it can help to save a life.

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