An allergic reaction is characterized by difficulty breathing, wheezing, tightness in the throat or chest, swelling of the face, neck, and eyes, anxiety or agitation, nausea and/or vomiting, and changing levels of responsiveness.
The most common allergies include latex, iodine, penicillin, nuts, and insect stings.
If a person is having an allergic reaction, a rescuer should call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency contact.
People with severe allergies will often have medication on them in the form of an emergency epinephrine kit, with the most common ones being EpiPen auto-injectors and the Ana-Kit. To help a victim use their medication, a rescuer should:
- Take the EpiPen out of its case and remove the cap.
- Hold the victim's leg to limit movement.
- Jab the pen tip into the outer thigh and hold it there for 3 seconds (or per manufacturer instructions) while the medication is injected.
The medication should provide relief for 5–15 minutes. If symptoms do not diminish and emergency care is more than 5 minutes away, the rescuer should administer the second dose, if available.
If the victim becomes unresponsive, the rescuer should put the victim in the Recovery Position.
For official instructions on EpiPen usage, read the manual through this
link or the attached PDF.
