Anaphylaxis symptoms and first aid treatment – First Aid and CPR Training Company in Toronto

Anaphylaxis

An anaphylactic reaction can be a scary, life threatening medical emergency where the patient would have extreme difficulty breathing due to a narrowing of the airway. Learn how to tell the signs and symptoms, and how to treat this life threatening condition.

What is anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a server allergic reaction, in which often causes respiratory issues, such as wheezing, a narrowing or airway, rapid shallow breathing. Although not the only indicator of anaphylaxis, the narrowing or airway is the most severe life threatening indicator of anaphylaxis and can cause death if not treated immediately.

What are the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis may have one or more key signs and symptoms, such as:

Hives
Trouble breathing due to airway constriction
Rapid shallow breathing
Vomiting
Low blood pressure
Itchiness of the skin, red pale skin
Swelling
Dizziness, and /or fainting

What causes anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis can be caused by several factors, such as:

Nuts
Dairy products
Seafood
Cats
Dogs
Bee stings
Latex
Medication allergies, such as penicillin

What was listed above are the most common allergies. There is no exclusive list. Anyone can be allergic to the most unsusceptible things, such as fabrics, and even water!

How to treat anaphylaxis?

Epinephrine must be given to the patient immediately in order to alleviate the hives, and the constricted airway.

Epinephrine for civilian use comes in the form of an epinephrine auto injector, which is in simple terms, a pre dosed needle of epinephrine which would auto inject in the thigh muscle. It is really no different than a paramedic or doctor injecting a needle into a patient’s thigh with epinephrine loaded into the syringe aside from the auto injector “auto injecting.” Meaning there is no plunger to push on to.

How to use an epinephrine auto injector:

In Canada, we have two epinephrine auto injectors: The EpiPen (left) and the Allerject (right).

EpiPen Instructions:

Remove blue safety cap. This blue safety cap ensures no accidental injection occurs.
Pat down the injection site (outer lateral thigh) for any foreign objects, such as coins, cell phones, keys, etc.
Get a firm grip on the EpiPen, ensure you are holding it correctly (blue to the sky, orange to the thigh).
Push down into the thigh and listen for a click. This click indicates that the needle had fired and injected in the thigh.
Count to 5 and then withdraw.

Allerject Instructions:

The Allerject is a pretty cool device which has audible instructions on how to administer the drug. Competent first aiders who attend our first aid and CPR classes in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Hamilton, and Scarborough will be taught how to administer the Allerject without listening to the instructions:

Remove the outer cover
Remove the red safety cap
Pat down the injection site (outer lateral thigh) for any foreign objects, such as coins, cell phones, keys, etc.
Get a firm grip on the Allerject.
Push down into the thigh and listen for an audible click. This click indicates that the needle had fired and injected in the thigh.
Allow the Allerject to count down from 5-4-3-2-1. it will then say “injection complete.” The needle can safely be withdrawn.

Most common errors when injecting an epenephrine auto injector:

Some embarrassing mistakes can be made when injecting an epinephrine auto injector. They include:

Holding the EpiPen upside down and injecting in your thumb! Please remember, “blue to the sky, orange to the thigh!”
Not holding it with a firm grip, causing the injector to skip, wobble, or fall out of your hand.
Not holding it in for at least 5 seconds.
Not pushing hard enough, no injection occurring.

At The Academy for First Aid and Safety, we will teach all students how to use an epinephrine auto injector. Classes are held in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Hamilton, and Scarborough. Students must take standard first aid and CPR level C to be taught anaphylaxis and epinephrine auto injector use.