Responding to a food allergy emergency
Every second counts in a food allergy emergency.
Knowing how to respond and the steps you need to take is essential. It could even save someone’s life.
Would you know what to do if a child in your care had a severe allergic reaction to food?
An allergic reaction can escalate to anaphylaxis which is potentially life-threatening.
Knowing the steps to take in the event of anaphylaxis can save a life.
Allergy School has teamed up with leading first aid charity St John Ambulance to create a film explaining how to respond to a food allergy emergency.
Sign up to Allergy School to access resources on the steps to take in the event of a food allergy emergency.
Display Allergy School’s First Aid Poster
Download our poster on first aid for anaphylaxis. You can display it in every classroom, on staff and club noticeboards.
Do you have a policy in place for children with allergies?
There are two types of AAI, Epipen and Jext, know how to use both correctly.
These instruction sheets will help you.
Display our poster on the top 14 allergens
Use this poster to raise awareness of the top 14 allergens.
Around 2 children in every classroom have a food allergy
Order spare AAIs for your school
Schools in England can purchase AAIs without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. This can be done with a request on headed paper signed by the headteacher.
Use this model letter to encourage your school to order spare AAIs.
AAI have expiry dates
Sign up to a free expiry alert service with your adrenaline auto-injector brand
The adrenaline used in AAIs degrades over time and may become less effective after the expiry date. It is critical that you check the expiry date of your AAIs. To make it easier for you to remember to request replacements a month before they are due to expire, you can sign up to a free expiry alert service with your adrenaline auto-injector brand.
What people are saying about Allergy School
“We are proud to work with Natasha’s Foundation on such an important project by providing clinical guidance and using our cadets’ expertise to create peer-led first aid films.
It’s encouraging to see a shared commitment to increase awareness of food allergies, and these resources will allow children and staff to confidently engage with all activities around food.
However, as we know and have seen many times, sadly for some people certain ingredients can lead to hospitalisation and can be fatal, so we need to do more. The first time a child has an extreme reaction to a new food, could be in your presence, so being prepared is vital.”
Dr Lynn Thomas
Medical Director of St John Ambulance
