Emergency Situations
Anaphylactic shock and allergic reactions can be a frightening experience for both the person concerned and any witnesses nearby, including you, a member of staff and other customers.
If a customer is having a severe allergic reaction:
Call 999/112 and request for an ambulance as soon as possible and convey that the person is having a severe allergic reaction and the reason for trigger if you are aware of it.
If the it is a mild allergic reaction, an antihistamine tablet or syrup can be very effective. However, the medication will take at least 15 minutes to work.
Ensure that the person suffering is comfortable and ideally lying down or sitting in a chair. If breathing is difficult, assist them to lay down and raise their leg or sit them up and bend their knees
If concerned that the reaction could be systemic (all over) and life threatening, use an adrenaline auto-injector immediately. (Adrenaline auto-injectors are prescribed for those believed to be at risk of a serious and acute allergic reaction).
A second dose may be given if no improvement after 10-15 minutes.
Adrenaline also called Epinephrine is the first choice for an acute anaphylactic reaction and it works best if it is given as soon as you recognise that someone is having a reaction.
You should administer the injector, or help the sufferer to administer it themselves, as quickly as possible.
