Purple Dog Logo

New Legislation About Allergy Treatment

Delivering First Aid courses, we hear of children being allergic to certain things.

As this is a condition that can prove fatal, if not treated quickly and effectively. This new legislation is brilliant news.

Purple Dog Ltd First Aid courses cover severe allergic reactions as part of the sessions. On numerous occasions schools in Huddersfield and Kirklees have asked; why they can’t have a spare auto-injector on their premises. We feel that this is a way forward in preventing deaths from this reaction.

Broken down this new legislation means:

  • It will come into effect from 1 October 2017.
  • Schools in the UK  will be able to keep spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) for emergency use.
  • These adrenaline auto-injectors deliver a potentially life-saving dose of adrenaline, in the event of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
  • School staff will be able to administer an emergency adrenaline auto-injectors to any child.. Who has been assessed as being at risk of anaphylaxis.

Using Auto-Injectors

Anyone attending a First Aid at Work full course or Paediatric First Aid course have had the subject ‘Allergies and Severe Allergic Reactions’ taught to them. Demonstrations and training on how to use the different types of auto-injectors are given for children prescribed these in settings for over 2 years. Although for this legislation, it has taken years of campaigning and surveys by representatives listed for auto-injectors to be available in settings:

  1. The Anaphylaxis Campaign
  2. Allergy UK
  3. The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology
  4. The British Paediatric Allergy Immunity and Infection Group
  5. The Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health

The process of using an auto-injector is simple and straightforward. However, as this has a quick onset of effects, treatment also has to be quick. You have to know how to use the particular auto-injector in your setting. Although all will do the same thing, administering a shot of adrenaline into the body through the muscle in the thigh. It is important to know the following:

  1. The trigger
  2. The signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis
  3. How to administer the auto-injector
  4. Knowing the treatment after this has been given.

If all those processes are in place, you can deal with the situation quickly and effectively.

Did you know there are now NEW TYPES OF AUTO-INJECTOR AVAILABLE?

One brand is ‘Allergect’ (others are available) . This auto-injector actually talks you through the application and usage. Before heading to Camp America Kelly was taught how to administer the new types of auto-injectors available  on Purple Dog Ltd First Aid course. At the camp Kelly met a young person on her camp who had one of these herself. Due training with Purple Dog Ltd on one of their First Aid courses, Kelly said the auto-injectors were very easy to use. Also the previous training certainly help take away the uncertainty of how to use auto-injectors. However, she did say these were very expensive in comparison.

For more information on the new legislation, you can access Allergy UK.

Let's Talk

Contact Us