Survey highlights the need for greater access to EpiPens in schools and public places

New survey shows 1 in 5 anaphylactic reactions in schools occur in children with no previously known allergies.

The study surveyed schools who were participating in the EPIPEN4SCHOOLS program, this program provides four free EpiPen or EpiPen Jr auto-injectors to qualifying public and private kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools in the U.S. More than 59,000 schools have received EpiPens under this program. The devices are used for the treatment of Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.

From a total of 6,019 schools which responded to the survey, 919 reported anaphylactic reactions during the school year of 2013-2014. 75% of these individuals were treated with adrenaline auto-injectors and 18% were treated with anti-histamines.

Almost 22% of the time the anaphylactic reaction occurred in a person who had no previously known allergies.
62% of these reactions occurred due to a food allergy.
Insect stings accounted for 10% of the reactions.
20% of the reactions had unknown triggers.

This study shows the unpredictability of anaphylaxis and the large number of individuals who experience it for the first time at school.

“There’s always a first time for a reaction–it can be at home, it can be in school, it can be in a restaurant, it can be on the soccer field. But the bottom line is that many students experiencing anaphylaxis in school had no prior known allergies and would not have had medication there or at home,” says lead author Martha V. White, MD. Dr White is the research director at the Institute for Asthma & Allergy in Montgomery County, Maryland. She believes that this highlights the need for greater access to adrenaline auto-injectors in schools and public places.

At Allergy Lifestyle we specifically developed our Anaphylaxis Emergency response Kit with this in mind. So you can feel secure that whoever you leave your child with can handle an allergic reaction in an emergency we have included

Easy to follow illustrated guides on recognising allergy symptoms
How to give your adrenaline auto injectors – choose Epipen, Jext, Emerade or Anapen guide
Emergency contact Information Card
Photo ID card

Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-10/aaop-mt1101615.php

Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Allergy Lifestyle Limited (t/a) Allergy Lifestyle) uses reasonable endeavours to check the accuracy of information provided however no warranty is given that they are error-free.