Table 5.

Recommended components of a plan for managing anaphylactic emergencies

Recommended components
Contact details – names and numbers – for emergencies, including family members to be contacted in an emergency
Details of the individual's allergies/known trigger factors
Generic and proprietary names of drugs and possible cross-sensitivities to drugs, if relevant
How to recognize the signs and symptoms of mild, moderate and severe allergic reactions and how to act in each case
Medication prescribed and when it should be used
Management of emergencies: actions to be taken and medications to be used
Clear statement of the need to administer adrenaline without hesitation
When to call emergency services
Where medication is stored at home, in school, or workplace
Review dates for prescribed medication if appropriate, e.g. when child reaches 30 kg in weight, importance of checking expiry dates
Number of injectable adrenaline devices (e.g. Epipens) required
Who is trained to administer medication in home, school, workplace