With the widespread use of QR codes, and two brands of adrenaline (epinephrine) injector devices now available, a QR code has been added to the general version of the red ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis and the general version of the orange ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis. 

The QR code links to a new ASCIA webpage www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/how-to-give-injector which includes instructions for both EpiPen^® and Anapen^®. Please note that  device specific plans for EpiPen^® and Anapen^® are still available.

The general ASCIA plans with QR codes are now available on the ASCIA website in several locations and have been updated in ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses:

www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/ascia-action-plan-for-anaphylaxis

www.allergy.org.au/hp/ascia-plans-action-and-treatment

www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/first-aid-for-anaphylaxis

The general versions of ASCIA plans have been available for several years, for the following reasons:

• To enable translations, the general orange ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis were introduced in 2012.
• To prepare for the situation where other brands of adrenaline injector devices may have been introduced at short notice, due to supply issues, the general red ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis was introduced in 2018.
• To provide a illustrative training tool, without being brand specific, a general red ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis and orange ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis have been used in ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses since 2018.

Adding the QR code to the general ASCIA plans provides additional information to ‘refer to device label’ for instructions. Even if people don’t use the QR code, having the code in a prominent location may highlight the fact that people can ‘refer to device label’ for instructions.

This news item was issued on 7 December 2021 by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.