ASCIA Action Plans and First Aid Plans for Anaphylaxis
The ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis is an emergency response plan for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Current ASCIA Action Plans are the General and EpiPen 2021 versions, and the 2022 Anapen version. However, prior versions (2021, 2020 and 2018) are still valid for use in 2022 and 2023.
ASCIA Action Plans do not expire, and therefore the plan is still valid beyond the recommended review date, which is a guide for patients to see their doctor. For more information about ASCIA Action Plans go to www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/action-plans-for-allergic-reactions-faq
ASCIA Action Plans are medical documents that are completed and signed by the treating doctor or nurse practitioner. A signature is sufficient, ASCIA Action Plans do NOT need to be stamped. To insert a digital photograph and signature, first save as a PDF after typing patient details into the text fields. Alternatively a physical photograph can be glued to the plan and the doctor can use a wet or digital signature.
 ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (RED) 2021 EpiPen®This plan is provided to people with allergies who have been prescribed EpiPen® adrenaline autoinjectors. This plan is not for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) due to pollen, dust mite, animals or other inhaled allergens. |
|
ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (RED) 2022 Anapen®This plan is provided to people with allergies who have been prescribed Anapen® adrenaline autoinjectors. The TGA has approved Anapen® to be held in place for 3 seconds (reduced from 10 seconds) since September 2022. This plan is not for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) due to pollen, dust mite, animals or other inhaled allergens. |
|
ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (RED) 2021 General version with QR codeThis plan is provided to people with allergies who have been prescribed any brand of adrenaline injector. This plan should be printed with the 'ASCIA How to give Adrenaline Injectors' document on the reverse side (see below). This plan is not for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) due to pollen, dust mite, animals or other inhaled allergens. |
|
ASCIA How to give Adrenaline Injectors 2022This document can be used as a poster, and should be printed on the reverse side of the general versions of the 'ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis' (see above) and 'ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis' (see below). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
An ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis for use with adrenaline autoinjectors on airlines is available upon request. This plan is should be stored with adrenaline autoinjectors in emergency medical kits on airlines.
ASCIA First Aid Plans for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE)
Note: These have replaced the general versions of ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE).
 ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE) 2021 EpiPen®This plan can be used as a poster or stored with general use EpiPen® adrenaline autoinjectors. |
|
ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE) 2022 Anapen®This plan can be used as a poster or stored with general use Anapen® adrenaline autoinjectors. The TGA has approved Anapen® to be held in place for 3 seconds (reduced from 10 seconds) since September 2022. |
|
ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE) 2021 General versionThis plan can be used as a poster or stored with any brand of general use adrenaline injectors. |
|
|
|
For translated versions of ASCIA First Aid for Anaphylaxis go to www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis#ta5
For further information about ASCIA Action Plans and other anaphylaxis resources go to www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis
Important information:
- ASCIA Action Plans were first developed in 2003 to standardise the recognition of signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and provide easy to follow steps for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. They continue to be used as the standard action plans throughout Australia and New Zealand. The content is regularly reviewed by experts and updated as required.
- ASCIA Action Plans do not expire, and therefore the plan is still valid beyond the review date, which is a guide for patients to see their doctor. Ideally, ASCIA Action Plans should be reviewed when patients are reassessed by their doctor or nurse practitioner, and each time they obtain a new adrenaline injector prescription, which is approximately every 12 to 18 months. If there are no changes in diagnosis or management the medical information on the ASCIA Action Plan may not need to be updated. However, if the patient is a child, the photo should be updated each time, so they can be easily identified.
- ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis can be used for people with food, insect, tick and drug allergies, or any other allergy that can result in a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). The plans are not for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) due to pollen, dust mite, animals or other inhaled allergens.
- Adrenaline injectors contain a single, fixed dose of adrenaline and are designed to be used by anyone (medical training is not required), or the patient themselves, if they are not too unwell or too young.
- It is generally recommended that people who have an adrenaline injector should also wear a medical identification/emergency response emblem, or other medical identification.
- ASCIA Action Plans should be used as part of a comprehensive anaphylaxis management plan that includes:
Content updated March 2023
