ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis

ASCIA First Aid Plan Anaphylaxis General 2025 - ReadSpeaker will audio describe text and images shown in main panel. Anaphylaxis is the most severe type of allergic reaction and should always be treated as a medical emergency. Anaphylaxis requires immediate treatment with adrenaline (epinephrine). If treatment with adrenaline is delayed, this can result in fatal anaphylaxis.

ASCIA First Aid Anaphylaxis Pictorial Poster A4 2025

MILD TO MODERATE ALLERGIC REACTIONS

SIGNS

Swelling of lips, face, eyes
Hives or welts
Tingling mouth
Abdominal pain, vomiting - these are signs of anaphylaxis for insect allergy

ACTIONS

Stay with person, call for help
Locate adrenaline device
Phone family/emergency contact
Insect allergy - flick out sting if visible
Tick allergy - seek medical help or freeze tick and allow to drop off

Mild to moderate allergic reactions may not always occur before anaphylaxis

SIGNS OF ANAPHYLAXIS (SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTIONS)

Watch for ANY ONE of the following signs:

Difficult or noisy breathing
Swelling of tongue
Swelling or tightness in throat
Wheeze or persistent cough
Difficulty talking or hoarse voice
Persistent dizziness or collapse
Pale and floppy (young children)

ACTIONS FOR ANAPHYLAXIS

1 LAY PERSON FLAT - do NOT allow them to stand or walk
• If unconscious or pregnant, place in recovery position - on left side if pregnant

• If breathing is difficult allow them to sit with legs outstretched

• Hold young children flat, not upright

LAY PERSON FLAT do NOT allow them to stand or walk

If unconscious or pregnant place in recovery position, on left side if pregnant

If breathing is difficult allow them to sit with legs outstretched

Do NOT allow the person to stand or walk

2 GIVE ADRENALINE DEVICE

3 Phone ambulance - 000 (AU) or 111 (NZ)

4 Phone family/emergency contact

5 Further adrenaline may be given if no response after 5 minutes

6 Transfer person to hospital for at least 4 hours of observation

IF IN DOUBT GIVE ADRENALINE DEVICE
Commence CPR at any time if person is unresponsive and not breathing normally

ALWAYS give adrenaline device FIRST, if someone has SEVERE AND SUDDEN BREATHING DIFFICULTY (including wheeze, persistent cough or hoarse voice), even if there are no skin symptoms. THEN SEEK MEDICAL HELP.

If adrenaline is accidentally injected, phone your local poisons information centre. Continue to follow this plan for the person with the allergic reaction.

This document has been developed for use as a poster, or to be stored with general use adrenaline devices.

Adrenaline device instructions are available on the ASCIA website: