Prepare

Prompt and accurate response to anaphylaxis saves lives.

• Obtain a standing doctor’s order to administer epinephrine and other appropriate medications in the event any student experiences anaphylaxis in your facility.

• Learn students’ known allergy statuses before they enter school and/or are entrusted in your care.

• Require Emergency Care Plans and Emergency Medicine Kits among all students known to be at risk of developing anaphylaxis.

• Emergency Care Plan should include emergency response procedures, medicine dosage, and hospital, doctor, insurance, and caregiver contact information.

• Emergency Medicine Kit should contain a copy of the Emergency Care Plan, two doses of epinephrine, an antihistamine and measuring utensil, and, if applicable, asthma medication. Have Emergency Medicine Kit readily accessible at all times in order to promptly administer medication upon symptom recognition.

• Conduct routine anaphylaxis response drills that go over how to recognize symptoms of anaphylaxis, retrieve required medications in a timely manner, administer necessary medications, call 911, give used epinephrine to paramedics, accompany allergic student to the hospital, and notify student’s caregiver(s).

• Develop system to train substitute teachers before leaving allergic students in their care.

• Develop system to communicate with the school and 911, such as a 2-way radio on the schoolyard and a charged cell phone on field trips.