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If someone needs immediate help with food allergy, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person develops allergic symptoms — hives, swelling, vomiting, or breathing difficulty — after eating food they are allergic to or suspect they are allergic to.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Stop the food. Call 112 if breathing bad. Use EpiPen if you have one. Watch closely.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Itching, hives, or redness spreading on skin within minutes of eating.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Swelling of lips, face, tongue, or throat.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Vomiting, stomach cramps, or diarrhea with other allergy signs.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wheezing, cough, hoarse voice, or trouble swallowing — treat as emergency.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — The immune system is reacting to a food protein. Reactions range from mild hives to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A mild reaction can escalate quickly — especially in people with known severe allergies.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ask what they ate and when. Remove any remaining food from reach.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Check if they have an epinephrine auto-injector or allergy action plan.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If breathing or throat symptoms appear — call 112 or 108 immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — For severe symptoms — give epinephrine and call 112. Lay flat with legs raised unless vomiting.
When and how to get professional help.
Call if lip or tongue swelling, wheezing, repeated vomiting, dizziness, or any epinephrine use.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove the food, monitor symptoms, give epinephrine if prescribed and symptoms are severe. Do not try to "neutralize" the allergen with other foods.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 or 108 if any breathing symptoms, throat swelling, fainting, or epinephrine use.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell them the food eaten, time of onset, and allergy history if known.
Useful questions before or while you help.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give more of the trigger food to "test" the reaction.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume mild hives will stay mild — keep watching.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT rely on home remedies, lemon juice, or milk to stop the reaction.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A little bit of an allergen is safe if the person has eaten it before
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Allergic reactions can worsen unpredictably. Even tiny amounts can trigger anaphylaxis in sensitized people.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Use EpiPen
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone is having a severe allergic reaction and you need to help them use an epinephrine auto-injector before help arrives.
Anaphylaxis
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is developing a rapid, whole-body allergic reaction after food, medicine, insect sting, or unknown trigger. Breathing or circulation may be failing.
Drug allergy
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person develops rash, swelling, breathing problems, or shock after taking a medicine — prescription, over-the-counter, or traditional remedy.
Sting allergy
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person was stung by a bee, wasp, hornet, or ant and is developing an allergic reaction beyond normal local pain and swelling.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — For mild hives only with no breathing trouble — stay with them and watch closely for 30-60 minutes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Rinse mouth with water if safe. Do not induce vomiting.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Any reaction involving breathing, throat swelling, or shock needs emergency care.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Even mild reactions in people with known severe allergies should be evaluated by a doctor.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Encouraging "just a taste" can cause a severe reaction.