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So you know all about anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening reaction to food, medicine, insect venom, or environmental allergen. You’ve learned that administering epinephrine immediately is associated with better outcomes and that emergency medical services (EMS) must be summoned by calling 911. But what you do while waiting for the EMS responders to arrive may significantly impact how the patient fares. While continuously observing the patient to determine whether a second dose of epinephrine is necessary, it is important to position them correctly to help avoid shock and ensure their breathing remains unobstructed. This video by The First Aid Show describes the various positions a patient should be placed in depending on their physical state: To summarize:
There are two important points to remember:
Source: Anaphylactic patient position — The First Aid Show
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Signs of anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis causes respiratory and/or cardiovascular signs or symptoms AND involves other organ systems, such as the skin or gastrointestinal tract, with: Managing anaphylaxis Experienced practitioners may choose to use an oral airway, if the appropriate size is available, but its use is not routinely recommended, unless the patient is unconscious. Antihistamines and/or hydrocortisone are not recommended for the emergency management of anaphylaxis. Adrenaline dosage The recommended dose of 1:1000 adrenaline is 0.01 mL/kg body weight (equivalent to 0.01 mg/kg), up to a maximum of 0.5 mL or 0.5 mg, given by deep intramuscular injection into the anterolateral thigh. Do not administer adrenaline 1:1000 intravenously. 1:1000 adrenaline is recommended because it is universally available. It contains 1 mg of adrenaline per mL of solution in a 1 mL glass vial. Use a 1 mL syringe to improve measurement accuracy when drawing up small doses. The following table lists the doses of 1:1000 adrenaline to be used if the exact weight of the person is not known (based on the person’s age).
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