First Aid for
Allergic Reactions

First aid for allergic reactions needs to be swift. An allergic reaction is the body's response to a harmful substance or a substance the body believes to be harmful.

Almost all allergens are proteins that the immune system treats as a foreign substance or invader. The body overreacts.

Coming in contact with or ingesting an allergen will set off a chain reaction in the immune system affecting just one organ system, such as a skin rash, or multiple systems where rashes, breathing difficulties and digestive problems can occur.

Most allergic reactions are mild in nature but some can cause a more serious reaction called anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis or Anaphylactic Shock can be potentially life threatening. In minutes the swelling of the breathing passage cuts off the airway and a dramatic drop in blood pressure presents.

This page is available as a PDF download.

You will need the free software program Adobe Reader to view these files.

Symptoms

• Rash
• Itching
• Hives
• Swelling

• Trouble breathing
• Wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, coughing
• Throat swelling, with a feeling of throat tightness, a lump in the throat, hoarseness or obstructed air flow
• Difficulty catching your breath
• Feeling scared or weak
• Rapid pulse, sweating, dizziness, fainting, unconsciousness
• Itchy hives, which may blend together to form larger areas of skin swelling
• Swelling of the lips, tongue or eyes
• Paleness, bluish skin color

Special note. Anaphylactic shock is usually an immediate reaction to a substance but sometimes it can take hours before symptoms will show up.

Causes

• Medication, both prescription and over the counter drugs
• Foods, particularly nuts, seafood, beans, eggs, milk, wheat and strawberries
• Food additives
• Insect bites and bee stings
• Latex

First Aid for Allergic Reactions

• For rashes and hives gently wash the infected area and pat dry
• Apply an over the counter antihistamine such as Benadryl
• Keep a watchful eye looking for signs of more serious allergic symptoms such as breathing difficulties or swelling in the throat.
• Most mild reactions will clear up in 4 to 6 hours. Hives can sometimes last days or even weeks.

• Call 911 immediately
• If you have an EpiPen or an EpiPenJr--use it. An EpiPen is a small dose of epinephrine in an auto-injector pen. It can slow down the symptoms of anaphylactic shock giving time for medical help to arrive. If the patient has a history of allergies or anaphylactic shock their doctor will prescribe an EpiPen.
• DO NOT wait to see if the allergy will clear up. Anaphylactic shock is very serious and every minute counts

For more information on anaphylactic shock the Harvard Medical School has a good article on the subject.

My business partner suffers from severe allergies and The Food Allergy and Anaphylactic Network comes highly recommended.

Return to First Aid for from First Aid for Allergic Reactions.