Allergies - First Aid advice

25th April-1st May is allergy awareness week

Allergies occur when the body perceives a seemingly harmless substance as a threat and the immune system produces an inappropriate response.

Allergy U.K has reported that an estimated 21 million people in the U.K suffer from some form of allergy.  This figure includes 50% of all children.  These statistics show that allergies are an increasingly prevalent problem.   The severity of the allergy can differ from person to person, ranging from mild and simply inconvenient to a life-threatening anaphylaxis.

A person can develop an allergy to any substance and can also become allergic to something they have previously been able to tolerate. 

A specific protein contained in the substance will cause the allergic reaction.  Common substances people are allergic to include food such as nuts or shellfish, pollen, pet hair, chemicals such as hair dye, medications (such as penicillin and NSAIDS) and insects such as bees and wasps.

Symptoms can be varied and include:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• wheezing
• Itching of skin and/or eyes nose
• Rashes
• Vomiting and diarrhoea

Allergic reactions are usually managed with avoidance of the substance that causes the allergy, but this is not always possible.

Medication can be used to treat mild-moderate allergic reactions and anti-histamines are widely available without a prescription. Symptoms of the allergy can also be treated with medications such as steroid creams for rashes, nasal sprays for nasal irritation and emollients for eczema.

A severe allergic reaction can be life-threatening and is known as Anaphylaxis.

Symptoms can include some or all of the below:

• Swelling of the tongue, throat, difficulty in swallowing
• Difficulty in breathing usually resulting in a noise known as stridor
• Severe wheeze when breathing
• Dizziness/collapse
• Vomiting
• Increase in heart rate
• Rash (urticaria, hives)

If you suspect somebody is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction an ambulance needs to be called immediately. Treatment for anaphylaxis is an intramuscular injection of adrenaline.   People who know they are at risk of an anaphylactic reaction will usually carry an auto injector so as to be able to treat themselves quickly in the event of a reaction.

Here at Lubas medical, we offer anaphylaxis training as part of our first aid courses. We can also provide a bespoke course to teach how to recognise an anaphylactic reaction and how to administer the recommended treatment.

For more information regarding allergies, and how to manage them visit:

www.allergyuk.org

You’ll find lots of useful information and a different article each day of allergy week highlighting a relevant topic.

As a medical provider, you will have to deal with a medical emergency happening in your practice at some time.

When a patient is in your care you have a legal “duty of care” to that patient should they be taken ill. The unwell person may be a patient, relative, visitor or even a colleague and the emergency could take place anywhere within your practice or even outside the building.

To make your practice safe you should:

Plan

• Discuss and agree the most appropriate and effective way to respond when someone is taken ill or injured:

Prepare

Write a practice policy including:

•  Location of medical equipment, who will check the equipment and how often.

Practice

Ensure staff practice their roles and know their responsibilities:

• Undertake regular staff updates to familiarise all of the contents of your policy and individual roles and responsibilities.

Perform

When a medical emergency or injury occurs:

•  Assess the patient and identify a team leader to ensure the most appropriate medical treatment is given.

Our First Sports Trauma Management course in Scotland

This month Lubas medical provided our first Sports Trauma Managementcourse in Scotland. The course was hosted at the Craiglockhart leisure and tennis centre, by Kenny Watt who is the Edinburgh representative for the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sport and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM).

The course was a resounding success. Feedback complimented the delivery and content, with one participant stating that information was provided in a “Professional but relaxed manner”. Physiotherapists and professionals from a variety of sporting backgrounds attended, ranging from football to bobsleigh. 

Our updated Sports Trauma Management course provided valuable information on how to identify, manage and treat traumatic injuries in sport, be it with a team or as a solo clinician. Also included, are practical sessions which demonstrate spinal & fracture management, breathing assessments, the use of airways adjuncts and more. 

The ACPSEM, who recognise the course as fulfilling their requirement for Continual Professional Development (CPD) pathways to Gold Level, encourages and supports physiotherapists to broaden their experiential learning opportunities.

We provide a number of dates for Sports Trauma Management courses around the UK, with more being added every month. The next course is in Colchester on the 16th + 17th April, and we will return to Scotland in the summer. To book a course click here.