Some health workers at Health NZ public hospitals and services are planning to strike on Thursday 23 October to 7am on Friday 24 October.
Emergency departments will be open for emergencies only. For more information:
Anaphylaxis (severe allergy) Mate pāwera kino
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction and a medical emergency. It can happen in a few minutes and can cause death.
Causes of anaphylaxis
Common causes of anaphylaxis include severe allergy to:
- insect bites
- bee stings
- food, for example, nuts
- medicines.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis
Signs and symptoms you should look out for include:
- tongue swelling
- swelling or tightness in the throat
- difficulty breathing — the person may be noisy or wheezy (whistling sound)
- difficulty talking
- collapse
- loss of consciousness
- floppiness and paleness in tamariki (children).
First aid treatment for anaphylaxis
- Lay the person flat on the ground or, if they are having trouble breathing, sit them down.
- Check if the person has an adrenaline injection pen (for example, an EpiPen).
- If they have an adrenaline injection pen and cannot use it for themselves, follow the instructions below for using one.
- Call for help — stay with the person and call 111 or, if someone else is there, ask them to call 111.
- Remove any suspected causes of the allergic reaction.
- Look to see if they have a medical alert bracelet or necklace.
How to use an adrenaline injection pen
The EpiPen is a common adrenaline injection pen. It is an automatic adrenaline injector for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis. You do not need medical training to use one.
- Form a firm fist around the pen and pull off the blue safety cap.
- Hold the person's leg still and place the orange end against the outer mid-thigh (with or without clothing).
- Push down hard until you hear or feel a click and hold it in place for 3 seconds.
Watch this short video on how to use an adrenaline injection pen (all brands are similar and work the same way). This is an Australian video — in New Zealand phone 111 for an emergency).
If you are at risk of anaphylaxis
If you are at risk of anaphylaxis, you can get an adrenaline injection pen prescribed by your doctor, nurse prescriber or pharmacist prescriber. You can also buy one directly from a pharmacy without a prescription.
Talk to your healthcare provider. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can get free adrenaline injection pens.
You can ask your healthcare provider to help you complete an action plan to keep with your adrenaline. They can also train you and your whānau how to use the pen.