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Suspected anaphylaxis
Act now

Call 120 now

These signs mean an emergency

While you wait for the ambulance, do this in order

  1. Call 120 straight away

    Say that you suspect a severe allergic reaction, give your exact location and door number, and keep the phone line free.

  2. Lie the person flat with the legs raised

    If breathing is difficult, a half-sitting position is fine. If they are vomiting or drowsy, turn them on their side so they do not choke. Do not let them stand, walk, or make their own way to the car.

  3. Use an adrenaline auto-injector immediately if one is available

    If a doctor has prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector, use it now into the outer thigh muscle, following the instructions on the device. If there is none, do not wait — call 120 first.

  4. Stay with them until the ambulance arrives

    Loosen the collar and waistband and keep watching their breathing and alertness. Do not give water, food or medicine. Even if the symptoms settle, do not leave on your own.

These actions delay treatment

Remember one thing: if you suspect a severe allergic reaction, call 120 first and do everything else after that.

A one-page plan for teachers

Copy the text below and send it to your childcare centre or school — parents only need to fill in the brackets. It is worth saving a screenshot as well.

[Allergy emergency plan — please keep this on file]

Known allergens: (to be filled in by the parent or carer)
Emergency contact: (name and phone number)
Regular medicine and where it is kept: (to be filled in)

If any one of the following happens, call 120 (the emergency number in China) immediately and contact the parent or carer at the same time. Do not wait and see:
· Trouble breathing, gasping, or unable to finish a sentence
· A tight throat, a hoarse voice, or difficulty swallowing
· Rapid swelling of the lips, tongue or face
· Dizziness, blurred vision, feeling unsteady, or fainting
· Widespread hives together with nausea, vomiting or stomach pain
· In a child: unusual drowsiness, floppiness, or being hard to wake

While waiting for the ambulance:
1. Lie the student flat with the legs raised; a half-sitting position if breathing is hard; on their side if vomiting.
2. Do not let the student stand, walk, or go to the toilet alone.
3. If the school clinic holds a prescribed adrenaline auto-injector, use it immediately following the instructions.
4. Stay with the student the whole time, loosen the collar, and do not give water or food.

This page is from ZIA Allergy Guide, a non-profit public education project. It is for general information only and not medical advice. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.

This page is general public information, not medical advice, and cannot replace a clinician's judgement at the scene. In an emergency, follow the ambulance crew's instructions.

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