Allergies - learning from mistakes

What do you do when you’re away and have an allergic reaction? This was me a few days ago. The good news is I’m ok but I’m very aware that it could have been a lot worse.?

Here’s what I learned in case anyone finds themselves in a similar situation:

?- Being prepared is key. Always carry the kit on you that you might need. As someone who regularly swaps bags I keep everything I may need in a little bag that can be moved quickly and easily. It has antihistamines, an inhaler and my epi pens in

?- When it happens let someone know immediately and get yourself to a safe space. I was with my partner who sprung into action to make sure I had what I needed and called for help.?A safe space is somewhere away from lots of people but where you can be easily accessed. Having running water and a phone are essential. A towel on the floor works as a door stop

?- Protect your airway. It’s not pretty but spit out anything you need to. Rinse your mouth, clean it with water to remove as much of what you’re allergic to as possible. Drink water to clean through as well. Take antihistamines ASAP. I also took my inhaler.?Not sure if there is any science to support this but gargling mouthwash seemed to help slow the swelling

?- If your airway is swelling call 999. It’s better to call early and stand down than call too late when it’s full blown anaphylaxis. This is a job for the person with you to do. Time matters, be fast. Secondary reactions are a thing, have the right people there

?- Grab a pen and paper. Make a note of what you have taken, what quantity and what time. Paramedics will want to know and it makes things easier. I had the note next to my medication ready to be added to if needed

?- Communication is key! We were at a hotel so staff were looped in straight away. The phone in the room was very much needed, they kept us informed of the ambulance status and we could let them know how I was doing. ?In a hotel staff need to be available to support at all times. That could be they send someone up to the room, that could be they have someone on reception or something else but keep make sure there is a dedicated connection - it helps everyone

?- Clear the route to you. The hotel staff were ready and waiting for the ambulance to arrive, they had a lift held and could quickly get help up to the room. When time is critical this makes a difference. The ambulance crews loved that this was done

?- I had a rapid response car and a 2 person crew attend. I was really surprised by this but it makes sense given where the reaction had been heading. They were fabulous and swooped in to take control

?- The paramedics stick around for a bit so get comfy. They have to stay for an hour to ensure there is no secondary reaction. We migrated from the bathroom to the bedroom when I felt well enough. They did their paperwork and we asked for scones to be sent up for all of us too

?- Another job for the person with you, find out what you’ve eaten/come into contact with. We were having afternoon tea, I knew the cake that started it, I thought it was nuts but it was good to confirm and to know it’s not an unexplained reaction = happy paramedics

?- Stay calm. Have your plan, execute the plan and try to keep breathing, literally! If you panic, others around you panic.?Most people don’t deal with medical emergency scenarios outside of the first aid training room. It feels completely different in real life. Practice scenarios in the workplace so everyone can be calm and confident

?- Everyone involved will feel impacted. When the paramedics have finished go and see people, show them that you are ok, check they are ok and get a cup of tea. The relief was massive for all of us

?- Do a lessons learned with the hotel. Near misses are a great learning opportunity. I was lucky, I knew what it was, I knew what could happen and responded quickly. Next time it might not go that way.?Support them in their improvement process. I am committed to working with them, if they want, to ensure this never happens again

A huge thank you to my partner for his help and support, not quite the afternoon we had planned - sorry!?Thank you to the three paramedics for great care and a good laugh.?True NHS Hero’s.?Thank you to the hotel staff for their response and commitment to improving, we are already planning our next visit.

Finally, I would love to see companies from all industries sharing their lessons learned from incidents to improve safety for the wider community and adopt a black box thinking mindset.