Hello readers! Trust all are safe and doing great in your lives. It has been a couple of months since my last blog. Was busy with training people and travelling. Hereinafter shall make sure I post blogs regularly every month. In this blog, Maggie and Jaggy discuss a medical emergency known as Anaphylactic shock, its symptoms and first aid.
Over to Jaggy and Maggie.
Maggie: “Hello Jaggy!”
Jaggy. “Hello Maggie! How was your trek and where did you go?”
Maggie: “It went well Jaggy. We went to the Queen of the Hills of South India.”
Jaggy: “Great! You had been to Ooty.”
Maggie: “Jaggy recently we had a situation in our office, and we did not know what to do at that time.”
Jaggy: “Oh, I see! What was the situation?”
Maggie: “One of our friends suddenly went sick when one of my friends brought a plate of peanuts to eat. The girl sitting next to him suddenly felt sick.”
Jaggy: “That must have been a bout of Anaphylactic shock.”
Maggie: “What?”
Jaggy: “No need for such a reaction. It is the word used to define the sickness associated with Allergies and the reaction to it.”
Maggie: “Can you explain it a bit more clearly?”
Jaggy: “Anaphylaxis is a severe potentially life- threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within minutes of exposure to something you are allergic to such as peanuts, bee or insect stings or even certain food items.”
Maggie: “Oh! Now I understand.”
Maggie: “What are the symptoms and how does one recognize this?”
Jaggy: “Symptoms usually start within minutes of exposure to the allergen. Sometimes the symptoms appear later. The symptoms are skin reactions including hives, itching, flushed or pale skin. Drop in blood pressure, constriction of airways, a week and rapid pulse, nausea, dizziness, or fainting are also common.”
Maggie: “Oh, I see!”
Maggie: “So, what does one do when said symptoms occur?”
Jaggy: “The first thing to be done is to take the victim to the hospital immediately in whatever possible way. In many countries, people with allergies carry an epinephrine autoinjector. If the person has one, take it and inject it midthigh and monitor the victim. In many countries epinephrine auto injectors are not in use. People who suffer such reactions if known carry the related medicines.”
Maggie: “What else can be done while taking the person to the hospital?”
Jaggy: “You can loosen tight clothing and cover him or her with a Blanket. If you find vomit or blood in the mouth, turn the victim to one side to prevent choking. Seek medical help quickly. The victim may have to spend a few hours of monitoring in the hospital.”
Maggie: “Do we give CPR?”
Jaggy: “No not if the victim is breathing.”
Maggie: “Any short way I can remember this?”
Jaggy: “Glad that you asked. The procedure is called AMPLE. A- ALLERGY M- MEDICATION P- PREVIOUS HISTORY L- LAST MEAL E- EVENT. You can ask these questions based on these words.”
Maggie: “Great Jaggy. It is a pleasure always talking to you. You really keep things simple.”
Maggie and Jaggy will be back to discuss many more such incidents and events. Till my next blog,
Stay Safe Be Safe. Live Life Save Life, and keep the comments, suggestions coming.
Seshadri Varadarajan
This is life saving information that everyone should know. Thanks Seshadri for posting this.
Thank you so much Suresh
Hi Sesha, thanks for sharing this critical and important information which many of us would not be aware of at all. You have explained it nicely on how to attend to such occurrences in unexpected situations.
Thanks Nitin
Sir simply brilliant , so nicely explained, God bless you in abundance
Thank you so much sir
Very informative and good Sir thank you for giving us lot of value added info
Thanks Raviteja
Excellent Seshadri; this is so insightful.
Thank you so much sir
Nice description about anaphylaxis and it’s management. Timely Adrenaline injection, intra venous fluids save lives. Ask the person to lie down when they fell dizzy. Carry a card mentioning allergy to peanut , egg or caterpillar hair ( setae) and treatment in your pocket
Thank you so much sir. Coming from a person with Medical background I consider it a compliment
Useful post Sesha. People have laughed at me during my college days when I have tried explaining these things. Claps
Thanks Sowmya. Yes people only laugh to regret later. First aid is an important knowledge to have
Yes exactly. Most people won’t understand. But now In 2022 awareness globally has increased.
Excellent message for society; perhaps someone’s life can be saved because to your writing.
Thank you Utpal
Thank you so much for sharing knowledge in a simple manner
Thank you so much Mr. Naufal.
Hi Sesha I didn’t know allergies can be so severe very useful info, eye-opener.
Thanks Ameen my friend.
Ample- the word to be remembered👍🏻
Definitely useful one.
Thanks Ashok Raj
That is wonderful piece of information sheshadriji. Your posts are always so informative and has so many takeaways for reader. Awaiting to meet Maggie and Jaggy soon.
Thank you so much Vishal ji. Jaggy you have met in Mr. Jagdish Adapa. Maggie is a fictional character that rhymes with Jaggy
Excellent sir , thank you so much
Thank you so much Shoba ji
Thanks for this knowledge sharing. Nicely delivered ji
Thank you so much ji
Useful information Sesha.Thank you.
Thank you Guna
Very informative Sheshadri ji.
Thank You so much ji
AMPLE information share to handle AMPLE.
Well explained.. I am sure it is impactful and succint information.
Thank you so much for the Ample feed back
If you do not have an epinephrine injector handy, any allergy medication available through a pharmacy can help with making a life and death difference. Benadryl or other medications that are antihistamines. Good article since food allergies are on the rise.
Thank you. Yes not only food allergies nut allergies due to other substances too are on the rise.
Amylenitrarte tablets
****only for inhalation,not for oral
Very nicely explained Shesha! I wish more people read your blogs and share with their relatives and friends. Never know when a situation like this can happen to us or to people around us. Best to have the awareness.
Thank you so much Venki. Thanks for the unstinted support at all times
This is an excellent post. Useful especially the “ample” to remember what to do in such situations.
Awareness of this issue is increasing as allergies are increasing in today’s time and age.
Thanks Dear Govind for the nice words
Good on you Sesha for making people aware of these serious allergic reactions. , I know a few people that are allergic to peanuts and carry an EpiPen. Your blog is quite informative, thank you.
Thank you so much Petula. Nice to know your knowledge on these aspects as well
Sir,you are extraordinary legend in safety,thanks a lot for sharing first aid knowledge through this blog,hatsof to you sir
Thank you Dr. Ravi garu. Iam not a legend by any means
I am grateful for the credible sources and references cited in the article.