Would you know what to do if someone suddenly developed swelling, struggled to breathe or became seriously unwell after an allergic reaction?
Anaphylaxis can happen suddenly and knowing what to look for – and how to respond – could make a life-saving difference.
That’s the message behind a series of free anaphylaxis awareness sessions being offered by Sheffield-based training provider Live and Learn Consultancy, following a frightening emergency involving one of its own team members.
Events manager Sharon Marsh had never experienced an anaphylactic reaction before. Within minutes, her hands began to itch, her lips and face swelled, and her tongue and airways were affected.
Thankfully, her colleagues immediately called an ambulance and paramedics were able to administer adrenaline. Sharon was taken to hospital for monitoring and now carries adrenaline auto-injectors, or EpiPens, in case of another reaction.
The frightening experience highlighted to the Live and Learn team just how important it is to recognise the signs of anaphylaxis and know how to respond. The organisation is now offering free anaphylaxis awareness sessions to help others recognise the signs and feel more prepared should an emergency occur.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can occur after contact with certain foods like nuts or fish, medicines like antibiotics or anaesthetic, or wasp and bee stings. It can affect the airways, breathing and circulation and without prompt treatment can become fatal.
The sessions will be delivered by certified First Aid Instructor and former first responder Paul Kitchen who is head of learning and development at Live and Learn.
Paul said: “Seeing someone you care about go through something like this really brings home how quickly anaphylaxis can become life-threatening. We hope people never need to use this knowledge, but if they do, recognising the signs and acting quickly could make all the difference.”
Free webinars take place on Monday 14th September 10am to 11am, and Friday 2nd October 2pm until 3pm. There is also an in-person session at Live and Learn’s Fox Valley HQ on Tuesday 22nd September 10am until 11am.
To book a free place, email noah@liveandlearnconsultancy.co.uk.
These are free awareness sessions and are not certified First Aid qualifications.
