First Aid for Anaphylaxis : Anaphylactic Emergency Treatment

Paramedics save lives everyday, including sufferers of severe allergic reactions. Find out how paramedics treat anaphylaxis in this free video.

Expert: Josh Wells
Bio: Josh Wells is a firefighter and paramedic in Sedona, Arizona.
Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• allergies
• emergency
• allergic-reaction
• first-aid
• help
• medicine
• howto
• video
• free

[mariesadler]

If a person has to endure a cricothyrotomy, does the needle get shoved in without being numbed first? If I saw a large needle going right at my throat, I'd probably panic even more and not let them do it.

Im severely allergic to alot of things.

[vickiormindyb]

@wilkinson4eva Don't try it if you've previously had a really terrible reaction to them.

Whoever said to do it doesn't work in health care, or they'd know an allergy gets worse w/ every exposure unless you're getting shots for it.

Even then they make you wait 20 minutes to make sure you don't have the reaction.

[wilkinson4eva]

@mermaidamp I have a peanut allergy but havent tried them since ive been grown up. Im now 18 and people say to me i shoud try one to see if i still react but i dont want that enless i no its gonna be safe or if i no that someone is going to get help

[mermaidamp]

Peanut allergies are serious.

[vickiormindyb]

My airway closed completely. The doctor told me so.

But they didn't make a cut in my throat to open the airway.

They did a closed cricothyrotomy. They stuck a large needle in my neck and attached a breathing tube and airbag to it.

They also gave me medicine to make my swelling go down enough to let air pass into my lungs.

Anaphylaxis is still the most terrifying experience I've had.

[vickiormindyb]

I know I'm quadruple-dipping on the comments list, but I have to say this.

Medically trained personnel should know what intubation means. I wouldn't want to be the patient of anyone who doesn't know what intubation is.

In fact I'd prefer a paramedic to help me during an emergency, as opposed to other people who work in health care but never deal with emergencies.

[vickiormindyb]

It varies where I work. We're not allowed to perform an open cricothyrotomy, we have to do a needle cricothyrotomy instead. Opens are reserved for Emergency Physicians.

Then again, I'm not a Senior Parmedic, just a regular EMT-P.

I saw a video of an open cricothyrotomy, though, and I'm GLAD we don't have to do them.

[vickiormindyb]

I had a sore throat for 18 hours after they took out the intubation tube. I never remembered them putting it in. The doctor told me about it.

The scariest part of my reaction is that they never figured out what made it happen.

I carry an Epi-pen in case it happens again, but it's also for if a bee stings me.

[vickiormindyb]

My doctor doesn't want me to use my Albuterol unless I'm in a dire emergency. He told me so in very clear terms.

I have high blood pressure and once had heart failure after going into decompensated shock.

My doctor also said I'm supposed to call 911 after I use my Epi-pen so they can monitor my heart rate.

I hope they know that, b/c they don't mention monitoring heart rate here.

[shaggydogswerve]

search "jack jumpers getting angry" they sent me into anaphylactic shock, 2 ambos, ventolin, adreneline, night in hospital. ooohh so close!!