The factors that cause someone to have an anaphylactic or asthmatic reaction are called ‘allergens’ or ‘triggers’.
For someone with anaphylaxis or asthma, it's critical that trigger substances be removed from the immediate environment to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis or an asthma attack.
In order to ‘trigger proof’ your home, you first need to know what the triggers are.
Triggers vary from person to person. You'll need to know what would cause the individual in question to react adversely. You will need to ask the person if this is new territory for you.
Anaphylaxis Triggers
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction. You are more likely to experience an anaphylactic attack if you have previously had an allergic reaction to something.
Common allergens include foods such as:
Milk
Eggs
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Sesame
Fish
Shellfish
Wheat
Soy
Venom from Bites and Stings:
Bee
Wasp
Ant bites
Medications:
Over the counter
Prescribed
Herbal/alternative
Asthma Triggers
Asthma is a recurring illness of the airways, which become constricted by tightened muscles and the inside lining of the airways becomes swollen and produces thick, sticky mucus.
Common asthma triggers include:
Cigarette smoke
Exercise
Inhaled allergens (e.g. pollens, moulds, animal dander, and dust mites)
Environmental factors (e.g. dust, pollution, wood smoke, bush fires)
Chemicals and strong smells (e.g. perfumes, cleaning products)
Some foods and food preservatives, flavourings, and colourings (uncommon)
Colds and flu
Certain medications
Emotional factors (e.g. laughter and stress)
Changes in temperature and weather
Know the Symptoms of Asthma and Anaphylaxis
So you can act fast in an asthma or anaphylactic emergency in the home, the next step is to know the symptoms.
Anaphylaxis symptoms include:
Tightness of the throat from swelling
Difficulty breathing
Tongue and facial swelling
Hoarse voice or difficulty speaking
A wheeze or persistent cough
Collapse or falling unconscious
Becoming pale or floppy (young children)
Abdominal pain and vomiting
Hives, welts and body redness
The most common asthma symptoms include:
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Coughing fits
Difficulty breathing
Dry, irritating, persistent cough, particularly at night and early morning
In the event of a severe asthma attack, you should call 000 immediately.
Symptoms of a severe asthma attack include:
Gasping for breath, having little or no wheeze due to lack of air movement
Severe difficulties breathing
Severe chest tightness
Only able to speak a few words at a time
Feeling distressed and anxious
Blue discolouration on or around the lips (if skin colour also changes this can be hard to see)
Pale and sweaty skin
Sucking in of throat and rib muscles
Using shoulder muscles or bracing with arms to help with breathing
Symptoms rapidly getting worse or frequently using reliever more than every 2 hours
Children may become restless, unable to to settle or become drowsy
Children may also have trouble eating and drinking due to shortness of breath
A child may have severe coughing or vomiting
How to Respond to Asthma and Anaphylaxis
No matter how well you trigger proof your home, in sensitive cases, it takes just a small amount of the allergen to set off an attack.
For that reason, make sure you know how to react to an anaphylaxis and asthma emergency in your home.
First Aid for Anaphylaxis
Lay victim flat, do not stand or walk, or if laying down makes breathing difficult you should allow them to sit
Prevent further exposure to the triggering agent if possible
Administer adrenaline through auto-injector such as an Epipen or Anapen
Call an ambulance (even if they appear to be ‘getting better’)
Further adrenaline should be given if no response after five minutes
If breathing stops, commence CPR immediately
First Aid for Asthma
Without delay give 4 separate puffs of a “reliever,” best given one puff at a time via a spacer device (if a spacer is not available, simply use the puffer).
Ask the person to take 4 breaths from the spacer after each puff of medication.
Use the person’s own inhaler if possible. If their own is not available or they don’t have one, use a first aid kit inhaler if available, or borrow one from someone else.
Wait 4 minutes.
If there is little or no improvement, give another 4 puffs as above.
If there is still no improvement after the second round of treatment, call an ambulance immediately.
Keep giving 4 puffs every 4 minutes until the ambulance arrives.
