College nurse campaigning to change UK university allergy rules
"Those who have an anaphylactic reaction are at risk of death if adrenaline is not readily available"
A campaign to make it easier for students with severe allergies to have access to lifesaving Epipens is being supported by the on-site nurse at St John’s College.
Emma Dellar is fundraising for The Anaphylaxis Campaign which is lobbying for legal changes which would allow Higher Education medical staff to store Epipens and other adrenaline auto injector devices (AAIs) onsite.
Staff at UK Higher Education institutions are not legally protected by the Department of Health if they choose to store AAIs, except in instances when spare devices are provided for them by allergy sufferers. Their use is restricted as they can only be used on the individual who supplied the device. If a student begins to display symptoms of anaphylaxis and has not provided a spare AAI to the College, medical staff have to call an ambulance and wait with them.
Emma Dellar
Dellar is helping to organise a fundraising dinner on June 8 at St John's
Dellar believes this situation endangers the lives of students with severe allergies. She explained: “Those who have an anaphylactic reaction are at risk of death if adrenaline is not readily available. A recent survey shows that 44 per cent of young adults do not carry their devices all of the time.
“This may be for a number of reasons including; size of devices, embarrassment, lack of understanding or poor compliance resulting in taking risks on nights out, trying different foods without checking ingredients or alcohol intake affecting decision making. Some only carry one device, when subsequent doses may be needed and there is also the risk of malfunction of devices.”
Around 20 deaths a year are caused by anaphylaxis and those most at risk are teenagers and young adults. Students are often particularly vulnerable because of the challenges of dealing with an allergy in a new environment without the support of friends and family who may be familiar with the seriousness of their condition.
AAIs combat the symptoms of anaphylaxis – a life-threatening severe allergy that can be triggered by food such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, sesame seeds and kiwi fruit, although many other foods have also been known to trigger anaphylaxis. Non-food causes include wasp or bee stings, latex and certain drugs such as penicillin.
Anaphylaxis requires rapid treatment and symptoms, which may include throat swelling, vomiting, and low blood pressure, can occur within minutes of exposure to the allergen.
Adrenaline is the only drug which can treat the symptoms of anaphylaxis and must be administered quickly into the thigh muscle. AAIs deliver adrenaline in a pre-filled injectable device which can be used by anyone if, due to being incapacitated by an extreme reaction, the allergy sufferer is unable to do so themselves.
In October 2017 the Human Medicines Regulation was amended to enable UK schools to carry ‘generic’ AAIs which can be used on all students diagnosed with severe allergies in an emergency situation. This means that staff are able to store Epipens and other devices onsite and can ensure these AAIs are in date and functioning properly at all times – a situation which could save a child’s life if they forget their AAI or if it malfunctions.
The Department of Health guidance to this law specifically recommends AAI storage is for “schools only”. The Cambridge College Nurse Association, The A word with Jacqui McPeake (JACS Ltd) and the Anaphylaxis Campaign wants this to be extended to cover Higher Education institutions in the UK as well.
Dellar believes the current situation leaves university and higher education staff in a ‘vulnerable position’ because they are unable purchase and use AAIs, even though doing so could save lives.
She added: “A delay in ambulance response may mean that a death occurs whilst the staff can do little to prevent it if an AAI is not available.”
Dellar is now helping to organise a dinner to raise money and public awareness of the issue.
The fundraising four-course dinner, which is open to all, will be held on Saturday, June 8 at 6.30pm at St John’s.
Speakers at the event will include Dr Shelley Dua, Allergist from Addenbrooke’s and TRACE study, Allergy Action advisor Dr Hazel Gowland, and social media influencer Daniel Kelly who created the multi-platform allergy awareness blog May-Contain.
An Instagram post from Daniel Kelly's blog account (@_maycontain) showing his Epipen along with his other personal items
Published: 07/05/19