EFA Members Anaphylaxis Campaign and Allergy UK have been advocating together with the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI), the British Paediatric Allergy Immunity and Infection Group (BPAIIG) and with the support of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to allow schools, pre-schools and nurseries to hold generic adrenaline auto-injectors, and ensure they have sufficient trained staff to operate the device in case of an emergency. Their asks could be approved and entering into force later this year.
In the UK, up to 6% of children and young people have a food allergy. Children and young people diagnosed with allergy are frequently prescribed adrenaline auto-injector devices in case of a potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. Although the majority of children with anaphylaxis respond to a single adrenaline auto-injector, some children may require a further dose and it is possible that devices may misfire or be used incorrectly. Therefore, within schools, children at risk of anaphylaxis should have access to two adrenaline auto-injectors at all times.