UPDATE, October 2025: The blog below has now been updated since new guidance has now been issued by the Scottish and UK Governments meaning that at schools throughout the UK can now also hold AAIs (Adrenaline Auto Injectors) and Salbutamol Inhalers (for asthma) for use in emergencies.
Updated clarification confirms schools throughout the UK may also use a spare AAI in exceptional emergencies where a child or adult has a severe allergic reaction without a prior diagnosis or known allergy. However, this is not mandatory – schools can choose whether to store and or use adrenaline injectors / epi-pens.
For further information on either, have a look at the following links :
or Annex B: Other Condition Specific Information. The use of Adrenaline Auto-injectors in schools
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In 2018, new legislation was passed which allows schools to carry Anaphylaxis Auto Injectors, for use in emergencies situations. This is an amendment to the Human Medicines Act which we previously looked at in a blog on Anaphylaxis and who could administer a life saving injection.
This change to legislation follows 2 years of lobbying by a working group, consisting of representatives from the Allergy UK, Anaphylaxis Campaign, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI), and the British Paediatric Allergy Immunity and Infection Group (BPAIIG). A government consultation into the proposed changes returned an overwhelming support for the proposals and as such the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 were published on 5 July 2017 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2017/715.)
The most important paragraph however is the following:
“The revised regulations will come into effect on 1 October 2017. From this date onwards, schools will be able to buy adrenaline auto-injectors, without a prescription, for use in emergencies from a pharmaceutical supplier in small quantities provided it is done on an occasional basis and is not for profit.”
Administering an Auto-Injector
This video from our YouTube channel explains the different types of Auto Injector available on the market, and how to use each.
Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis:
As an extra reminder, the image below illustrates the signs and symptoms of Anaphylaxis – far more than just a blotchy rash and swelling that most people are familiar with:
More more information, resources and guidance on anaphylaxis is also available from the Anaphylaxis UK website.
Get confident – get trained!
Administering an Auto Injector can be a daunting thing to do and we can provide training as part of our many courses. We can provide this training at your school, which will reinforce the inclusion of Anaphylaxis Auto Injectors in the building, giving staff confidence to do the right thing in a very stressful situation.
Knowing what to look for and what to do BEFORE something happens is essential and attending a first aid course will give you the knowledge and the confidence to deal with many first aid incidents. Our courses are structured to give you confidence in dealing with an incident as well as the competence to do good quality first aid. Find out more about our courses on our website.
Everyone on our courses receives a FREE digital first aid manual. We have a range of manuals relevant to the courses we teach – Sports, Outdoor, First Aid at Work, Paediatric and Equestrian. They are a great resource that you can download onto your phone or other device and have all that first aid knowledge at your fingertips. You can view and buy the Manuals for less than £5 here.
