FARE, ACEP develop new anaphylaxis toolkit

(HealthDay)—A new anaphylaxis toolkit has been developed to help answer questions about managing life-threatening allergies after patients are discharged from the emergency department, according to a report from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Each year there are more than 200,000 emergency department visits for food allergy, and the resource, which is available online and in print, is part of an educational initiative to help improve emergency department discharge procedures. The toolkit is a resource to help patients know what steps to take after discharge.

The toolkit can be downloaded for free or ordered online and includes an emergency care plan; an epinephrine auto-injector prescription reminder; a reminder to follow up with an allergist; and tools for parents, teens, and adult patients. In addition, it includes a list of useful resources.

"Food allergy reactions are unpredictable and can become severe without warning; therefore, it is important to prepare both patients and physicians to treat these reactions promptly," James R. Baker Jr., M.D., interim chief executive officer of FARE, said in a statement. "We are pleased to join with American College of Emergency Physicians to share this important resource, which includes essential information for those who have experienced an anaphylactic reaction and are in need of answers."

Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.