After an Allergic Reaction in School: What Staff Should Do Next

Once an allergic reaction has been treated and the emergency services have taken over the pupil’s care, the school still has important responsibilities. These steps help protect the pupil’s ongoing safety and allow the school to review how the incident was managed.

Hospital Assessment After Anaphylaxis

If an adrenaline auto-injector has been used, the pupil must always be taken to hospital for further medical assessment, even if they appear to be recovering.

Anaphylaxis symptoms can return after the initial improvement, so medical professionals need to monitor the child and provide further treatment if required.

Informing Parents or Carers

The school should inform the pupil’s parents or carers as soon as possible, following its normal communication procedures.

Clear information should be shared, including:

• What happened
• Symptoms observed
• Treatment given
• When emergency services were contacted

Recording the Incident

After the immediate emergency has been managed, the school should record the incident in line with its normal reporting procedures.

This may include completing an accident or incident report and noting the actions taken by staff. Accurate records are important for safeguarding, legal compliance, and future review.

Reviewing What Happened

The school should review the circumstances of the incident to understand how it happened and whether improvements are needed.

This may include considering:

• How allergen exposure occurred
• Whether the allergy management plan was followed
• Whether procedures need updating
• Whether further staff training is required

This review should focus on learning and improving safety, not assigning blame.

Updating the Individual Healthcare Plan

If the pupil has an Individual Healthcare Plan, it may need to be reviewed and updated with parents, carers, and healthcare professionals.

This helps ensure the school continues to provide appropriate support and reduces the risk of future allergic emergencies.

Supporting the Pupil and Staff

An allergic emergency can be stressful for the pupil, classmates, and staff involved. Schools should support the pupil as they return to normal activities and ensure staff remain confident, prepared, and clear about their responsibilities.

Summary

Good post-incident procedures help schools manage allergic emergencies safely and professionally. By ensuring hospital assessment, informing parents, recording the incident, reviewing what happened, and updating plans where needed, schools can strengthen their approach to allergy safety and anaphylaxis management.