Life Skills · Health & Safety

Allergies and Anaphylaxis

Sharing food is one of the friendliest things human beings do. We do it in every culture, in every country, every single day. For most of us it is completely safe. For some people, one bite of the wrong food can start a reaction that becomes a medical emergency within minutes.

Around one in five children has some form of allergic condition, and the pattern is similar across much of the world. Almost every classroom contains someone with an allergy. This course teaches you what allergies are, how to recognise a serious reaction and exactly what to do about it. It also tells the story of a five year old boy whose death changed the law in England, and what that law can teach all of us, wherever we live.

By the end of this course you will be able to

• Explain what an allergy is and how it differs from an intolerance.
• Recognise the four groups of anaphylaxis signs.
• Take the four emergency steps with confidence.
• Describe the four protections of Benedict’s Law and why they matter everywhere.
• Act against allergy bullying and support friends who live with allergies.
• Build a personal allergy safety plan, for yourself or for someone you care about.