Hi Captainllama -

Sounds as thoguh you have two very clued up daughters!

I work in a restaurant which is very allergy aware and they have a little manual in the kitchen which has a sort of allergy action plan - although, obviously it is designed for restaurant staff looking after a customer rather than a friend or family member. For what it is worth I will copy it out below - I had already taken a copy for myself anyhow as I have a coeliac friend who thinks that she may also be nut allergic and I thought it might be useful for her.

If a Customer Suffers a serious allergic Reaction

1. Have a list of allergy symptoms posted up in the servery.
• generalised flushing of the skin
• nettle rash (hives) anywhere on the body
• sense of impending doom
• swelling of throat and mouth
• difficulty in swallowing or speaking
• alterations in heart rate
• severe asthma
• abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
• sudden feeling of weakness (drop in blood pressure)
• collapse and unconsciousness
Nobody would necessarily experience all of these symptoms.
Courtesy of the Anaphylaxis Campaign
www.anaphylaxis.org.uk Tel. 01252 542029

2. Ask the customer if this has happened before? What
happened next? Do they carry medication? Can they use it or do they need help?
3. If you think a customer is having an allergic reaction, call an ambulance immediately and tell them that someone may be suffering a severe allergic reaction and may need resuscitation.
4. Have clear, detailed instructions as to how to get to, and get into, the restaurant, stuck up by the phone so that any member of staff can give detailed instructions to the ambulance. This is very important. If the ambulance is delayed it could be fatal.
5. While waiting for the ambulance ensure that the customer does not exert themselves and do not leave them alone.
6. Send someone to wait outside the restaurant for the ambulance to speed their arrival.