Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Adrenaline (epinephrine)
- The first-choice, life-saving medicine for anaphylaxis, given as an injection into a muscle.
- Adverse drug reaction
- An unwanted or harmful response to a medicine that was given at a normal dose.
- Anaphylaxis
- A severe, sudden and life-threatening allergic reaction that needs immediate emergency treatment.
- Angioedema
- Rapid swelling deep in the skin or soft tissues, often around the face, lips, tongue or throat.
- Automated external defibrillator (AED)
- A portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can deliver an electric shock to restart the heart in a cardiac arrest.
- Biphasic reaction
- A second wave of anaphylaxis symptoms that can return hours after the patient first appears to recover.
- Cardiac arrest
- When the heart stops pumping blood effectively, so the person becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Emergency chest compressions and rescue breaths used to keep blood and oxygen moving when the heart has stopped.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- The independent regulator of health and social care services in England.
- Chlorhexidine
- A common antiseptic used to clean skin before a procedure, which can occasionally trigger an allergic reaction.
- Clinical governance
- The system an organisation uses to maintain and continuously improve the quality and safety of the care it provides.
- Contemporaneous record
- A note written at the time an event happens or immediately afterwards, so it is accurate and reliable.
- Contraindication
- A specific situation or medical reason in which a treatment should not be used because it could cause harm.
- Cyanosis
- A blue or grey tinge to the lips, skin or nails caused by low oxygen in the blood.
- Dermal filler
- An injectable gel-like product used in aesthetic treatments to smooth lines or add volume to the skin.
- Duty of candour
- The legal duty to be open and honest with a person and their family when something goes wrong with their care.
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
- The regulations setting out the fundamental standards that providers of regulated care must meet, including safe care and treatment.
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012
- The main law in the United Kingdom governing how medicines are supplied, administered and used, including emergency exemptions for adrenaline.
- Hyaluronidase
- An enzyme medicine used to dissolve dermal filler, which can sometimes cause an allergic reaction.
- Hypersensitivity reaction
- An exaggerated or harmful response by the immune system to a substance, ranging from mild to life-threatening.
- Intramuscular (IM)
- Given by injection directly into a muscle, such as the thigh.
- Intravenous (IV)
- Given directly into a vein, usually by an ambulance or hospital team.
- Lidocaine
- A widely used local anaesthetic that numbs a small area of the body.
- Local anaesthetic
- A medicine that numbs a specific part of the body so a procedure can be carried out without pain.
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- The United Kingdom body that regulates medicines and medical devices and ensures they are safe and effective.
- Medico-legal
- Relating to matters that have both medical and legal importance, such as records that may be needed as evidence.
- Mucosal changes
- Visible changes, such as swelling or redness, in the moist linings of the mouth, eyes, nose or throat.
- Near miss
- An event that could have caused harm but did not, by chance or because it was caught in time.
- Nominated Individual
- The senior person responsible to the regulator for supervising how a service is provided.
- Non-rebreathe mask
- An oxygen mask with a reservoir bag that delivers a high concentration of oxygen to a patient.
- Oxygen saturation (SpO2)
- A measure of how much oxygen the blood is carrying, shown as a percentage and read using a pulse oximeter.
- Paediatric
- Relating to the care or treatment of children.
- Pulse oximeter
- A small clip-on device, usually placed on a finger, that measures oxygen levels in the blood and the pulse rate.
- Recovery position
- A safe on-the-side position for an unconscious person who is still breathing, which helps keep the airway clear.
- Registered Manager
- The person registered with the regulator as responsible for the day-to-day running of a service.
- Regulated activity
- A type of care or treatment the law requires a provider to register with the regulator to deliver.
- Resuscitation Council UK
- The United Kingdom body that sets the national guidelines for resuscitation and the emergency treatment of conditions such as anaphylaxis.
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- A written, step-by-step instruction describing how staff must carry out a specific task consistently and safely.
- Stridor
- A high-pitched sound heard when breathing in, caused by a narrowed or obstructed airway.
- Urticaria (hives)
- An itchy, raised rash on the skin, often a sign of an allergic reaction.
- Yellow Card scheme
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency system for reporting suspected side effects of medicines and problems with medical devices.