Emergency Protocols Abroad

📋Before You Travel

The best time to prepare for an allergy emergency abroad is before you leave home. A few hours of preparation can make a critical difference if something goes wrong.

Create an Allergy Action Plan

An allergy action plan is a written document that tells anyone around you exactly what to do if you have a reaction. It should include:

• Your full name and date of birth
• A list of all your allergens — food, drug, insect, and environmental
• Your symptoms — what mild, moderate, and severe reactions look like for you
• Step-by-step instructions — when to take antihistamines, when to use your adrenaline auto-injector, and when to call an ambulance
• Your doctor's name and contact details
• Your travel insurance policy number and emergency helpline
• Your emergency contacts — at least two people who can be reached during your trip

Ask your GP or allergy specialist to help you prepare this plan. Keep a printed copy in your hand luggage and share a digital copy with your travel companions.

Share Your Plan

Make sure at least one travel companion knows where your medication is, how to use your auto-injector, and what your action plan says. If you are travelling alone, brief your hotel reception or tour guide on your first day. The few minutes this takes could save your life.

Save Emergency Numbers

Before you depart, save the local emergency numbers for your destination in your phone. Add them to your contacts and write them on your allergy action plan.

Recognising Anaphylaxis While Travelling

Anaphylaxis can develop within minutes of allergen exposure. According to the NHS, symptoms may include:

• Skin — widespread hives, redness, itching, or swelling (especially lips, tongue, and throat)
• Breathing — wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, difficulty swallowing
• Circulation — feeling faint, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, pale or clammy skin
• Stomach — nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea
• General — a sense of impending doom, confusion, or loss of consciousness

Not every reaction follows the same pattern. You may experience only some of these symptoms. If you are in any doubt, treat it as anaphylaxis and act immediately.

Reactions can be harder to recognise when you are tired, jet-lagged, or in an unfamiliar environment. Stay alert after eating, especially in the first hour after a meal.

🚨What to Do in an Emergency

If you suspect anaphylaxis, act fast. According to resuscitation guidelines, the sequence is:

1. 1
   Use your adrenaline auto-injector immediately — do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own
2. 2
   Call the local emergency number — or ask someone nearby to call while you administer your medication
3. 3
   Lie down with your legs raised — unless you are having difficulty breathing, in which case sit upright
4. 4
   Use a second auto-injector after five to ten minutes if symptoms have not improved
5. 5
   Get to a hospital — even if symptoms improve after using your auto-injector, you need medical observation for at least six hours (biphasic reactions can occur)
6. 6
   Show your allergy action plan — hand it to the paramedics or hospital staff so they know your history

Do not attempt to drive yourself to hospital. Wait for an ambulance or have someone else drive you.

🚨Emergency Numbers by Region

Save the relevant numbers before you travel. In many countries, the operator may not speak English, so be prepared to state your location and the word "allergy" or "anaphylaxis" in the local language.

Key Emergency Numbers

For destinations not listed here, search for "[country name] emergency number" before you travel and save it in your phone.

💊EpiPen and Adrenaline Auto-Injector Availability Abroad

Access to adrenaline auto-injectors varies hugely around the world. Do not assume you can easily replace your device if it is lost, damaged, or used during your trip.

Where Access Is Generally Straightforward

• United Kingdom — available on prescription; pharmacies can issue emergency supplies in some cases
• United States — available with a prescription; some states allow pharmacists to dispense without one in emergencies
• European Union — available on prescription in most member states; brand names vary (EpiPen, Jext, Emerade)
• Australia — available on prescription; relatively easy to obtain from pharmacies
• Canada — available on prescription; widely stocked in pharmacies

Where Access Can Be Difficult

• Parts of Asia — adrenaline auto-injectors may not be widely stocked; in some countries, only hospitals carry adrenaline in ampoule form
• Parts of Africa — auto-injectors may be unavailable outside major cities; adrenaline ampoules may be the only option
• Parts of South America — availability varies by country; Brazil and Argentina have better access than some neighbouring countries
• Middle East — available in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, but harder to find in other countries in the region

Practical Advice

• Always carry at least two auto-injectors — this is standard medical advice regardless of destination
• Keep them in your hand luggage — auto-injectors must not go in the hold, where temperatures can damage the medication
• Carry a doctor's letter — a letter from your GP or specialist confirming your need for the device helps at customs and when seeking replacement abroad
• Check expiry dates — replace any device that expires during your trip before you travel
• Research your destination — if auto-injectors are hard to obtain at your destination, consider carrying a third device as a backup

Finding Hospitals and Pharmacies Abroad

When you are in an unfamiliar city and need medical help quickly, knowing where to go matters.

• Google Maps — search for "hospital" or "pharmacy" to find the nearest options, including reviews, opening hours, and directions
• Your hotel concierge — hotel staff can often direct you to the nearest hospital or pharmacy and may call ahead for you
• Your country's embassy or consulate — embassies maintain lists of English-speaking doctors and hospitals in the area; check your embassy's website before you travel
• Travel insurance helpline — your insurer's 24-hour helpline can locate hospitals in their network and arrange direct billing
• Local tourism offices — in popular tourist areas, tourism offices can provide medical facility information

Save the address of the nearest hospital to your accommodation as soon as you arrive. Do not wait until you need it.

💬Language Barriers During Emergencies

An allergic emergency is stressful enough without struggling to communicate. Preparation is your best defence against language barriers.

• Wear medical ID — a medical alert bracelet or necklace with your allergies listed in English and the local language
• Carry a translated allergy card — a printed card explaining your allergies and emergency protocol in the local language
• Use a translation app — apps like Google Translate offer a conversation mode that translates speech in real time; download the language pack for offline use before you travel
• Learn key phrases — memorise how to say "I am having an allergic reaction," "I need an ambulance," and "I am allergic to [allergen]" in the local language
• Show your action plan — even if the medical team cannot read English, a structured document with clear headings and your auto-injector visible communicates urgency

In a genuine emergency, body language, showing your auto-injector, and pointing to your medical ID can communicate what words cannot.

💊Replacing Lost or Damaged Medication Abroad

If your adrenaline auto-injector is lost, stolen, used, or damaged during your trip, you need to replace it as quickly as possible.

1. 1
   Contact your travel insurance helpline — they can direct you to a local doctor or pharmacy and may cover the cost
2. 2
   Visit a local hospital or clinic — explain the situation and ask for a prescription; bring your doctor's letter and allergy action plan
3. 3
   Go to a pharmacy — in some countries, pharmacists can supply emergency medication without a full prescription
4. 4
   Contact your embassy — if you are struggling to access medication, your embassy may be able to assist or recommend a doctor
5. 5
   Call your GP at home — they may be able to provide documentation or advice remotely to help you obtain a replacement

According to allergy charities, you should never travel with only one auto-injector. Carrying a spare means losing one device does not leave you unprotected.

🚨Travel Insurance and Emergency Medical Cover

Having the right travel insurance is essential for allergy travellers. Without proper cover, an emergency hospital visit abroad could cost thousands.

• Declare all allergies when you buy your policy — undeclared pre-existing conditions can void your cover
• Check that anaphylaxis treatment is included — not all standard policies cover allergic reactions
• Confirm EpiPen replacement is covered — some policies exclude medication costs
• Save your policy number and emergency helpline — add them to your allergy action plan and your phone
• Call your insurer as soon as possible during an emergency — most policies require you to notify them within 24 hours

For a detailed comparison of allergy-aware travel insurance options, see our Travel Insurance for Allergy Sufferers guide.