If you are of a certain age, you remember when peanuts were served on airlines. Rarely are peanuts passed freely now. We all know why; certain people have an allergy to peanuts. As a friend of my youngest son had a severe peanut allergy, I witnessed first hand how it impacts upon life and simply going to a college football game.

But not all allergic reactions are to peanuts. Another common reaction is to bee stings. My mother had progressively worse reactions to bee stings, the last sending her to the emergency room.

But what happens when there is no emergency room nearby? How often does it occur, and what are the treatment options?

The medical term for the above is Anaphylaxis. It is a potential life threatening allergic reaction. Exposure to an molecule, for example the peanuts, causes the body’s immune system to release a large amount of chemicals. These chemicals can cause:

• Skin reaction, hives

• Low blood pressure

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

• Difficulty breathing due to constriction of the airway

It is estimated that 1.6 – 2.0% of the US population is at risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction. There are two groups which have reported on the incidence of anaphylaxis in the outdoor setting. National Outdoor Leadership School and Outward Bound. The incidence of anaphylaxis appeared in 0.01% student in Outward Bound, and 0.03% in National Outdoor Leadership School. Rare but life threatening. Neither organization reported deaths. National Outdoor Leadership School reported 21% cases were in people with no prior history of allergy.