Luton Airport becomes first UK airport to install emergency anaphylaxis kits

London Luton Airport has rolled out emergency anaphylaxis kits across its terminal, becoming the first UK airport to deploy the life-saving allergy response systems.

They will give staff rapid access to adrenaline auto-injectors when someone suffers a severe allergic reaction.

London Luton Airport announced the installation on its official LinkedIn account, describing the move as an “airport first”.

The rollout is intended to improve the airport’s ability to respond to anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires urgent treatment.

Luton Airport installs emergency adrenaline pens

The airport has installed Kitt Medical Anaphylaxis Kitts at 10 touchpoints across the passenger terminal, as well as at its Head Office.

The wall-mounted Anaphylaxis Kitts provide access to adrenaline auto-injectors for use in an emergency.

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says adrenaline auto-injectors are potentially life-saving medicines used to treat severe allergic reactions.

MHRA guidance recommends administering adrenaline without delay if anaphylaxis is suspected and then calling emergency services.

At Luton, the new equipment adds another layer to existing emergency medical arrangements involving the airport’s Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service.

“We’re proud to be the first UK airport to install Anaphylaxis Kitts,” said Dan Cartwright, Head of Airfield Operations at London Luton Airport.

He added that the initiative formed part of the airport’s wider partnership with the East of England Ambulance Service.

The partnership sees LLA’s Fire and Rescue Service trained to respond to serious medical emergencies within the airport boundary. Cartwright said it also ensures airport staff have the skills to “offer immediate medical support while waiting for ambulance crews to arrive”.

Airport firefighter helped drive the project

Central to the rollout was David Gardner, a London Luton Airport firefighter and Medical Lead for the airport’s co-responder scheme.

Gardner is also one of 10 Aviation Ambassadors appointed nationally by the Department for Transport.

“This is a fantastic example of how London Luton Airport continues to seek out new, innovative ways to drive passenger health and safety,” Gardner said in the airport’s announcement. “Our co-responder agreement with East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust enabled us to identify this opportunity to support people living with allergies as they travel through the airport.”

Why allergy treatment at airports matters

Airports and air travel can create particular concerns for people at risk of severe allergic reactions. Passengers may encounter unfamiliar foods and environments and could be some distance from conventional emergency medical services when a reaction occurs.

The Luton project has been developed with Kitt Medical, which provides emergency adrenaline auto-injector kits and allergy training to organisations around the UK.

Kitt Medical founder Zak Marks, who has severe food allergies himself, said in his own post on LinkedIn that the Luton Airport project had taken more than two years to bring to fruition.

“As someone who lives with multiple severe food allergies, passing through an airport and flying can be an anxiety-inducing experience,” Marks said.

He said the installation means there are now more than 10 emergency kits containing adrenaline pens across the airport and that staff are receiving mandatory allergy and anaphylaxis training.

According to Marks, more than 400 Luton Airport employees completed the training within the first few days of the rollout.

The airport’s installation could provide a model for other UK airports as awareness of severe allergies and the importance of rapid access to adrenaline continues to grow.