Concerns raised 12 Failure to transmit allergy action plans to schools View source Lack of standardisation of allergy action plans across hospitals and schools View source Omission of second adrenaline auto-injector guidance from the emergency call algorithm View source Failure to ensure that school medication is in date View source Lack of awareness that a second adrenaline auto-injector should be administered after deterioration or non-improvement View source Delays in time-critical asthma and allergy review appointments View source Lack of school pupil understanding of allergies and the consequences of allergen exposure View source Failure to check or audit school allergy care plans and medication boxes View source Lack of awareness that adrenaline should be administered immediately for respiratory compromise after allergen exposure View source Insufficient availability of two adrenaline auto-injectors at all times View source Failure to communicate emergency adrenaline instructions effectively in school staff training View source Absence of emergency adrenaline instructions on EpiPen packaging View source See 9 more concerns
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AI-generated summary
Karanbir Singh CHEEMA · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Karanbir Singh CHEEMA, a pupil at William Perkin High School with multiple food allergies and asthma, went into anaphylactic shock after another pupil threw cheese at him on 28 June 2017 and died. Concerns included inadequate awareness of his allergies, insufficient checking and availability of EpiPens, an out-of-date EpiPen, failures in sharing and standardising allergy action plans, a cancelled follow-up appointment, and shortcomings in emergency response guidance and training.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to transmit allergy action plans to schools
Wider context from the report “5. The allergy action plan drafted by Karanbir’s doctors at Ealing Hospital did not find its way to his school . There is no standardised approach to this , for example always sending a copy to the school designated safeguarding lead, as well as giving parents/carers a copy for themselves and a copy for the school in case the posted version does not arrive.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of standardisation of allergy action plans across hospitals and schools
Wider context from the report “4. Allergy action plans are not standardised across hospitals and schools , so messages are not as clearly delivered as they could be . This is vital particularly when they may be read for the first time in a desperate situation where panic has set in.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Omission of second adrenaline auto-injector guidance from the emergency call algorithm
Wider context from the report “11. The London Ambulance Service 999 operator did not at any time suggest that a second EpiPen be given , because this is not contained within the algorithm . That could be remedied internationally.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to ensure that school medication is in date
Wider context from the report “3. Karanbir’s EpiPen was out of date . There must be systems in place to ensure that medication in schools is in date .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of awareness that a second adrenaline auto-injector should be administered after deterioration or non-improvement
Wider context from the report “8. There appears to be a lack of awareness nationally of the simple but vital messages that:
- if a person with an allergy has been exposed to an allergen and develops any respiratory compromise, so any breathing difficulty at all, then adrenaline (via EpiPen or other) should be administered immediately, before any asthma pump and even before calling for help;
- if there is a deterioration after giving one EpiPen, then another should be administered immediately, or in any event after five minutes if there is no improvement .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Delays in time-critical asthma and allergy review appointments
Wider context from the report “6. Karanbir’s treating doctors wanted him to re-attend for asthma and allergy review four months after his last consultation. An appointment was made but cancelled by the hospital . By the time of his death four months later he had still not been seen again . There needed to be recognition of the time critical nature of this appointment. It needed to be re-booked without delay.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of school pupil understanding of allergies and the consequences of allergen exposure
Wider context from the report “1. The pupils at Karanbir’s school had a patchy understanding of his allergies, what they were and the consequences of exposure to allergens . Targeted education about this would improve safety.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to check or audit school allergy care plans and medication boxes
Wider context from the report “2. Karanbir’s school care plan and medical box were not checked or audited to ensure, for example, that his care plan stipulated two EpiPens® (adrenaline auto-injectors), the box contained two EpiPens.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of awareness that adrenaline should be administered immediately for respiratory compromise after allergen exposure
Wider context from the report “8. There appears to be a lack of awareness nationally of the simple but vital messages that:
- if a person with an allergy has been exposed to an allergen and develops any respiratory compromise, so any breathing difficulty at all, then adrenaline (via EpiPen or other) should be administered immediately , before any asthma pump and even before calling for help;
- if there is a deterioration after giving one EpiPen, then another should be administered immediately, or in any event after five minutes if there is no improvement.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Insufficient availability of two adrenaline auto-injectors at all times
Wider context from the report “7. Karanbir had one EpiPen at home, one at school and one at his father’s home . There is clearly a need for medical teams to emphasise that two EpiPens must be available at all times .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to communicate emergency adrenaline instructions effectively in school staff training
Wider context from the report “10. These instructions were not communicated effectively as part of the school staff’s first aid and EpiPen training .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Viatris Inc.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Absence of emergency adrenaline instructions on EpiPen packaging
Wider context from the report “9. The EpiPen box does not contain these instructions on the outside .
” Open source report