Severe Allergic Reaction at Lunch Service

An attendee goes into anaphylaxis during the catered lunch. They noted a nut allergy on registration — but the caterer mislabeled a dish. 300 people are eating.

Setting: Annual nonprofit gala, 300 attendees, hotel banquet hall, midday seated lunch. Category: Safety & First Response. Pressure level: Critical.

This page is the individual, citable address for this one situation: https://gatheringarchitecture.com/crisis-sim/scenario/food-allergen

The situation

A table captain rushes to you: 'Someone at table 12 is having a severe allergic reaction — her face is swelling and she can't breathe properly. She says she ate the Thai chicken skewers and she's allergic to peanuts. The menu card says "nut-free" but the sauce contains peanut oil.' The guest is reaching for her purse — she may have an EpiPen.

First moves and what each one costs

• Rush to the guest, help her locate her EpiPen, radio medical team, and call 911 simultaneously — You reach her in 20 seconds. She has an EpiPen — you assist her in using it. Medical team is en route. 911 is dispatched. You're managing the immediate threat.
• Order all Thai skewers pulled from the buffet line immediately, then go to the guest — Smart to stop more exposure, but the guest's condition is worsening every second you delay. Another attendee starts helping her.
• Get on the mic and ask if there's a doctor in the room — A doctor stands up after 30 seconds, but the public announcement causes panic. Several other attendees with allergies stop eating entirely and demand to know what's in their food.

Preparation notes for this situation

• Always require caterers to provide a written allergen matrix for every dish
• Help a guest use their own prescribed auto-injector, and call 911 every time — epinephrine wears off and reactions can rebound
• Only stock epinephrine for others where your state's stock-epinephrine law allows it, with written authorization and trained staff
• Confirm allergen labels on the line — don't rely solely on the catering contract
• Seat guests with severe allergies near exits and brief nearby staff

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