London Luton Airport installs emergency anaphylaxis kits

London Luton Airport has become the first UK airport to install emergency anaphylaxis kits across key passenger areas, alongside staff training, to provide rapid support for severe allergic reactions.

Summary:

London Luton Airport becomes the first UK airport to install emergency anaphylaxis kits across key passenger areas.
Kitt Medical’s wall-mounted Anaphylaxis Kitts provide rapid access to emergency adrenaline pens for severe allergic reactions.
Mandatory staff training is supporting Luton Airport’s wider focus on passenger safety, medical response and innovative airport operations.

London Luton Airport (LLA) – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has become the first airport in the UK to install emergency anaphylaxis kits alongside staff training for severe allergic reactions, provided by startup company Kitt Medical.

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that happens very quickly and can be caused by food, medicine, insect stings or environmental factors. Designed to be visible and accessible, the Anaphylaxis Kitts have recently been installed across more than 10 key locations in LLA, including the security hall, the departure lounge, immigration and baggage reclaim, providing quick and easy access to emergency allergy-related medical care when required.

All LLA staff are receiving mandatory training alongside the roll-out, with hundreds trained in the first few days alone. However, much like a defibrillator, the wall-mounted Kitts come with full instructions inside, making them easy to use in an emergency scenario.

The Anaphylaxis Kitts were purchased by LLA as they are a qualifying business with occupational health, in order to keep staff safe who are at risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). However, they can also be used to save a life in an emergency for any passenger or airport visitor who has a severe reaction.

“London Luton Airport serves millions of passengers each year and our teams across the airport play a vital role in ensuring that everyone is safe,” said Dan Cartwright, Head of Airfield Operations, London Luton Airport. “We’re proud to be the first UK airport to install Anaphylaxis Kitts. Initiatives such as this form a key part of our wider partnership with East of England Ambulance Service which sees LLA’s Fire and Rescue service trained to respond to the most serious medical emergencies within the airport boundary and ensures LLA staff are equipped with the skills to offer immediate medical support while waiting for ambulance crews to arrive.”

Just like a defibrillator, but for allergies, Kitt Medical provide wall-mounted emergency Kitts, with a subscription supply of emergency adrenaline pens and online CPD-accredited training.

LLA Watch Manager, David Gardner, the medical lead for the airport’s co-responder scheme, and one of 10 UK Aviation Ambassadors appointed by the Department for Transport (DfT), has been central to the introduction of the Anaphylaxis Kitts at LLA. He commented: “This is a fantastic example of how London Luton Airport continues to seek new, innovative ways to further enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff and passengers. Our co-responder agreement with East of England Ambulance Service enabled us to identify this opportunity to support people living with allergies, as they travel through the airport. I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues across the airport and Kitt Medical to provide this additional level of care.”