ACAAI and ACEP have teamed up to launch the Be S.A.F.E. campaign to foster physician collaboration and provide resources to help improve management of severe allergic reactions that affect millions of Americans. The S.A.F.E. system, developed by an expert panel of allergists and emergency room physicians, is a mnemonic device with four action steps.

	Seek Support Advise the patient who has had an anaphylactic reaction that there is a risk of subsequent reactions. Direct the patient to call an ambulance and get to the nearest emergency facility at the first sign of another reaction, even if epinephrine has already been administered. Also refer the patient to educational resources on allergies and anaphylaxis.*
	Allergen Identification and Avoidance Question the patient regarding recent contact with food or other substances or activities that may have triggered the reaction. Emphasize the importance of testing to confirm what caused the reaction and the need to avoid the allergen or other trigger in the future.
	Follow up for Specialty Care Advise the patient to follow up with his or her primary care physician and ask for a referral to an allergist, or to seek consultation directly with an allergist/immunologist for testing, diagnosis and ongoing management of the allergy.
	Epinephrine for Emergencies Provide the patient with a self-injectable epinephrine kit and instructions for its use, or with information about how to obtain a kit from another source, such as a primary care physician or allergist. Explain the importance of carrying the kit at all times and making sure that family and friends are aware of the risk of anaphylaxis, the triggers and how to use epinephrine.

* Direct the patient to educational support resources on allergies and anaphylaxis, such as the Web sites of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.acaai.org), the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (www.foodallergy.org), MedicAlert® (www.medicalert.org), the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.aaaai.org) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (www.acep.org).