By Stewart Hansen, Founder and Principal Instructor at Vital Signs First.
EURneffy is an adrenaline nasal spray for treating anaphylaxis, and it’s the first needle-free alternative to an auto-injector licensed in the UK. If a pupil has one, you use it much like an auto-injector: give it straight away at the first signs of anaphylaxis, call 999 and say “anaphylaxis”, keep them lying down, and give a second spray in the same nostril if there’s no improvement after five minutes.
It’s still new, and not many people have come across it yet. When I mentioned it at my own GP surgery a month ago, nobody there had heard of it. So if a pupil turns up with a nasal spray instead of an EpiPen, there’s a fair chance some of your staff won’t know what it is. This post is here to fix that.
What is EURneffy?
EURneffy delivers a dose of adrenaline through the nose instead of by injection. It works on the same principle as an auto-injector, but there’s no needle, which matters a lot to children (and adults) who are frightened of injections.
- Licensed in the UK by the MHRA in July 2025.
- 2mg dose for adults and children weighing 30kg or more.
- 1mg dose for children aged 4 and over weighing 15 to 30kg, licensed in 2026 and expected on prescription towards the end of the year.
- Single use. Each device holds one dose, so it can’t be tested or primed beforehand.
- Works with a blocked or runny nose.
Is it available on the NHS?
Partly, and it depends where you live. NHS Wales recommended it in September 2026. In England there’s no national decision, so each local NHS area decides whether to add it to its list of medicines, and many haven’t reviewed it yet. That’s why you might find it hard to get from your GP, and why some surgeries still haven’t heard of it.
It also isn’t suitable for everyone. The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology advises that anyone who has needed more than one dose of adrenaline before, or has had a very severe reaction, should keep carrying auto-injectors. That’s a decision for the pupil’s family and their allergy team, not the school.
How to use EURneffy in an emergency
Always follow the pupil’s own allergy action plan first. In outline, based on Anaphylaxis UK’s EURneffy action guide:
- Hold it correctly. Thumb on the bottom of the plunger, a finger either side of the nozzle. Don’t press it to test it, as there’s only one dose.
- Put the nozzle in one nostril until your fingers touch the nose, pointing up towards the forehead.
- Press the plunger firmly until it clicks and sprays.
- Call 999 and say “anaphylaxis”, then contact the parent or carer.
- Keep them lying down with their legs raised, or sitting up if they’re struggling to breathe. Don’t let them stand up, even if they seem better.
- If there’s no improvement after five minutes, give a second dose in the same nostril with a new device.
- Stay with them until the ambulance arrives. If they stop breathing normally, start CPR.
As with an auto-injector: if in doubt, give the adrenaline. And they still need to go to hospital even if they recover quickly.
What this means for your school
- Check your healthcare plans. If a pupil’s family switches to EURneffy, their individual healthcare plan and allergy action plan need updating, and staff need to know.
- Know where it’s kept. Like auto-injectors, pupils should have two devices with them or close by at all times, including on trips.
- Spare devices. The spare adrenaline devices schools can keep under Benedict’s Law and the Department for Education’s guidance are auto-injectors. Keep your spares as they are, and use a pupil’s own nasal spray only as their plan sets out.
- Include it in training. Since September 2026, all school staff must have allergy awareness training every year. That training should now cover nasal sprays as well as auto-injectors, so staff aren’t caught out.
EURneffy FAQs
Is a nasal spray as good as an auto-injector?
It’s licensed as a suitable way to give emergency adrenaline, but it isn’t right for everyone, particularly people who’ve had very severe reactions before. The pupil’s allergy team will decide which is best for them.
Can staff use EURneffy on a pupil?
Yes, if it’s the pupil’s own prescribed device and it’s set out in their healthcare plan. It’s designed to be given by someone else as well as by the person themselves.
What if the pupil has a cold or a blocked nose?
EURneffy can still be used with a blocked or runny nose.
Do we still need our spare auto-injectors?
Yes. Nothing about EURneffy changes the requirement for schools to hold spare auto-injectors.
Make sure your staff are ready
Our Benedict’s Law allergy awareness training is delivered in person at your school, ideal for an INSET day, or online. In the in-person session everyone gets hands-on practice with both trainer auto-injectors and a EURneffy nasal spray trainer, so nobody is seeing one for the first time in a real emergency. We train schools, nurseries and colleges across Milton Keynes and the surrounding counties. Get in touch to book a session for your team.
This article is general guidance and is not a substitute for accredited training, a pupil’s own allergy action plan, or advice from their medical team. In an emergency, always call 999.