Heavy Transport
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
During cruise while I as in crew rest; cabin crew member experienced an allergic reaction to a food product in the passenger food catering; while the passenger service was being served. He immediately came from his station to the cockpit to seek relief from the symptoms as the entire cabin was apparently filled with smell or air particles of what he was allergic to. The crew members on duty allowed him into the cockpit and assisted him with opening and administering his personal medication. He also used the crew oxygen for relief. The medical condition completely resolved itself according to the operating crew and the [crew member]. The [crew member] reported back to normal duty for the remainder of the flight.The flight continued without further incident.I was totally unaware of what had transpired with the [crew member] until I reported back to duty after my crew rest. Upon learning about the incident; I counseled the flight crew on the need for the Captain to be brought into the loop during such an event.At the conclusion of the flight I addressed the [crew member] about his condition. He made it clear that the medical condition (food allergy) is known by the company. That he carries an EPI pen as well as Benadryl to address the possibility of such an event.I attempted to fill out a post flight crew report regarding the event; however; there appears to be a computer glitch in the programing which would not allow the submission of the report.While the outcome of this incident turned out fine with respect to the safe completion of the flight and the health of the [crew member]; I have numerous safety concerns associated with the event which should be considered. The inexperience of the two First Officers left in charge of the cockpit while I was in rest clearly showed in their lack of judgment not to immediately notify the Captain at the first onset of any crew member experiencing a medical condition which could have led to possible incapacitation or worse had the problem not resolved itself. While addressing this concern with the junior First Officers; I had to spell out my logic and the potential seriousness of the situation as it was not apparent even after the fact as one of them seamed to feel that I was making a bigger deal of it than it was. Next; the fact that the medical condition experienced by the [crew member] or rather the degree of the allergic reaction required the Flight Attendant to retreat as far away from his station (main deck aft); all the way to the cockpit to find relief in in of itself a major problem. The entire cabin was filled with the inflicting allergen); he had nowhere to go and in desperation ran all the way to the cockpit. Had we been in a phase of flight where allowing him into the cockpit was not possible; how would that have turned out? What would have happened if having him in the cockpit was too much of a distraction during flight? Providing a cabin crew required flight crew oxygen to a cabin crew during a medical conditions is also completely nonstandard and should be addressed for the potential of such future events.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
Captain reported a cabin crew member became incapacitated due to a food allergic reaction.