This is an EpiPen®.
The Yellow is for adults (66 lbs and over). The Green is for children (33 – 66 lbs.)
This is an EpiPen®.
The Yellow is for adults (66 lbs and over). The Green is for children (33 – 66 lbs.)
EpiPens come in a carrying case, to protect you from accidentally activating the injector.
EpiPens are used to treat Anaphylactic Shock associated with Severe Allergic Reactions. Here are common symptoms of someone having an allergic reaction:
A person having a severe allergic reaction can potentially go into cardiac arrest in 15 minutes and potentially die if they do not get an injection of Epinephrine. Epinephrine is man-made “adrenaline.”
Here are some very common allergens that cause people to have anaphylactic reactions.
People with known allergies often carry an EpiPen® with them.
School nurses usually have EpiPens. Some schools even have EpiPens available for emergency use stored in cabinets like this in the hallway.
If you see someone having what you think is a severe or worsening allergic reaction, find an EpiPen® as fast as you can. If in the first minute you cannot figure out where you would find an EpiPen®, call 911 as your first step. While you’re waiting for the ambulance, you can still administer an EpiPen® if you locate one. If there is Benadryl on hand and the victim can still swallow on their own, give them a full dose of Benadryl. You can do both.
If you do locate an EpiPen®, remove it from its carrying case.
The orange end is the needle end, so be careful! Stay calm, this is a quick process.
On the opposite end there is a blue “safety” tab that you must pull out for the auto-injector to function.
Pull the blue safety tab out. Your EpiPen® is now ready to inject.
Grip the EpiPen® in your hand so the orange needle end is facing the ground and you can “stab” it downward.
With the victim seated or lying down, note their outer thigh – it is not necessary for skin to be bared. The objective is to push the EpiPen® into the outer thigh muscle so the orange end disappears into the EpiPen®, allowing the needle to poke through the pants/tights of the person. HOLD the injector firmly against the victim’s leg to allow the medicine to administer fully.
Wait 10 seconds for the injection to be complete.
After the injection, massage the thigh and make sure someone has called 911.
You may notice the person quickly having some relief from their symptoms. But please, they still need to be taken to a hospital or urgent care facility. If you have called an ambulance, let them ride there in the ambulance in case they have a secondary reaction. If you have more than one EpiPen® on hand, keep additional EpiPens with you as you transport the person to the hospital.
A used EpiPen® will have an extended orange cover over the needle.