What is the What is the Epipen?Epipen?

By: Mrs. Renay Reyes, RNC, MSNed, By: Mrs. Renay Reyes, RNC, MSNed, CSN CSN

School Nurse /BCIT WestamptonSchool Nurse /BCIT Westampton

What is Anaphylaxis?What is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that occurs in response to a reaction that occurs in response to a particular trigger. Knowing the particular trigger. Knowing the symptoms of anaphylaxis may save symptoms of anaphylaxis may save your life or the life of someone you your life or the life of someone you love.love.

Anaphylaxis is Commonly Anaphylaxis is Commonly Triggered By:Triggered By:

Insect VenomInsect Venom FoodsFoods MedicationsMedications LatexLatex

What is Epinephrine What is Epinephrine Injection?Injection? Epinephrine is a chemical that Epinephrine is a chemical that

narrows blood vessels and opens narrows blood vessels and opens airways in the lungs. These effects can airways in the lungs. These effects can reverse severe low blood pressure, reverse severe low blood pressure, wheezing, severe skin itching, hives, wheezing, severe skin itching, hives, and other symptoms of an allergic and other symptoms of an allergic reaction.reaction.

Besides being used to treat severe Besides being used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to insect stings or bites, foods, drugs, insect stings or bites, foods, drugs, and other allergens. Epinephrine is and other allergens. Epinephrine is also used to treat exercise-induced also used to treat exercise-induced anaphylaxis.anaphylaxis.

To use an Epi-Pen Auto-To use an Epi-Pen Auto-Injector:Injector:

Place the black tip against the fleshy portion of Place the black tip against the fleshy portion of your outer thigh. your outer thigh. With a quick motion, push the auto-injector With a quick motion, push the auto-injector

firmly against your thigh at a 90 degree angle. firmly against your thigh at a 90 degree angle. Hold the auto-injector in place for a few 10 Hold the auto-injector in place for a few 10

seconds after activation. seconds after activation. Remove the auto-injector from your thigh and Remove the auto-injector from your thigh and

Carefully re-insert the used device needle-first Carefully re-insert the used device needle-first into the carrying tube. into the carrying tube.

Re-cap the tube and take it with you to the Re-cap the tube and take it with you to the emergency room so that anyone who treats you emergency room so that anyone who treats you will know how much epinephrine you have will know how much epinephrine you have received.received.

Rub injection site for 10 seconds. Rub injection site for 10 seconds. Remember:Remember: Grasp-Jab-CallGrasp-Jab-Call

Side Effects of Epinephrine:Side Effects of Epinephrine:

PalpitationsPalpitations

Rapid Heart RateRapid Heart Rate

NauseaNausea

Respiratory DifficultyRespiratory Difficulty

How To Use EpiPen (Epinephrine) Auto-How To Use EpiPen (Epinephrine) Auto-InjectorInjector

How To Use the EpiPen