We finally have [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]'s epipen, and I’m just wondering if anyone has any tips for keeping it with you. It says to keep it at a reasonable temperature, but does that mean that it can never be carried in a pocket? They were in a pocket this weekend, but only for a few minutes. What if we go somewhere that isn’t air conditioned on a hot day? It says store, does that mean some exposure is acceptable? What’s the threshold? Is there anything else that I haven’t even thought of?
I’m sure that these things aren’t really worth worrying as much as I am. I know that these questions sound plain damn stupid. I’m just so afraid that he’ll need it and we will have screwed it up somehow. We’re new(ish) to this whole food allergy thing. He had his first little reaction in February and since then checking labels and explaining to family has become second nature. I feel like we’re doing pretty well with most of it, but my head’s latched on to this ‘you’re going to ruin the epipen’ idea.
[name_m]Hi[/name_m], I carry my boy’s in an insulated lunch bag type thing, which lives in his nappy bag (and now that he’s a little older - in the backpack he takes to kindy/preschool). If I’m going somewhere where I don’t want to be taking a big bag I either put it in my handbag, or else in a little mini backpack that either he wears or I carry.
[name_f]My[/name_f] brother’s daughter has one as well, and he often carries it around in his pocket - but where they live epipens are subsidized and cost around $30 each, whereas in my country they are around $130-$150 - so there’s no way I’m gonna risk it getting overheated!
The hardest one I have found is going to the beach - its not meant to get too hot but not meant to be chilled either - I put an icepack in a separate bag and put it next to the insulated epipen bag, if that makes sense.
[name_m]Will[/name_m] be interested to hear what others do, but that’s what works for us
As part of the Health & Nutrition course that was a required college component for me, we did an entire unit & test on EpiPen’s (it was a childcare course). Although the information is Canadian, I’m fairly certain it’ll be the same, minus the temperatures in Celcius (which I’ve converted for you).
It’s important to properly store your EpiPen® Auto-Injector to help ensure it’s ready to use in the event of a severe allergic reaction.
When storing your EpiPen®, follow these recommendations:
Always store EpiPen® in the carrier tube with the safety release on until you need to use it.
Keep EpiPen® at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.
EpiPen® can be exposed to temperatures between 15°C to 30°C.*
Do not keep EpiPen® in a vehicle during extremely hot or cold weather.
Protect your EpiPen® from light.
Occasionally look through the viewing window on your EpiPen® to make sure the solution in the Auto-Injector is not brown in colour. Replace your EpiPen® if the solution is discoloured or cloudy.
Hopefully this helps! I worked in a daycare that had 2 severe peanut allergies, as well as a kindergarten classroom with a severe nut allergy, and, my cousin (who is the same age as I am) has a severe egg allergy, haha, so I’ve always had to be taught to use an epipen. They’re fairly simple (in college we had a test one to use), and a lot easier to use than you might think. Your questions aren’t stupid at all, though.
Sorry if I’m posting when I shouldn’t be, and again, hopefully the site has some answers for you
Lunch bag! I can’t believe we didn’t think of that!
Ours came with a trainer that’s way too fun for its purpose. He giggles the whole time anytime we show someone how to use it. That’s my freakishly happy little boy.
A friend of mine has a little insulated epipen case that she got from Amazon. She usually keeps it in her handbag (purse) but if the weather’s really cold then she’ll keep it in a pocket close to her body.
