Allergy
Capital
EpiPen Mistakes
- what not
to do!
Carrying and knowing how to use injectable adrenaline (epinephrine)
correctly is an essential component of treating serious
allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). This is a pictorial guide to
common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Version 12 August 2003
IMPORTANT The information provided is of a general
nature and should not be used as a substitute for professional
advice. If you think you may suffer from an allergic or other
disease that requires attention, you should discuss it with your
family doctor.
This is how EpiPen should be used. Click HERE
to review a guide to correct technique.
Hold the EpiPen in your fist with clenched fingers
wrapped around it
Press the black tip gently against the skin of the
mid thigh, then start to push harder until a loud "click"
is heard.
Hold in place for 10-15 seconds while the adrenaline is injected
under pressure.
... and here are 3 common mistakes that should not
be made.
MISTAKE NUMBER 1
The black tip contains the needle and needs to be placed against
the mid-thigh.
Holding the wrong end and injecting the thumb (blue
line) is painful and not very effective ...
MISTAKE NUMBER 2
Unless the grey cap is removed (blue
line), the EpiPen will NOT work, no matter how hard you
push ...
MISTAKE NUMBER 3
This photograph is more subtle. The patient is pressing the
white end very hard (blue line),
assuming there is a "button" at the white end. There
is not!
Unless pressure is exerted at the black end, the EpiPen
will not work. By all means rest the thumb on the white end, but
you must exert pressure on the black tip into the thigh as well.
Click HERE to review a pictorial
guide to correct EpiPen technique.
