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. The content of the information articles and all illustrations on this website remains the intellectual property of Dr Raymond Mullins and cannot be reproduced without written permission.

Summary
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... and here are 3 common mistakes that should not be made!

Last reviewed 28 January 2010

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 ...

Unless the grey cap is removed (blue line), the EpiPen will NOT work, no matter how hard you push ..

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.