Ideally, all school personnel and others who are in regular contact with students should learn how to use an epinephrine auto-injector. For more information on epinephrine see Anaphylaxis 101 and Daily Living.

Epinephrine is the drug of choice to treat anaphylaxis. It is the drug form of a hormone (adrenaline) that the body produces naturally and helps to reverse symptoms of an allergic reaction by:

• opening the airways
• improving blood pressure
• accelerating heart rate

Do not be afraid to use epinephrine auto-injectors. They are easy to use and will not harm a healthy person even if given unnecessarily. Two brands - EpiPen® and Twinject® are currently available in Canada. Training devices are a good way to learn how to use an auto-injector. Check out our product catalogue.

Recommendations

• Auto-injectors should be easily accessible to all staff members and not locked in cupboards or drawers.
• Children at risk (who are mature enough) should carry their own auto-injectors at all times and have a back-up available in their school or childcare centre.
• In the case of very young children, their auto-injectors should be close at hand, e.g., kept accessible in the classroom out of reach of other children or carried by staff.
• Check expiry dates regularly.
• Take additional auto-injectors on field trips and outings.
• Keep back-up devices on hand as a precautionary measure since a second dose may be needed.
• Include an epinephrine auto-injector as a standard item in a first-aid kit.