Food Allergies Do's and Don't
DO's
- Take time to research and learn the symptoms of severe food
allergic reactions
- Be proactive and help educate family, friends and caregivers
on how to recognize the symptoms of an anaphylaxis reaction.
- If a doctor gave a prescription for an Epipen, you should carry
the epinephrine auto-injector ON you at ALL times.
- Don't be afraid of using the Epipen epinephrine auto
injectors. Today, most doctors recommend using the
Epinephrine, not antihistamine, as the first-line treatment for
anaphylaxis. If you have been prescribed this medication, is
because you could have a life threatening allergic reaction.
- Learn how to use the epinephrine auto-injector. Practice with
your Epipen or Auvi-q trainer and learn how to quickly
administer medication without losing precious time to read the
instructions.
- Use expired epinephrine auto-injectors to practice and teach
others by injecting it into an orange or grapefruit.
- Call 911 as soon as the epinephrine injection has been
administered. Tell the ambulance dispatch that an allergic
reaction is occurring, and that more epinephrine may be
needed.
- Contact your doctor after a reaction is treated. Review how
the mistake happened, and work out a plan to avoid repeating
the mistake in the future.
- Be alert and prepared when selecting foods. Read labels, and
only eat foods you are one hundred percent sure of the
ingredients in it. If a doctor prescribed an epinephrine auto
injector it means that you have a high risk of anaphylaxis
allergic reaction so please "self carry" the Epipen's on you at
all times.
DONT’s
- Don’t try to “tough out” a reaction; treat symptoms quickly.
The minute you start thinking "Should I use the Epipen" it
probably means you should. Better safe than sorry, use the
epinephrine and call 911.
- Never drive yourself and/or your child to the emergency room
during an allergic reaction; call 911 instead.
- Even after administering the epinephrine, don't assume the
reaction is over as soon as symptoms begin to resolve. A
second reaction, also known as a biphasic reaction, could
occur up to 4 hours after the initial symptoms go away.
- After promptly seeking medical attention promptly and plan for
an observation period of about 4 hours to make sure that the
reaction has been resolved.
- Don’t be left without your medication. If you have used your
epinephrine auto-injector to treat a reaction, refill it quickly
and always ensure that you are carrying an epinephrine that is
not expired.
- Don't carry expired Epipen's. Make sure the epinephrine supply
is up-to-date.Put in your calendar when the epinephrine's on
your possession expire.
- Don't take the risk of not having the Epipen with you. If a
doctor prescribed an epinephrine auto injector it means that
you have a high risk of anaphylaxis allergic reaction so please
"self carry" the Epipen's on you at all times.
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