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Anaphylaxis & The Epi-PEN

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Objectives • Understand anaphylaxis

• Understand how you can help

• Learn what to do with an EpiPEN

• Learn what NOT to do

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Anaphylaxis • What is it?• Causes?• Treatment?

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Anaphylaxis • What is it?

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Anaphylaxis• Causes?

o Foodo Medicationso Insect Venomo Latexo Exercise

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Anaphylaxis• Symptoms?

o Generalized flushing of the skino Nettle Rasho Sense of impending doomo Swelling of the mouth and throat (angioedema)o Difficulty swallowing or speakingo Alterations in heart rateo Asthmao Abdominal pain, nausea or vomitingo Sudden feeling of weaknesso Collapse and unconsciousness

• Allergens responsible for most anaphylaxis?

o Peanuto Tree nuts

o Milk and dairy productso Egg

o Sesameo Fish

o Shellfisho Natural latex rubbero Wasp and bee venom

o Penicillin

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Anaphylaxis • Anaphylaxis Protocol

• Treatmento Epinephrine

• Epinephrine is a hormone produced in the body by the adrenal glands. It is released at times of acute stress to enhance our capability of "fight or flight". It increases heart rate, diverts blood to the muscles, constricts blood vessels and opens the airways. When you administer a dose of epinephrine, you are giving the body something that it is making already. You are just giving it faster and at a higher dose.

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Epinephrine• What is it?

o A.k.a adrenalineo Hormone released in

response to stresso Increases…

•Mental alertness•Efficiency of muscle contraction

•Blood sugar level

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Epinephrine• How does it work?

o Reduces throat swelling

o Opens airways

o Maintains blood pressure

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EpiPen • What is it?

• When to use it?

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EpiPen: What is it? • Automatic injection

device

• Disposable

• Pre-filled with 1 dose of epinephrine

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EpiPen: When to use

it?• You are a

hypersensitive person

• You have a prescription

• You have an anaphylactic emergency

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EpiPen • Indications…

o Exposure

o Prescription

o Anaphylaxis

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EpiPen • How a patient should use it

• Common mistakes

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CALL FOR HELP!!!

• Remove the device from the plastic container

EpiPen

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• Remove the grey cap

• Arms the unit ready for use

EpiPen

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• Clench Epipen in fist• Press BLACK TIP

against the thigh• Wait for a loud click• Count to 10

Mississippi

EpiPen

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• Remove pen from thigh

• Massage injection area

• Apply pressure• Record time

CALL FOR HELP!!!

EpiPen

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EpiPen • Immediately After Use…

o Make sure paramedics are still coming•Give them used EpiPen

Or…

o Take victim to Emergency•Give M.D. used EpiPen

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EpiPen : Mistake #1 • Holding the wrong

end and injecting the thumb is a bad idea!

• Remember the BLACK end contains the needle

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EpiPen: Mistake #1

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EpiPen: Mistake #2 • Remove the grey cap

• If not, EpiPen will not work no matter how hard you try

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EpiPen: Mistake #3 • There is no button at

the white end

• Unless you exert pressure the EpiPen will not work!

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True or False • It is ok to use an EpiPen

through clothing

TRUE

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• It is ok to remove the gray activation cap as long as you put it back on

FALSE: DO NOT REMOVE UNTIL

READY TO USE

True or False

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Questions?

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THANK YOU