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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone is having a severe allergic reaction and you need to help them use an epinephrine auto-injector before help arrives.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Use epinephrine when there is trouble breathing, throat swelling, or signs of shock after a known allergy exposure.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If the person carries an auto-injector and says they need it — use it immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — When in doubt during a clearly severe reaction, give epinephrine and call for help.
Scene hazards: Panicked crowd, Needle stick injury if mishandled
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Have someone call 112 or 108. Put the phone on speaker.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove the auto-injector from its case. Pull off the blue or grey safety cap — never touch the orange tip.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Have the person sit or lie down. Expose the outer middle thigh.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hold the injector with the orange tip against the outer thigh. Push firmly until you hear a click.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hold in place for 3 full seconds — count slowly. It can go through pants if needed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove and massage the injection site for 10 seconds.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Note the time given. If symptoms persist at 5 minutes and a second device is available — use it in the other thigh.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 or 108. Say: "I just gave epinephrine for a severe allergic reaction. Need ambulance."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report the time of injection and whether a second dose may be needed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Epinephrine is temporary. Hospital care is always required after use — even if the person feels better.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call immediately if breathing worsens, second dose is used, or the person becomes unresponsive.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT inject into fingers, hands, buttocks, or veins — wrong placement is dangerous.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT hesitate because the person is awake — epinephrine works best when given early.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put your thumb over the orange tip — you could inject yourself.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should wait until someone collapses before using an EpiPen
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Epinephrine works best when given at the first signs of severe reaction — breathing trouble or throat swelling — not after collapse.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Waiting until unconsciousness may be too late to prevent cardiac arrest.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Epinephrine (adrenaline) narrows blood vessels, opens airways, and reverses the dangerous effects of anaphylaxis for a short time.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — The device is designed for untrained bystanders. Using it early is safer than waiting.