If you or someone you love has a life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis), chances are you have at least one EpiPen on hand at all times, many stored at home, and maybe even a few facilities or schools you regularly attend. The EpiPen is an auto-injector (spring activated needle) that releases epinephrine (adrenaline) and must be handled with care.
How to use, care for, and store an EpiPen may be unknown among those who require it, but disposing of EpiPens can prove taxing, and potentially nerve-wringing. With many fingers stuck full of foreign agents for a long time, many anaphylactic small have a collection of expired or faulty EpiPens. sitting in their houses, without a certain idea of where or how they should dispose of it properly. Here are some of your options – and the preparations you need to make – when it comes time to plan an emergency.
If possible, return your EpiPen to its plastic case and screw on the large green cap as tightly as possible. If your EpiPen is used, carefully move the exposed needle away from the injector head while placing it inside the plastic case. You may do this with a napkin or paper towel if any solution left in the injector drips from the syringe.
The following professional guidelines will help you ensure that you properly dispose of your EpiPen. Health care doctors vary a lot in their services, such as the time to pick up the phone before sending someone. The following will relieve you from the epinephrine injector.
Your pharmaciststocks up on their own type of EpiPens and will often take yours as well. They also know their customers, (perhaps they filled the prescription in the first place) and will not be suspicious of you walking around with a tube full of adrenaline. Good for you: you can get a new EpiPen prescription filled in the same time to replace the one you threw away and save< /a> yourself from the trip.
The Fungi doctor will have a sharp arrangement and sometimes they will also take auto-injectors.
Local hospital, emergency room or allergy clinic at local hospital Everyone should take an EpiPen for the decision that they themselves dispose of the sharps and needles used in their day.
Medical Labs, especially where the need for blood and needles are staples, will sometimes take EpiPens as an option.
I always ask if you can arrange the fee for your EpiPen order. Many do. Often, it is well worth the extra two minutes to call the next professionals on the list as a free service.
If all else fails, you can arrange your own garbage disposal in your home. Especially in cases where an EpiPen is used, use extreme care and ensure that the injector is completely secure in that plastic case. The garbage can be placed directly in the EpiPen, which cannot be accessed by the child in any case.
