allergy
Use adrenaline pens correctly – 19-year-old shows how it’s done
The adrenaline pen can save the life of people with allergic reactions
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It is the nightmare of every allergy sufferer: You have eaten the wrong thing or the wasp stung. The allergic shock threatens life and the only life-saving measure until the emergency doctor arrives – the adrenaline pen – cannot be carried out because nobody knows how to do it. 19-year-old Faith wants to change that.
It’s a relaxed evening in the restaurant. The waiter has just brought the food. The mood is good and the first bites of the food are eaten with relish. Then suddenly it becomes more and more difficult to breathe, the throat swells up and dizziness occurs. An allergic reaction – anaphylactic shock! Everything has to happen very quickly now. The adrenaline pen is in the pocket. But nobody knows how to use the syringe correctly. Nobody knows how the saving tool is used. All that remains is to wait for the ambulance and the air is getting thinner and thinner.
The situation described is a nightmare and a real fear for allergy sufferers. Because only a few know how to use the lifebuoy correctly. It is not taught in school and anyone who has no contact with allergies has no idea how to use an adrenaline pen. 19-year-old Faith wanted to change that and recorded a TikTok video in which she explains how such a pen is used.
Allergies and anaphylactic reactions
An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to normally harmless substances – in this case the allergens. The immune cells form antibodies against the allergen and classify it as dangerous. The antibodies now release histamine: the amine has an inflammatory effect. An allergic reaction occurs. Symptoms range from sneezing attacks, coughing, shortness of breath to gastrointestinal problems or joint pain. According to the AOK, the most common allergy triggers are pollen, house dust mites, food, animal hair, insect venom and contact allergens such as the metal nickel.
Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction that can affect the whole body. It is the most severe form of allergic reaction. An allergy shock always affects at least two organs. “Anaphylaxis is usually life-threatening if the person concerned was not informed, had no emergency medication with them, did not know how to behave in an allergic emergency and, for example, had consumed large amounts of the allergy trigger,” writes the German Allergy and Asthma Association his website.
Allergic shock – what to do?
In her video that went viral, Faith explains how to use an adrenaline pen. Right at the beginning, she first calls for the video to be shared and disseminated in every way so that people learn how to implement the life-saving measure. Then she begins with her explanation: “For beginners: This is an adrenaline pen!”, Says the young woman and holds the American pen in the camera – German versions are very similar to this American version. “Most adrenaline pens look the same,” she continues, explaining, “They all come in a protective case.”
The American takes the adrenaline pen out of the case and describes the different colored ends of the pen. In the video it is blue and orange. These colors can vary. The important thing is that the needle will come out of one end, the other is a cap. Faith continues with the instructions on the pen. If you forget what to do, you will find an explanation here – or in the enclosed instruction sheet. The young woman describes the application in three steps:
- Take off the cap.
- Hold the adrenaline pen properly – no finger on the top or bottom of the pen.
- Press on the outside of the thigh with pressure until it clicks and wait ten seconds – count out loud. Many modern pens only take three seconds to inject a full dose of adrenaline, but they still recommend waiting ten seconds to be sure.
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And after the injection?
Faith recommends in the video not to throw away the pen. As soon as the ambulance service arrives, they need to know how much adrenaline the allergic person has received. She also insists, “No matter what the person with the allergic reaction says, […] dial the emergency number! “Why? Faith explains that the adrenaline pen would only delay the reaction. Adrenaline does not cure the allergic reaction and does not stop it. The aim is to make time for the emergency services to arrive.
In addition to the explanation, Faith gives useful tips: Among other things, she explains for people with a syringe phobia or people who cannot see needles that the needle can never be seen. Nobody has to worry. At the end, she gives the audience a rhyme that refers to the blue cap and the orange needle end of her adrenaline pen: “Blue to the sky, orange to the thigh” (translated: blue to the sky , orange to the thigh).