At what age should a child with food allergies should start carrying their epinephrine auto injectors?
If you ask a doctor they will tell you that it depends on how mature the child is.If you ask parents of teenagers with food allergies, most will say that you should start teaching them how to carry their Epipen in elementary school.
In countries like Canada, children with food allergies are not allowed to enter school without their epipens. The students have to keep them inside a fanny pack or a carrier that they can "wear" at all times. This practice has proven to be the most effective and best way to ensure immediate access to life saving epinephrine at all times.
Most adults believe children shouldn't have to carry their own medications especially when going to school, but they are just fine with giving them a mobile phone. Unfortunately, access to calling someone in case of emergency will not stop a severe food allergic reaction from escalating to an anaphylaxis attack. l
USE THE EPIPEN
Doctors and emergency personnel strongly recommend to inject the epinephrine as the first step. Severe allergic reactions can quickly turn into anaphylaxis and epineprhine will help keep the reaction from escalating.
EPIPEN CARRIERS MUST BE CARRY ON YOU
Established 2005, the company Omaxcare has created wearable medicine carriers. The most popular body wear medicine carrier is the LegBuddy.
