What happens if you stab your finger with an EpiPen? - Heimduo A delay in administering epinephrine can be life threatening. What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? If I did have trouble breathing, felt my mouth/throat swelling, or felt an abnormal amount of warmness due to allergy exposure Id absolutely use my Epipen but sometimes its hard to gauge how serious the symptoms are. Understandably, epinephrine will have a great effect on a small child than a grown adult and this can be scary. When to seek help You should always seek prompt medical attention if you cut yourself and observe any of the following: you cant stop the bleeding. Its use is limited by adverse side effects such as hypotension and tachycardia, requiring adequate pre-hydration. Article Teaching your child about social distancing. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A regimen for management of accidental epinephrine injection, in particular the use of phentolamine, should be emphasized. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. It never hurts to refresh your memory on how to use your childs epinephrine shot. Social distancing is a new concept for all of us and as hard as it is for adults to adopt, getting children to understand and cooperate with our new normal is super challenging. What I Learned From My Child's Accidental Epipen Injection Use a sterile material to dry the wound and immediately cover the wound with a waterproof plaster or dressing. What happens if you stick yourself with an EpiPen accidentally? Springer Nature. Dr. Hansen has worked in hospitals for over 20 years and is a highly respected surgeon. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Arch Fam Med. Answer (1 of 4): I just saw your comment that you stabbed yourself in the finger. This Med Student Went Viral For Showing How To Properly Use An EpiPen EpiPen: Package Insert / Prescribing Information - Drugs.com Chris May's son and fellow students at McDevitt Middle School were learning how the device would work for someone having an allergic reaction. In preparation for this article, I tried to find data on the amount of Americans who currently have EpiPens a medical device used to self-inject an emergency dose of epinephrine to treat life . For best results, ask your childs healthcare team to demonstrate how to properly use an epinephrine shot[3]. Case presentation A physician in a Family Practice training program accidentally injected epinephrine into his left thumb while reading the operating instructions of an autoinjector (Epipen). :). old, shot himself with an epi-pen. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. This event also highlights the importance for all doctors to gain quick access to information in the case of unusual presentation. 2 Why do they stab each other with EpiPens? The drug wasn't supposed to be inside of the EpiPen an 11-year-old boy stabbed himself with during health class. Several approaches were proposed: metacarpal nerve block or digital block with local lidocaine to induce an inhibition of sympathetic afferents to the digit; and topical nitroglycerin, systemic vasodilators, and warming by immersion in water to increase the blood flow supplying the digit. Figure B. (I may earn a small commission on the products linked to in this post.). Epinephrine acts quickly to improve breathing, stimulate the heart, raise a dropping blood pressure, reverse hives, and reduce swelling of the face, lips, and throat. Zucker first described phentolamine as useful to prevent necrosis due to levarterenol [8] and Jordan first showed the effectiveness of this drug for accidental epinephrine injection [9]. Finally, make sure no one is stuck in any doorways or passages before you use the shock pen because you don't want to send a current through them too. ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Then theres a deep ache as the medicine is released into the muscle. All are serious errors that can delay or prevent getting someone the epinephrine necessary to stop a reaction. The Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters guidelines recommend that patients at risk carry two epipens at all times (or any auto injector). This however, is the worst-case scenario. Accidental injection symptoms are typically mild and may include transient numbness or tingling. Medical student reveals exactly how to use an EpiPen What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? 2001, 108: 114-124. There was full recovery 2 months after the accident. This may also cause the loss of sensation to the ring and little fingers. 3 What happens if you use an EpiPen and dont go to the hospital? Epinephrine Injection (Auvi-Q) - Side Effects, Interactions, Uses If your heart is weak and you get a big enough flood of natural adrenaline, you can faint, or get a heart arrhythmia, a heart attack, or a stroke. Many people don't realize that after using the pen, you still must call 911 and get emergency medical attention, just in case you need back-up treatment. then get accidentally stabbed with it. 1 What happens if you accidentally take an EpiPen? This however, is the worst-case scenario. The tester should look altogether different from the actual pen with a vivid color or other markings. Most people understand that an Epipen contains epinephrine. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. What happens if you stab someone with an EpiPen? Almost immediately, I could tell something was off, not . Our pediatrician recommended stabbing old expired epi pens into an orange - apparently its a similar feel to actually using one in the leg and its good practice if youve luckily never had to fire one off. Avocado hand occurs when a person tries to remove the pit in a dangerous manner, such as with a knife, and ends up cutting themselves. What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? May described his son as turning bright red in color, and said he was sweating profusely by the time he arrived at the hospital. What experience do you need to become a teacher? Use them safely to prevent finger sticks. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 3. While reading the operating instructions, he attempted to launch the needle but erroneously placed his left thumb over the needle opening. 10 How do you know if an EpiPen has worked? If you were playing around and happened to inject into your thumb (I have seen that one), you might need to have some emergency treatment due to fracture of or impaling the distal phalanx and concern about vasoconstriction of vessels in the thumb. use an adrenaline auto-injector if the person has one - but make sure you know how to use it correctly first; call 999 for an ambulance immediately (even if they start to feel better) - mention that you think the person has anaphylaxis Have you ever had to deal with an accidental epinephrine injection? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. An unintentional injection into the hands or feet might reduce blood supply to these tissues, potentially resulting in tissue death. Is it bad to use hand sanitizer all the time? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. He specializes in orthopedic surgery, cancer treatment, and general surgical procedures. Feels kind of sore where the stab wound is. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | Dust Mite Solutions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Hinterberger JW, Kintzi HE: Phentolamine reversal of epinephrine-induced digital vasospasm. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. you should have gone to the e.r. 7). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. As someone whos had serious allergies for a long time, Ive always wondered when I might have to use my Epipen. Symptoms of an unintentional injection are typically mild and may include: Injecting an EpiPen accidentally into your hands or feet may result in a lack of blood supply to those areas, resulting in numbness. It does not store any personal data. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Home care. 2. I don't recommend that anyone use epinephrine unless it's absolutely necessary, but I did take away some positive lessons. Google Scholar. Video: The life-saving skill EVERYONE should have: Medical student reveals exactly how to use an EpiPen - after watching viral video of a girl stabbing HERSELF while trying to help a sick friend The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Video: Girl stabs herself with EpiPen while trying to help friend Use your EpiPen at the first sign of anaphylaxis. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. But its important for patients and caregivers to know how to properly work an automatic epinephrine shot. It does not store any personal data. Questions about EpiPens Answered - UK Meds