What is stock epinephrine and why is it important?
Millions of children and adults face the daily risk of severe, life-threatening allergic reactions, with 1 in 4 children experiencing their first reaction at school and nearly 1 in 5 children with known food allergies will have a reaction at school.
Beyond food allergies, triggers like insect stings and medications can also cause anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction triggered by allergens in food or insect venom. Epinephrine is the only medication capable of stopping anaphylaxis.
Stock epinephrine, is epinephrine prescribed to an entity, like a school. It can be administered to someone experiencing anaphylaxis, regardless if they have a known allergy or not. It is very safe to treat allergic emergencies and is available in easy to use devices called auto-injectors.
Having stock epinephrine available is a vital step to save a life during an allergic reaction, especially if someone is unaware of their severe allergy. This initiative is dear to my heart which is why I've collaborated with a local daycare facility to pioneer Colorado's first stock epinephrine program outside of K-12 schools.
If you're considering implementing a stock epinephrine policy in a daycare or school, here are four essential tips:
Familiarize yourself with your state's regulations on stock epinephrine.
Provide comprehensive training for daycare staff on recognizing and responding to allergy emergencies.
Establish clear policies governing the administration and storage of stock epinephrine.
Obtain epinephrine and ensure prompt access in case of emergencies.
I believe education and preparedness are so important to protect children with food allergies. Having a stock epinephrine program allows you to save a life, if an emergency occurs.
Does your child’s daycare or school have a stock-epinephrine policy in place?
If you are a daycare or school official and need assistance with implementing a stock epinephrine policy, click here—I'm happy to help make our schools and daycares safer for all children.
