EpiPen®

What to do after using EpiPen®. Read our 8 tips.

November 01 2022

Giving EpiPen® or EpiPen® Jr. is a key step in first aid for anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). Read on to find out what to do next.

Here are steps to follow after using EpiPen® or EpiPen® Jr:

  1. Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance immediately after using EpiPen®. Anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) should be examined by a doctor and monitored for at least four hours.
  2. Record the time EpiPen® was given.
  3. Be prepared to start CPR if a person experiencing anaphylaxis stops breathing normally and is not fully conscious.
  4. If the patient is conscious, ask if there is anyone you can call for them – a family member or friend. Keep talking to them and reassure them that help is coming.
  5. Give a repeat dose of EpiPen® or EpiPen® Jr if symptoms recur or have not subsided after 5-15 minutes. However, no more than two doses should be given without medical advice. EpiPen® and EpiPen® Jr auto-injectors contain a single dose. If a second dose is required, a second auto-injector must be used.
  6. Ensure the patient does not stand up, eat or drink.
  7. If the patient has asthma, you can administer their asthma reliever puffer after using EpiPen®. Always use EpiPen®  first.
  8. After using EpiPen®, keep it somewhere safe and hand it to the ambulance or hospital staff for disposal. Do not put it in a rubbish bin.

How to use EpiPen®

You don't need medical training to use EpiPen®. Watch our training video and ask your family and friends to watch too.

EPI-2023-0168. May 2023.
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