In the UK new instructions for administering the Epi-pen are still being discussed by the governments medicines and healthcare products regulatory body.
Instructions on label are- 'remove grey safety cap and place black tip on thigh , press hard until auto injector functions'.
New instructions will tell user to remove the grey cap and 'swing and jab'.
the anaphylaxis campaign members are advised not to follow these instructions until they are approved.
I was wondering if you have any stories on administering the epi-pen?,
I am remember that Nick once told me that his wife stabbed him in the wallet once !
I am sure that these stories would be helpful .
Does the swing and jab method work better than the press and hold method?
sarah
The only issue that I can see with these "new instructions" is a person's definition of SWING and JAB.
I know what exactly you are referring to but not sure if everyone would have the same definition.
Does this make sense?
I think using the words swing and jab imply a great frantic emergency rather than the controlled calm situation we would like it to be.
The times we have used epi pen we have had our son sit quietly and we've selected a site and just pressed and held like the instructions say. Worked fine. I won't be injecting my finger and my son will not also.
Now, if things happen really fast and frantic action is needed I still say calm down and do it right the first time.
Peg
The way Peg said it, "Press and hold" makes a lot more sense than "swing and jab."
Swing and jab sounds frantic, and also sounds like the pen will be yanked right out again. Jab sounds like the pen goes in and comes right out again.
On his first practice try with an expired pen, my husband "jabbed" the orange and the medicine squirted across the room.
I think the pen itself should be redesigned. It's too gray. It's confusing, if you're not used to the pen, to look for the "gray cap" and the "black tip" when the pen is mostly gray/black/white to begin with. The cap should be a bright color so you can spot it immediately and pull it off.
"Swing and Jab"? I was expecting to be reading about something regarding a [i]boxing match.[/i] Really.
Quote:Originally posted by Sandra Y:
[B]I think the pen itself should be redesigned. [B]
Ditto. Red arrows (or [i]something[/i]) showing which way to "point". Still too hard to quickly determine which end is which.
[This message has been edited by Gail W (edited February 26, 2004).]
I would suggest you use a red arrow sticker on each epi pen, away from the black tip though. Then you are sure your kids and their potential helpers do it right.
Dey will take years to do it and we all own multiple epi pens and should do something ourselves.
Peg
I was too scared to swing and jab. I just pushed it into his thigh and held it there. I agree about the brightly covered cap, that would be nice.
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Tina
Trevor age 2 -PA
Harmony age 1 -KNA
It's a BOY!!! due June 24, 2004
We did it the way Peg said they did. Calmly press the black tip into the thigh, and hold. I have done it three times now (unfortunately) and it has worked perfectly every time.
I was in an ER the first time I had to inject DS and the Dr. made me do it with him and the nurse coaching me. I'm so glad I had that kind of Dr. and that kind of setting to learn in.
Maybe you could even write on the red arrow with a permanent marker. Something short like "thigh end".
I don't like swing and jab because I think it implies using a lot of force which would cause unnecessary pain. I've tried firing an EpiPen into a chicken before and it really doesn't take a lot of force to engage it.
I was told to swing and jab by the doctor and to hold it there for a count of five. I was told by the pharmacist to push forcefully and hold it there for a count of ten. I told him what the dr said and his reply was "swing and jab is way to forceful. you'll need to push with some force but don't swing. You'll run the risk of putting it where you don't want it."
I told the dr what the pharmacist said and she said "push and hold isn't effective". Hmmm
I've never had to use our epipen (thank you Lord). We've used the practice one several times and practiced both methods. If the occasion ever comes when we need it we'll probably do the push and hold. Swing and jab sounds violent and uncontrolled to me.
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