(Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Theyre used via a stab to the thigh, so that the drugs can get to work ASAP. Some doctors may want to see you to ensure youre alright. Once injected epinephrine will: Enhance your breathing, quicken your heart, and raise blood pressure. Almost immediately, I could tell something was off, not because it hurt but because it felt different than normal. In summary, follow the steps below to administer an epinephrine auto-injector to yourself: Carefully remove the auto-injector from its clear carrier tube. Only use the EpiPen injector provided by your doctor's office! It's been about 15 minutes. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Yep, been there done that. Figure B. Springer Nature. But its important for patients and caregivers to know how to properly work an automatic epinephrine shot. You might think that would never happen, but it happens all the time and some people use their Epi a lot! If you do choose to use hand sanitizer regularly, here are some tips to avoid any side effects: Don't use more than what's on your hand for too long. Home care. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | Dust Mite Solutions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall: Does Season of Birth Affect the Risk for Developing Allergies? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Ann Allergy. This however, is the worst-case scenario. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. The thought of using an Epipen can be disconcerting however if you have a horrible allergic reaction you might be more than happy to use it! 2 What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? What happens if you use an EpiPen and dont go to the hospital? You should always be checked out at the ER after using your EpiPen. In any case, you should always seek medical assistance if you accidentally inject yourself; it's better to be safe than sorry! 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. Like other injections that go into the muscle (e.g. 2023 BioMed Central Ltd unless otherwise stated. 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. Formal training should be provided to all health professionals who prescribe or issue epinephrine autoinjectors. 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-threatening allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis and the closest number I could find was in a 2016 Wall Street Journal article that estimated prescriptions to be around 3.6 million nationwide. Wash it. There are a few situations that come to mind when answering this question. If youre at home, a friends house, or at a party, make sure you tell someone that youve injected yourself with an Epipen. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. then get accidentally stabbed with it. What happens if you accidentally take an EpiPen? In the process, she stabbed Alex's hand and injected him with the drug. statement and Avoid rubbing your face with dried out hands; this can lead to more problems down the road. But what if you think you need it and you really dont. WALTHAM, Massachusetts -- Some scary moments unfolded after an 11-year-old accidentally stabbed himself with a real EpiPen during a health class lesson. Are you in danger of lead poisoning? the cut is deep or exposes subcutaneous tissue. While injecting the epinephrine, count to ten. :). 1994, 3: 193-195. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. Whenever I practice using my Epipen I make sure Im using the correct injector. 4 What happens if you stab a nerve in your hand? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Maybe theyve watched you practice using your Epi or maybe theyve seen the picture instructions on the box. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction, often to ordinary things like bee stings, peanut butter, or antibiotics. 1992, 10: 496-10.1016/0736-4679(92)90285-2. This may cause the real yellow EpiPen or real green EpiPen Jr auto-injector to accidentally activate. Here are a few tips I recommend based on the storage instructions. . Aside from this, there are also risks of an accidental injection in and of itself. Enhance your breathing, quicken your heart, and raise blood pressure. Then theres a deep ache as the medicine is released into the muscle. For example, wear protective clothing when giving injections, use a sharps container to dispose of needles, and learn how to recognize signs of allergy attack (breathing problems, swelling of the face). Please Introduce Yourself: 1, 888 : Travel: 1, 400 : Restaurants: 1, 210 : Recipes and Cooking: 826 . message spotted in SoCal snow as some grow desperate, Weekend winner, with the exception of some problematic pollen, Moose charges snowmobiler in Idaho: VIDEO. 10.1097/00006534-200107000-00017. 4 What are the symptoms of an accidental epinephrine injection? Vascular surgeons, anesthetists, and a hand specialist were contacted by the treating general internist. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Which is a uniquely modern human Homo sapiens trait? Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. spstarke. Am J Emerg Med. All are serious errors that can delay or prevent getting someone the epinephrine necessary to stop a reaction. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. Not much medicine if any got into his leg. Learn more about Epinephrine Injection . The boy complained of pain, numbness, and tingling. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. You may even want to print out the instructions and keep them in a handy place (for example, fold it up and keep it with the epinephrine shot). May described his son as turning bright red in color, and said he was sweating profusely by the time he arrived at the hospital. This however, is the worst-case scenario. Because epinephrine has a powerful effect of making blood vessels contract, your finger may be at risk of not getting sufficient blood flow to survive. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. A 31-year-old physician in a Family Practice training program at an academic primary care center was handling an Epipen because he wanted to be familiar with it before prescribing it. If epinephrine is injected into small areas such as fingers and hands by mistake, blood vessels will constrict at the site of injection. PubMed Never reuse needles/syringes that have been used for injecting insulin or other medications. EpiPens contain epinephrine, a chemical that narrows blood vessels and opens a persons airways in their lungs. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What happens if you stab your finger with an EpiPen? Chris May's son and fellow students at McDevitt Middle School were learning how the device would work for someone having an allergic reaction. Luckily I had 2. Chris May's son and fellow students at . Unintentional injection of epinephrine into fingers or hands can cause limited blood flow and injury. 1 What happens if you accidentally take an EpiPen? As Teddy expected, Cristina began to work too quickly and wasn't careful with the instruments. Research shows that parents who receivehands-on training are better able to properly demonstrate how to use their childs epinephrine shot[4]. My wife accidentally stuck her finger and now its white, cold, numb and wrinkly like she just got out of the tub but refuses to seek medical attention. The Bottom Line. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. No do not worry: Nothing will happen, just your heart may start beating faster for few minutes and than back to normal. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Call them and ask before you go down there. What if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? My brother did something similar in middle school cause for some reason he though my epipen was the case for the thermometer. Immersion in warm water, application of topical nitroglycerin, and nerve blockade have been attempted without success, although Kaspersen et al. PubMed Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. Kids are observant. You can also make a salt solution. 5 Should you go to ER after using EpiPen? I think that the tester should be much more clearly marked, we had someone at work who was trying to show us how to help her in case of emergency and she accidentally used the tester and accidentally injected herself with the live pen. 3. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you are unsure when would be appropriate time to administer your EpiPen, please contact your allergist or the EpiPen prescriber. Google Scholar. Rinse and wash the area well with running water and soap. Mehr S, Robinson M, Tang M: Doctor - how do I use my EpiPen?. After injecting an EpiPen, hearing a click lets you know it worked. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Next, aim for the middle of the outer thigh, holding it at a right angle to the thigh. What are the symptoms of an accidental epinephrine injection? Google Scholar. Make sure you alert someone around you. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Find everything you need to know about Epinephrine Injection (Auvi-Q), including what it is used for, warnings, reviews, side effects, and interactions. The epi-pen was expired, therefore, he thought the needle would not come out. Google Scholar. The tester should look altogether different from the actual pen with a vivid color or other markings. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. A physician in a Family Practice training program accidentally injected epinephrine into his left thumb while reading the operating instructions of an autoinjector (Epipen). If you have expired epipens at your house you should take them to your pharmacy so they can be disposed of properly instead of just throwing them away. What happens if you accidentally get stabbed with an EpiPen? Keep the wound clean and dry. If your Epipen was used by you or a family member on accident make sure its stored in the correct place. Family Medicine 58 years experience. As soon as he noticed the needle in his leg he pulled it out. If you are looking for additional tips on epinephrine at school, we have several additional blog posts you might enjoy: Your email address will not be published. Delayed capillary refill of the left thumb after accidental injection of epinephrine. The EpiPen injection, contrary to popular perception, may be administered through clothes. The reason: Children and older adults tend to share needles, which leads to infections that can cause serious heart problems if not treated immediately. Its not pleasant to think about. injected "[this mixture] subcutaneously into the site [of accidental epinephrine injection,] and stop as soon as the skin becomes pink". When handling epinephrine auto-injectors, it is easy to accidentally inject yourself with epinephrine. Hand X-ray did not show a fracture of the distal phalanx. (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. Is it bad to use hand sanitizer all the time? J Am Med Assoc. Have you ever had to deal with an accidental epinephrine injection? The greatest risk of an accidental or an incorrect injection is that injecting the epinephrine elsewhere can delay or impair the effectiveness during a time-critical emergency. Just found an old Epipen in my car. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? Correspondence to What happens if you inject an EpiPen by accident? Required fields are marked *. Use an Auto-Injector only once, then throw away in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where . Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. PubMedGoogle Scholar. I had began to feel very energized and had slight pain on my outer thigh. This however, is the worst-case scenario. Do you have to go to the hospital if you use an EpiPen? 10.1136/emj.2003.005462. The provider orders an injection of a vasodilator to the digit, and documents a diagnosis of "Accidental epinephrine injection to L thumb". This is called "indoor electrostatic discharge" (ESD). 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. I ended up stabbing myself (accidentally) in the soft fleshy pad of my thumb, about 1" from the end. Summary: Epinephrine autoinjectors can be life-saving for patients experiencing anaphylaxis a life-threatening emergency but according to a new case series, the most commonly used autoinjector appears to be contributing to injuries in children. Should I go to the hospital if I stabbed my hand? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Troy Madsen settles your childhood fears about pencil-related injuries. However, the surgery proved it was Jackson after Cristina messed up. Adults and children weighing 30 kilograms (kg) or more0.3 to 0.5 milligram (mg) injected under the skin or into the muscle of your thigh. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. When I went to grab it to throw it out it opened and stabbed me in my palm right under my thumb. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What happens if you inject yourself with an EpiPen in your arm? He specializes in orthopedic surgery, cancer treatment, and general surgical procedures. So I grabbed it, popped the lid off, and stabbed my outer thigh. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. I hope for her sake it wears off soon like she hopes. What happens if you stab a nerve in your hand? Accidental injection, usually involving a finger, is a potential complication. 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. The chance of serious injury from an accidental injection increases if . EpiPen has several resources to teach patients about the proper use of epinephrine shots. What does an EpiPen do to a healthy person? First of all, the thought of using an Epipen is scary enough. What happens if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? What is the difference between EpiPen doses? I first got my epipen back in 2006 and it was the same ones that I had at my house. The only difference was the real pen had a black tip and practice pen had a grey tip. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. It can be administered while wearing pants. Glad you are okay! I only received a third of a junior dose. Epi pens can have side effects. If they aren't able to take it back, they can probably point you towards somewhere that you can bring it to for disposal. Ive also wondered what happens if you use an Epipen without needing it. Access to medical databases through new technologies is essential. What to do if you accidentally stab yourself in the hand? 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. Medication Administration: When preparing to give meds to a patient: always look up any medication you are unfamiliar with (so that you know why you are giving the medication and so you will know possible s/s) Use only medications in a clearly labeled container. This however, is the worst-case scenario. The school district said it is investigating the incident and are reviewing school-wide procedures to make sure something similar does not happen again. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Fresh, clean water is best if there is no saline on-hand. As of 2016, it was estimated that more than three million people in the US had a prescription for an epinephrine autoinjector; A medical student has gone viral by detailing the correct way to use an EpiPen - after watching a video of a clueless girl accidentally stabbing herself in the finger while trying to administer the medicine to a friend. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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). In rare cases, this might result in a serious injury. 29/07/2008 23:27. She, at that point, thought I had found something wrong with my newly dyed hair. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I decided against it. Hopefully, you can remain calm, notify people in the immediate vicinity, and seek medical advice quickly. 2. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. If the wound was left open or if stitches were used, clean the wound daily: If surgical tape was used, keep the area clean and dry. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include temporary numbness or tingling, pain and swelling at the injection site, elevated heart rate and/or heart palpations. I don't recommend that anyone use epinephrine unless it's absolutely necessary, but I did take away some positive lessons. Plast Reconstr Surg. Remind them to be careful! What happens if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? I decided to try the practice one I knew was in the case. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. Keep your hand and fingers away from the needle end. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If you handle electric shock devices without thinking about what you're doing, you could be risking serious injury. In the event of an unintentional injection, seek medical care right away. Because an EpiPen is an auto-injector, the needle shoots out as soon as the cap is taken off, so if you squeeze or touch it, you may get the injection in your thumb instead, which causes the blood vessels to constrict, resulting in inadequate blood flow. This is not necessary with hand sanitizer since it does not spread via contact with other objects, but it will help prevent spreading disease if you come in contact with poo or vomit for example. Most suicides approach the problem is a way to give themselves . A regimen of management of accidental epinephrine injection emphasizing the use of phentolamine should be instigated. Accidental injection, usually involving a finger, is a potential complication. He's a bit younger than you so perhaps they weren't always that way. J Med Case Reports 3, 7268 (2009). If epinephrine is accidentally injected into tiny locations such as the fingers and hands, blood vessels constrict at the site of injection. Either way, glad you're OK!