Medical providers can prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector for a child at risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Epinephrine is a life-saving drug that treats the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction by stopping the airway from swelling.
There are several different epinephrine auto-injectors available – Mylan EpiPen and Mylan Generic, Auvi-Q, and Adrenaclick; these auto-injectors have different steps for use.
While auto-injectors are designed to be easy to use, parents and caregivers who may need to use one on a child should be trained by a medical provider at least once a year. When using an auto-injector, remember to follow the instructions printed on the package.
Here is a summary of the steps to use three different epinephrine auto-injectors in an emergency:
Instructions for EpiPen:
Take the epinephrine auto-injector out of its package.
Remove the blue safety cap.
Hold the auto-injector in your fist. The needle comes out of the orange end, so be careful not to hold your hand over the end.
Push the end with the needle firmly against the side of the child's thigh, about halfway between the hip and knee. Inject the medicine into the fleshy outer portion of the thigh. Do not inject into a vein or the buttocks.
You can give the injection through clothes or on bare skin.
Hold the auto-injector in place until all the medicine is injected—usually no more than 3 seconds.
Remove the needle by pulling the pen straight out. A protective shield will cover the needle as soon as it is removed from the thigh. Put the injector back into its safety tube. Give it to EMS when they arrive.
Massage the area after the injection.
Instructions for Auvi-Q
Pull Auvi-Q out of the case.
Pull the red safety guard off – the needle will come out of the black end.
Place the black end firmly against the side of the child's thigh, about halfway between the hip and knee. Inject the medicine into the fleshy outer portion of the thigh. Do not inject into a vein or the buttocks. Hold the leg firmly in place before and during the injection.
You can give the injection through clothes or on bare skin.
Hold the auto-injector in place for the 2 second countdown.
Remove the needle by pulling the Auvi-Q straight out. A protective shield will cover the needle as soon as it is removed from the thigh. Put the Auvi-Q back into its case. Give it to EMS when they arrive.
Massage the area after the injection.
Instructions for the Adrenaclick
Pull off the gray caps off both ends. The needle will come out of the red tip.
Place the red tip firmly against the side of the child's thigh, about halfway between the hip and knee. Inject the medicine into the fleshy outer portion of the thigh. Do not inject into a vein or the buttocks. Hold the leg firmly in place before and during the injection.
You can give the injection through clothes or on bare skin.
Hold the auto-injector in place for 10 seconds.
Remove the needle by pulling the Adrenaclick straight out. If the needle is exposed, then the dose was given. If the needle is not exposed, repeat steps 2-4.
Put the Adrenaclick back into its case. Give it to EMS when they arrive.
Massage the area after the injection.
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