Be Holiday Ready: Where Is Your Epinephrine?
Be Holiday Ready: Where Is Your Epinephrine?
by Caroline Moassessi, FAACT Vice President of Community Relations
From freezing cars and crowded parties to busy airports and festive restaurants, the holidays can take us just about anywhere. We spend plenty of time thinking about what we’re going to eat, but are we also thinking about where our epinephrine is, who knows how to use it, and what temperatures it may encounter along the way?
A little planning can help you stay prepared, feel confident, and focus on making memories. So before heading out the door, ask yourself one simple question: Where is my epinephrine?
The Holiday Coat-Pile Problem
You arrive at a party, drop your coat and purse in a bedroom, and head off to mingle. Before you know it, your epinephrine is buried under a mountain of coats in another room when you need it.
Think ahead about how to keep your medication with you. Choose an outfit with pockets that accommodate your device. Wear a small crossbody bag that leaves your hands free to enjoy the party. Or hang your coat or bag somewhere easily accessible.
The goal is simple: Keep your epinephrine easy to find and easy to reach.
The Freezing Car
Brrr, it's cold outside—and your car may be even colder!
In the holiday rush, it's easy to forget a purse, backpack, or coat—and the epinephrine device inside—in the car. Different epinephrine products have different storage requirements, so know the instructions for the device you carry and check the manufacturer's current guidance if it has been exposed to temperatures outside the recommended range.
For example, neffy should be stored at room temperature, which is 68°F to 77°F, although the manufacturer allows certain temperature excursions. It should not be frozen. If neffy freezes below 5°F, the device will not spray; however, according to the manufacturer's current instructions, it can be used after thawing at room temperature for 20 minutes.
Other epinephrine products have different requirements, making this a great time to refresh your memory on storage instructions for your medication. Here are few links to get you started on checking temperature requirements and indications of when your device may not be usable:
The Airport Shuffle
Holiday air travel brings another challenge: keeping your epinephrine accessible throughout the entire trip.
Don't pack your epinephrine in checked luggage. And think twice before placing it in a roller bag or duffel destined for the overhead bin. On a crowded flight, you may unexpectedly be asked to gate-check a bag. And during turbulence, you may not be able to leave your seat to retrieve something from an overhead compartment.
Keep your epinephrine with you and readily accessible. If it's in your personal item under the seat, keep it near the top rather than buried beneath everything else. Depending on your prescribed emergency action plan, you might also discuss with your healthcare provider how to manage and carry your prescribed devices while traveling.
And don't forget the people traveling with you. Make sure they know where your epinephrine is and how to use it.
Ready for Wherever the Holidays Take You
Food allergy preparedness isn't about taking the joy out of the season—it's about making safety easier so you can enjoy it. If possible, carry extra devices in case a backpack or purse gets left behind.
Before you leave for the party, restaurant, airport, or Grandma's house, do a quick holiday check:
- Where is my epinephrine?
- Is it accessible?
- Has it been stored properly?
- Does someone with me know where it is and how to help?
Carve out extra time to teach or remind those around you where you keep your epinephrine and how to use it. Those extra minutes spent will be worth it if an emergency arises.
A few moments of preparation can free you to focus on what the holidays are really about: connecting, celebrating, and making memories with the people you care about.
Wishing you safe and happy holidays all year through!
