Ask the allergist is a regular feature in our newsletters where Canadian allergists answer your questions!
Please note: The allergists featured in this series answer questions on general topics, please talk to your doctor if you have questions about your own health or the health of your child.
Get familiar with your epinephrine device before Halloween
Halloween is just around the corner, which means costumes, trick-or-treating — and plenty of treats! For families managing food allergy, it’s also a good time to make sure you’re prepared to treat an allergic reaction if one happens.
Do you know how to use your epinephrine device? Does your child? What about the family member, babysitter or friend who might be with them on Halloween night?
In our latest video, Dr. Julia Upton demonstrates the epinephrine devices available in Canada and walks through how they are used.
Seeing a demonstration can help you become more familiar with your device and feel more confident about using it if you ever need to.
Watch the video and take a few minutes to get familiar with your epinephrine device before Halloween. A little preparation can help you feel more confident when it matters.
With Halloween plans approaching, at Food Allergy Canada, we recommend families take a few minutes to:
- Check your epinephrine devices to make sure they haven’t expired.
- Review your Anaphylaxis Action Plan so you know what to do if a reaction occurs.
- Make sure your child carries their epinephrine devices while trick-or-treating.
- Make sure the people who are with your child know where the devices are and how to use them.
- Practice with a training device so using the real device feels familiar.
Remember: epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. If you think you or your child is having an anaphylactic reaction, use the epinephrine device promptly and follow your Anaphylaxis Action Plan.
Learn more
In this recorded webinar, you will learn how to recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction, when and why epinephrine should be given right away, and how to use both EpiPen® auto-injectors and neffy® nasal spray.
Share our one-page resources on symptoms, epinephrine, and the 5 emergency steps. Plus make sure you have the Anaphylaxis Action Plan handy.
Do you have a food allergy-related question you’d like to ask an allergist in the months to come? If so, send it along to us at info@foodallergycanada.ca.
Dr. Julia Upton is the Division Head of Immunology and Allergy at The Hospital for Sick Children and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto. She is on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and is a member of our Healthcare Advisory Board.
Please note: Dr. Upton is answering as an individual allergist and her answers do not constitute an official position of her affiliated organizations. Her responses are for informational purposes only and do not constitute specific medical advice, recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Please talk to your doctor about any concerns or questions you may have regarding your own health or the health of your child.
Tags: Anaphylaxis, ask the allergist, Epinephrine, EpiPen, Halloween, neffy