Do I wanna EpiPen Case?

[full-time-mum]

My DD (12) now needs to carry an epi-pen. A search of the web for infomation has thrown up all sorts of specialised carrying cases/belts.

Are these a waste of money or money well spent?

We are looking at around £10-£15 for a little case with a keyring on it or around £20 for a special 'money-belt' style carrier.

I'm looking for anything that makes it easier for her to take it with her and remember it.

Thanks

[Nile]

Hello full-time-mum

I'll move your thread to the 'Health & Beauty' board, where it should get more responses.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1009335#post1009335)) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email abuse@moneysavingexpert.com (abuse@moneysavingexpert.com).

Regards

Nile

[jog]

Hi,

I work as a school nurse, and a lot of the older children have a normal 'bum bag' type bag that they carry around with them with the Epi-pen in. Some just put it in a pocket of their normal back pack. I don't think you need a special bag as such, as long as whatever you use she is happy to carry round with her.

[Savvy_Sue]

I suppose the beauty of a 'special' bag is that it has some kind of symbol or says Epi-pen on it so that in an emergency someone else could inject your DD?

But I'd say the main thing was that your DD was happy with the solution, so involving her in the decision is key!

[full-time-mum]

I think that we are going to wait for a bit and see how it goes. We have already established that there are times when her bags are left on one site and they do PE on the other so the teacher is going to have to carry it.

I've an old bum bag that she can use over the summer until we decide what the best solution is.

[3plus1]

I think carrying around a bum bag is a bit extreme - and yes, I am an epipen user myself.

I would say it's sufficient giving your DD an epipen to carry around in her schoolbag and leaving a spare one with her teacher or school nurse, if there is one. As long as her teachers and classmates are aware of her allergies, you've done your bit.

How serious are your DD's allergies, anyway? For me, if I had an allergic reaction that was strong enough to warrant the use of an epipen, I could hold out for maybe an hour, hour and a half, without my throat fully closing up. Plenty of time for someone to run and get me an epipen if I'd left my bag elsewhere. Doesn't need to be on me 24/7 - just nearby.

I think you need to find some sort of compromise here - I understand why you want your DD to carry the epipen on her all the time, but if I'd been ordered to wear a bum bag at the fashionable age of 12, I'd have ditched it the second I was out of my parents' sight - regardless of whether it contained life saving medicine or not!

[full-time-mum]

I think carrying around a bum bag is a bit extreme - and yes, I am an epipen user myself. You are probably right - I'm still in shocked over protective mum mode at the moment! Your input as an epipen user is most welcome. Have you ever had to use it (if its not too personal a question)?
I would say it's sufficient giving your DD an epipen to carry around in her schoolbag and leaving a spare one with her teacher or school nurse, if there is one. As long as her teachers and classmates are aware of her allergies, you've done your bit.
School teacher/nurse isn't appropriate - secondary school with 2 sites. We have told her that she should give it to her PE teacher if she leaves her bag in the changing rooms at site 1 and walks over to site 2 for PE. Her friends have been wonderful and have all asked to come round and have a look at the training pen and learn what to do and when to do it.

How serious are your DD's allergies, anyway? For me, if I had an allergic reaction that was strong enough to warrant the use of an epipen, I could hold out for maybe an hour, hour and a half, without my throat fully closing up. Plenty of time for someone to run and get me an epipen if I'd left my bag elsewhere. Doesn't need to be on me 24/7 - just nearby.
We don't know yet. We've been refered to an allergy clinic so hopefully more details then. The hospital told us that her next exposure could provoke a mild attack or could be even stronger than the one already experienced. (Breathing difficulties, full body rash, stomach pains/sick) We've been told that should she show signs of a severe attack (severe rash/breathing problems of any kind) we should use the pen and dial 999 immediately.

I think you need to find some sort of compromise here - I understand why you want your DD to carry the epipen on her all the time, but if I'd been ordered to wear a bum bag at the fashionable age of 12, I'd have ditched it the second I was out of my parents' sight - regardless of whether it contained life saving medicine or not!
I agree. The school bag is fine for school, its when she wants to wander over to a friends house or meet them at the swimming pool etc. The experience gave her a scare and she wants to have the pen available.

We were on tenterhooks at the weekend when we went to a family christening and the pub served up french bread with walnuts in it. I was a little annoyed with the both the family member and the pub as it was a classic situation where the walnuts (known culprit) could easily have been excluded without detriment to the buffet. All was well but we were very aware that all the food could have been contaminated by staff/guests handling bread and then other foods. I guess both DD and I will learn to relax when we've got used to living with the situation.

[thriftlady]

My dd is 8 and carries her epipens in a bumbag from Kidsaware (http://www.kidsaware.co.uk/shop-product.php?product=34). She doesn't take it to her primary school as they have 2 epipens in school at all times. When she's at home though it lives on her coatpeg and she takes it with her whenever she goes out. Once she is at secondary school I assume she will have to manage her pens herself -ie carry them at all times as the school is large and it will be impractical for the pens to be kept in one central place as they are at her small primary school where all the staff know her and how to administer the pens.

Fortunately she has never neede to use her epipens.

[migwellian]

Here's some good news - the official manufacturer of epipen, ALK Abello, offers a soft carry case for free! They used to charge for it, but it's now free, and for some reason it's not advertised on their website - you have to phone/email to request one.

Their number is 01488 686016 and their website is www,epipen.co.uk or www,alk-lifeline.co.uk

As a long-time epipen carrier I would recommend a carry case, as the cardboard boxes get duffed up quite quickly. I've never felt the need for a hard case (I don't think there's a free one available) but a soft one is very useful.