Teach Your Child How to Use Their Auto-Injector

First, the parent should be well aware, A, and it probably depends on the kid. I would have them be aware probably close to six or seven. But obviously a three-year-old, they would never administer it. You'd have to give it to their parent.

But once they're five, six, or seven, have them learn about it. Have them learn about using the medicine. But more so, have them learn about the triggers.

Probably in a five- or six- or seven-year-old, the biggest trigger would either be an insect sting or a food allergy, more likely a food allergy. Let them know that they are allergic to these foods, and let everyone know that they shouldn't be having these peanuts or they shouldn't be having the tree nuts an ask when they're given a food, is there anything? Or let parents know that they are food allergic.

Most of the kids actually never wind up needing the epinephrine, luckily. They've been avoiding it. So I don't have many, many kids who have used epinephrine. All of them are afraid when they have to use it. That's just understood.

But I tell them that usually the auto injectors are much bigger and scarier than the actual needle. The needle is not even that big, but it's just in a big device.

But most kids will still probably be afraid. But then you have to explain to them, this is what we need to treat this life-threatening reaction. And then you just give it to them and try to explain that to them.