United ISD Nurses Receive Donation of Life Saving Epinephrine Auto Injectors
Written by admin, Jan 10, 2015, Comments Off
Courtesy Alex Meyer,
(Laredo, Tx)-Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening severe allergic reaction that has many possible triggers, occurs without warning, and must be treated immediately with Epinephrine, the only first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. In Decemberof 2014, United ISD nurses received a donation of 90 Epipens from the Mylan Specialty Pharmaceutical Company, which sponsors the national EpiPen4Schools Program.
This program offers free EpiPen and EpiPen Jr(Epinephrine) auto-injectors to public and private elementary, middle, and high schools in the U.S. These auto injectors have been donated to United ISD in the form of EpiPen 2-Pak kits with an EpiPen Jr. for children, an adult strength EpiPen, and a wall mounted dispenser.
A multi-department effort was made to obtain this potentially life-saving donation. The United ISD Health Services Department identified the need for the auto-injectors and the Districts’Grants Administration Department worked to submit the required donation forms,and oversawshipment and receipt of the items from the EpiPen4Schools program.
The EpiPen4Schools program is designed to help give schools improved access to Epinephrine in the event a person experiences an anaphylactic reaction at school. Anyone can have an anaphylactic reaction, whether they have been diagnosed with severe allergies or not.
United ISD Health Services Director Irene Rosales emphasized the importance of having the EpiPens available at all of the District’s campuses. “The purpose of obtaining these Epipens for every campus is to protect the health and safety of every child and adult in our District. Any person experiencing anaphylaxis should use an Epinephrine auto-injector and seek immediate emergency medical attention. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, especially in children and adolescents.
These Epi-Pens will ensure that when a severe reaction occurs, we will be able to provide the necessary nursing service immediately. I would like to thank Dr. Edith Landeck (Director of Grants Administration at United ISD), for her assistance in helping us to obtain this donation from the Mylan Company.” Dr. Landeck stated that the Epipen auto injectors retail for approximately $500 each and that the value of the donation was approximately $45,000.
“We are very grateful to the Mylan Company for their donation that has the potential to save both student and employee/visitor lives. Our Health Services Department is always looking for ways to ensure health and safety, and this donation is proof of their efforts”, she concluded.
