accidentally stabbed myself with epipen accidentally stabbed myself with epipen

What do you do if you accidentally inject yourself with an EpiPen? If epinephrine is injected into small areas such as fingers and hands by mistake, blood vessels will constrict at the site of injection. This may also cause the loss of sensation to the ring and little fingers. This is not necessary with hand sanitizer since it does not spread via contact with other objects, but it will help prevent spreading disease if you come in contact with poo or vomit for example. Correspondence to The boy, who has no allergies, was put on an EKG after he began experiencing a rapid heart rate. You might feel anxious. All Rights Reserved. How many of you carry epinephrine auto-injectors for your children? Its not pleasant to think about. I have a nut allergy. This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Hand. Our pediatrician recommended stabbing old expired epi pens into an orange - apparently its a similar feel to actually using one in the leg and its good practice if youve luckily never had to fire one off. 2023 BioMed Central Ltd unless otherwise stated. 2023 Nutricia North America. I am 100% okay. Or confusing the red-colored granola bar wrapper (chocolate) and the orange-colored one (peanut butter) during a chaotic morning (stab No. Mehr S, Robinson M, Tang M: Doctor - how do I use my EpiPen?. Why do they stab each other with EpiPens? I decided to try the practice one I knew was in the case. What happens if you stick yourself with an EpiPen accidentally? A puncture wound is of course a wound that is caused by a direct puncture to the skin and often the below layers. Arch Fam Med. I have officially learned my lesson and will never do anything like this again. So I grabbed the Epi-pen from him and took a closer look. Most suicides approach the problem is a way to give themselves . Saff R, Nahhas A, Fink JN: Myocardial infarction induced by coronary vasospasm after self-administration of epinephrine. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Of course, that was until I accidentally stabbed myself in the thumb with an Epipen needle. How can you prevent yourself from sticking yourself with an EpiPen? Access to medical databases through new technologies is essential. Enhance your breathing, quicken your heart, and raise blood pressure. Many people don't realize that after using the pen, you still must call 911 and get emergency medical attention, just in case you need back-up treatment. I first got my epipen back in 2006 and it was the same ones that I had at my house. I decided against it. The provider orders an injection of a vasodilator to the digit, and documents a diagnosis of "Accidental epinephrine injection to L thumb". Fresh, clean water is best if there is no saline on-hand. 3). What may seem like a simple cut can, in fact, be a deep stab laceration. In rare cases, this might result in a serious injury. You'll feel a rush of energy. When to seek help You should always seek prompt medical attention if you cut yourself and observe any of the following: you cant stop the bleeding. In the case of a deep cut to the palm, the ulnar nerve may be injured and result in paralysis of the intrinsic muscles to the hand. Your injection can be a reason for concern if injected in the hands, feet, or digits. Many pharmacies aren't licenced to take back medications for disposal. Once a year Ill get my new Epipen and practice with the trainer. PubMed Use them safely to prevent finger sticks. 1998, 160: 6531-6532. If you pierce or puncture your skin with a used needle, follow this first aid advice immediately: encourage the wound to bleed, ideally by holding it under running water. What to do if you accidentally stab yourself in the hand? A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal. Here are some additional tips to help you avoid self-injury while using your EpiPen: Always follow instructions printed on your medication bottle. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Its use is limited by adverse side effects such as hypotension and tachycardia, requiring adequate pre-hydration. 2004, 21: 387-388. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include temporary numbness or tingling, pain and swelling at the injection site, elevated heart rate and/or heart palpations. 10.1001/archfami.3.2.193. Alain Pcoud is thanked for critically reviewing the manuscript. There might even be a bit of a dark spot from the graphite underneath the skin. What are various methods available for deploying a Windows application? In a hurry, Christina grabbed a syringe full of epinephrine and directed it to the patient's heart without looking. At the ER they usually only watch you for safety purposes and since I didnt need the ER my mom stayed up until 1am with me to make sure I was safe. Ann Allergy. Most people understand that an Epipen contains epinephrine. spstarke. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Ive broken out in hives a few times and Ive wondered if I needed to use my Epipen. The sharp sting will hurt but lasts less than 10 seconds. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. As of 2016, it was estimated that more than three million people in the US had a prescription for an epinephrine autoinjector; A medical student has gone viral by detailing the correct way to use an EpiPen - after watching a video of a clueless girl accidentally stabbing herself in the finger while trying to administer the medicine to a friend. As soon as he noticed the needle in his leg he pulled it out. If they aren't able to take it back, they can probably point you towards somewhere that you can bring it to for disposal. Find everything you need to know about Epinephrine Injection (Auvi-Q), including what it is used for, warnings, reviews, side effects, and interactions. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. California Privacy Statement, Tell your doctor if your initial EpiPen injection resulted in a major adverse effect, such as trouble breathing or dangerously high blood pressure, before using it again (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure). Because epinephrine has a powerful effect of making blood vessels contract, your finger may be at risk of not getting sufficient blood flow to survive. I was looking in some cabinets for neosporin when I came across my old epipens. Manage cookies/Do not sell my data we use in the preference centre. Use your EpiPen at the first sign of anaphylaxis. Some inks may cause soreness in the mouth. Mild electric shock reactions are transient tingles and jolts, while more extreme reactions can cause significant discomfort and even burns. What happens if you stab someone with an EpiPen? You may also consider using EpiPen while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. PT comes in having stuck their thumb accidentally with an EpiPen while showing someone else how to use one. Google Scholar. What does an EpiPen do to a healthy person? If the wound was left open or if stitches were used, clean the wound daily: If surgical tape was used, keep the area clean and dry. old, shot himself with an epi-pen. EpiPen pro tips. It can also be harmful if consumed or goes into your eyes. What happens if you accidentally get stabbed with an EpiPen? The sharp sting will hurt but lasts less than 10 seconds. It does not store any personal data. Social distancing is a new concept for all of us and as hard as it is for adults to adopt, getting children to understand and cooperate with our new normal is super challenging. Wow, great example of how being under pressure can make simple instructions and tasks more difficult. If you don't understand any of the instructions, ask your pharmacist for help. Avocado hand occurs when a person tries to remove the pit in a dangerous manner, such as with a knife, and ends up cutting themselves. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. PubMed Central If the epinephrine is injected by mistake into small areas such as fingers and hands, blood vessels will constrict at the site of injection. As Teddy expected, Cristina began to work too quickly and wasn't careful with the instruments. Never reuse needles/syringes that have been used for injecting insulin or other medications. However, the surgery proved it was Jackson after Cristina messed up. Epinephrine can kill you. Open Access There are a few situations that come to mind when answering this question. Immediate effects are: Local Vasoconstriction Loss of circulation/ adequate perfusion with a cap refill >4 seconds. He specializes in orthopedic surgery, cancer treatment, and general surgical procedures. I then did the only thing I could think of and yelled for my mom who was in the living room. In the emergency room, his thumb was cold and pale. Contrary to popular belief, the EpiPen injection can be delivered through clothing. This is important to know if you normally have high blood pressure. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. Velissariou I, Cottrell S, Berry K, Wilson B: Management of adrenaline (epinephrine) induced digital ischaemia in children after accidental injection from an EpiPen. Place the orange tip on the thigh. Mix of 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of salt to 1 cup of warm water. Idk man.Background Music:Wii musicSub Count: 308Sub Goal: 500 . The most common injury related to self-injection is pain at the injection site. I ended up stabbing myself (accidentally) in the soft fleshy pad of my thumb, about 1" from the end. Answer (1 of 4): I just saw your comment that you stabbed yourself in the finger. Should I go to the hospital if I stabbed my hand? (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. In cases like that, a quick call to the doctor or a visit to an urgent care center might be a good idea, even if it's just for reassurance. Treatment included topical nitroglycerin, oral vasodilators and warming of the thumb. An unintentional injection into the hands or feet might reduce blood supply to these tissues, potentially resulting in tissue death. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. When I went to grab it to throw it out it opened and stabbed me in my palm right under my thumb. The rate of accidental injection of epinephrine from autoinjectors has increased worldwide. Since epinephrine induces a vasoconstriction through an alpha adrenergic effect, the use of phentolamine seems logical. If your heart is weak and you get a big enough flood of natural adrenaline, you can faint, or get a heart arrhythmia, a heart attack, or a stroke. However, I was still feeling very energized. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. An unintentional injection into the hands or feet might reduce blood supply to these tissues, potentially resulting in tissue death. Neocate is a family of hypoallergenic, amino acid-based medical foods for use under medical supervision and is indicated for cow milk allergy, multiple food allergies and related GI and allergic conditions. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. Why you should go to the emergency room after using the EpiPen. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Article He accidentally discharged the contents of the spring-loaded syringe into his thumb; and the needle was twisted into the distal tip of his finger. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". volume3, Articlenumber:7268 (2009) I had began to feel very energized and had slight pain on my outer thigh. This sub is under reconstruction, please be patient as we work to improve it. The treatment consists of removing the needle from the device and replacing it with a new one. But its important for patients and caregivers to know how to properly work an automatic epinephrine shot. you should have gone to the e.r. Seek emergency medical treatment if this occurs. There will always be the chance of unknowingly scarfing down pecan-laced strawberry pie at a family gathering (stab No. Case presentation A physician in a Family Practice training program accidentally injected epinephrine into his left thumb while reading the operating instructions of an autoinjector (Epipen). Life-saving auto-injectors are used to treat anaphylaxis. Some doctors may want to see you to ensure youre alright. Symptoms of breathing problems, nausea or vomiting, itching, and swelling can come on quickly and become life-threatening. If you were playing around and happened to inject into your thumb (I have seen that one), you might need to have some emergency treatment due to fracture of or impaling the distal phalanx and concern about vasoconstriction of vessels in the thumb. Accidentally injecting EpiPen into your hands or feet may result in a loss of blood flow to those areas, and resulting numbness. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Pack the wound. Giving yourself an epinephrine shot can slow down or stop an allergic reaction. Puncture Wound Care. Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall: Does Season of Birth Affect the Risk for Developing Allergies? Am J Emerg Med. Because an EpiPen is an auto-injector, the needle shoots out as soon as the cap is taken off, so if you squeeze or touch it, you may get the injection in your thumb instead, which causes the blood vessels to constrict, resulting in inadequate blood flow. Treatment included topical nitroglycerin, oral vasodilators and warming of the thumb. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This is why I an paranoid when I take my humera tired. I used my first EpiPen at the age of 7, after eating chocolate cake at a restaurant, sliced with the same knife used on a walnut cake. Epinephrine increases blood pressure and can trigger heart arrhythmias, strokes, and heart attacks. I decided to try the practice one I knew was in the case. WALTHAM, Massachusetts -- Some scary moments unfolded after an 11-year-old accidentally stabbed himself with a real EpiPen during a health class lesson. Clean any accidental sticks right away. In one way or another, you find yourself punctured with a freshly sharpened No. Yep, been there done that. When I stabbed my thigh with the black tip one I guess I got the colors mixed up and thought the black tipped pen was the practice one. The greatest risk of an accidental or an incorrect injection is that injecting the epinephrine elsewhere can delay or impair the effectiveness during a time-critical emergency. Even if you do inject yourself, youll still need to get to an emergency room. Make sure to wash your hands after administering an epinephrine injection. It's gone a kind of pale bluish white colour, feels quite numb and cold. Place the orange tip against the middle of the outer thigh (upper leg) at a right angle (perpendicular) to the thigh. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Subcutaneous injection of terbutaline to reverse vasospasm has been reported once [7]. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( Medication Administration: When preparing to give meds to a patient: always look up any medication you are unfamiliar with (so that you know why you are giving the medication and so you will know possible s/s) Use only medications in a clearly labeled container. Many people don't realize that after using the pen, you still must call 911 and get emergency medical attention, just in case you need back-up treatment. Talk with your doctor about how you can best control symptoms of your illness. Only use the EpiPen injector provided by your doctor's office! 7). The Bottom Line. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 10.1016/0735-6757(90)90295-B. What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? Talk to your health provider to see if Neocate is right for you. What are the symptoms of an accidental epinephrine injection? For instance if you were to stab yourself with a pencil, to prick yourself on a pin, or to fall onto a fork (I could do this all day) then the resultant wound would be a puncture. She ended up stabbing Alex (Justin Chambers) with a syringe full of epinephrine, which caused him to collapse. The epinephrine is from epinephrine injection, USP 1:2000 (0.3 mL) in a sterile solution. While reading the operating instructions, he attempted to launch the needle but erroneously placed his left thumb over the needle opening. This however, is the worst-case scenario. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. What happens if you accidentally inject epinephrine into your thumb? He's a bit younger than you so perhaps they weren't always that way. A mix-up during health class left a 11-year-old boy in a Massachusetts hospital after he accidentally stabbed himself with a real EpiPen. In the event of accidental injection, you should always seek medical attention. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. If the wound was left open or if stitches were used, clean the wound daily: If surgical tape was used, keep the area clean and dry. Plast Reconstr Surg. Topical nitroglycerin, oral vasodilators, and immersion in warm water were attempted unsuccessfully. Feels kind of sore where the stab wound is. This may cause the real yellow EpiPen or real green EpiPen Jr auto-injector to accidentally activate. use an adrenaline auto-injector if the person has one - but make sure you know how to use it correctly first; call 999 for an ambulance immediately (even if they start to feel better) - mention that you think the person has anaphylaxis NAPLES, Fla. - A Florida woman stabbed her sister with an EpiPen as the two were drinking together because she's "allergic to drunks," according to the Naples Police Department. Delayed capillary refill of the left thumb after accidental injection of epinephrine. No need to use antiseptics or disinfectants. Young people are also more likely to have their fingers near the injection site when they use drugs intramuscularly (in their muscles). Remove the device from your thigh . Learn more about Epinephrine Injection . Teaching your child about social distancing. J Med Case Reports 3, 7268 (2009). After 8 hours, the entire finger was pink and warm, either because of the decreasing effect of epinephrine after 90 minutes [2], or because of the delayed effect of the attempted treatment. You should always be checked out at the ER after using your EpiPen. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You can also make a salt solution. What happens if you give yourself epinephrine? Whenever I practice using my Epipen I make sure Im using the correct injector. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. From recent research I came to the conclusion to soak my thigh in warm water. Or just take reactants. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Fitzcharles-Bowe C, Denkler K, Lalonde D: Finger injection with high-dose (1:1,000) epinephrine: does it cause finger necrosis and should it be treated?. Phentolamine is used to control blood pressure during surgery for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, when the tumor releases catecholamines because of manipulation and the stress of surgery. 11% of children weighing 15 to 30 kg showed a risk of intraosseous injection (hitting the bone) with EpiPen Jr or Auvi-Q 0,15 mg; and 38% of children with Jext 0,15 mg. EpiPen or EpiPen Jr should only be injected into the middle of your outer thigh (upper leg), through clothing if necessary. If you are looking for additional tips on epinephrine at school, we have several additional blog posts you might enjoy: Your email address will not be published. Hold the leg of young children firmly in place before and during injection to prevent injuries. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Either way, glad you're OK! It's just that there isn't that much lead in the pencil lead, if any (see wikipedia entry below). It's been about 15 minutes. 4 What if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Department of Ambulatory Care and Community Medicine, University of Lausanne, Bugnon 44, 1011, Lausanne-CHUV, Switzerland, Christian Mathez,Bernard Favrat&Philippe Staeger, You can also search for this author in First of all, the thought of using an Epipen is scary enough. Wear gloves when working with hazardous materials to prevent contamination. I was trying to use the empty injector they give you to practice and ended up accidentally sticking myself by accident with the actual pen am I going to be okay? But everything else seems normal. (Needless to say I dumped that dose and got a fresh syringe for the cat :lol: :lol: ) You may repeat the injection every 5 to 10 minutes as needed. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: Regardless, you should always seek medical attention in the event of an accidental injection; its better safe than sorry! Press J to jump to the feed. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. This however, is the worst-case scenario. 2005, 115: 1800-1801. Finally, make sure no one is stuck in any doorways or passages before you use the shock pen because you don't want to send a current through them too. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Google Scholar. Here are a few tips I recommend based on the storage instructions. I was looking in some cabinets for neosporin when I came across my old epipens. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 1 What happens if you stab your finger with an EpiPen? An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. Almost immediately, I could tell something was off, not . What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? The effects of epinephrine may wear off after 10 or 20 minutes. Should you go to the emergency room immediately? Always wear protective gear when giving injections, and never give an injection in the back of the neck or anywhere near the heart. the wound is large or gaping and you cant gently push the edges together. Ugeskr Laeger. If you handle electric shock devices without thinking about what you're doing, you could be risking serious injury. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Several approaches were proposed: metacarpal nerve block or digital block with local lidocaine to induce an inhibition of sympathetic afferents to the digit; and topical nitroglycerin, systemic vasodilators, and warming by immersion in water to increase the blood flow supplying the digit. The drug wasn't supposed to be inside of the EpiPen an 11-year-old boy stabbed himself with during health class. All are serious errors that can delay or prevent getting someone the epinephrine necessary to stop a reaction. Grip the barrel of the auto-injector in your dominant hand so the orange tip points downward. Velissariou et al. I have accidentally taken a shot from my EpiPen, I thought it was a used one and was getting rid of my old ones, I do suffer with a Heart Condition, Diabetes, Had two Pulmonary Embolisms, Two Brain Aneurysms and Brain Surgeries, Other Surgeries too many to mention and the list goes on. If I start to feel nausea and my stomach hurts or I get rashes and a headache, should I use an epipen? Isn't the practice pen visually quite different? We reviewed the treatment of accidental epinephrine injection, and found that the use of parenteral adrenergic alpha blocker phentolamine would have produced immediate recovery. My son, 10 yrs. What should I do if I use my EpiPen on accident? [14] successfully used 1.5 mg of phentolamine (from a 10 mg/ml phentolamine mesylate ampoule) diluted in 1 ml of 2% lidocaine to treat such accidents. Maybe theyve watched you practice using your Epi or maybe theyve seen the picture instructions on the box. He complained of pain and paresthesia in the thumb. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. The accidental action caused Alex's heart to stop. Seek emergency medical attention even after you use EpiPen to treat a severe allergic reaction. Do not inject into your veins, buttocks, fingers, toes, hands or feet. Hi Lace, Finally, wash your hands after using the restroom; this is where you're likely to spread germs. injected "[this mixture] subcutaneously into the site [of accidental epinephrine injection,] and stop as soon as the skin becomes pink". It does not store any personal data. Dispose of any used needles/syringes in a safe manner. Wash it. Not much medicine if any got into his leg. Ive also wondered what happens if you use an Epipen without needing it. Burkhart KK: The reversal of the ischemic effects of epinephrine on a finger with local injections of phentolamine. In the event of an unintentional injection, seek medical care right away. He developed swelling, pallor, and pain in the thumb. . Help. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. How to save an ischemic finger. J Am Med Assoc.