The EpiPen Changes All Aussie Families Need to Know

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Do you have a child with a severe food allergy? Do they need an EpiPen? Then you need to read this.

The EpiPen Changes All Aussie Families Need to Know

Do you have a child with a severe food allergy? Do they require an EpiPen? Then you need to read this. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has just announced changes to way Australians should administer EpiPens.

Whether you have a child with anaphylaxis or know someone else who might has, it’s important to know the new recommended way to administer an EpiPen, just in case.

Although these changes have been in place in the USA since 2016, they have only recently been introduced to Aussie families. These are applied for both EpiPen and EpiPen Jr.

What parents need to know about the EpiPen changes

Although the devices have not changed, the instructions on the label have. These two changes are:

  • Reduced injection time from 10 to three seconds – this is based on research confirming the delivery of adrenaline through the three second delivery time.
  • Removal of the massage step after injection – it has been found to reduce the risk of irritation at the injection site.

The three second EpiPen and EpiPen Jr adrenaline auto-injectors were made available in pharmacies in Australia and New Zealand since June 2017. However, many families are not aware of these changes.


St John Ambulance has issued a reminder for all Australians to remember the new guidelines on how to use an EpiPen:

“All EpiPens should now be held in place for three seconds, regardless of the instructions on the label. However, if they are held for 10 seconds it will not affect the way the adrenaline works.”
Even if you have the earlier 10 second label, you can still use it. There is no need to replace the auto-injector (unless it has expired), just simply reduce the amount of time you use it for is suffice.

For the latest in allergy and anaphylaxis updates, have a look at the ASCIA website.
Be sure to also check out the latest update on peanut allergies and breastfeeding mums.

If you’ve ever had an experience with a choking baby it’s the most terrifying, panic-inducing moments of your life.

How to Save a Choking Baby. Share This 40-Sec Video With Everyone!

Watching this short ‘n sweet video could change a pivotal moment from desperate hopelessness to informed action. Yes, this is a video you could’t afford not to watch! Share with your mother-in-law, your child’s carers, your bestie and even with your mothers group. We guarantee that one of those people shall thank you in the year to come.

That’s because choking is the number one cause of injury and death among under-4 children. The culprits might as well be toys, coins and food. In America (there is no current Aussie stats) average every four days there is a child dies of choking.

Here’s ALL what we need to know to ensure that should choking happens, we would know how to handle it!

This clever short education film is the work of St. John’s Ambulance Service UK as it was their mission to show parents what to do in the event their child starts choking.

The 40 second mini movie’s title is “The Chokeables” and features several British actors rpoviding voiceover to animated objects that commonly cause choking in children, to show that how quickly your action to clear your child’s airways makes all the difference.

The video came about when St Johns Ambulance’s research discovered that over 40% of parents have witnessed their own baby choke. However when quizzed on the correct method of first aid almost four-fifths of the parents didn’t know what to do in the situation! Make sure everyone who is responsible for your child knows exactly what to do!

This is truly a matter of life and death!

If you’re keen on minimising choking hazards at home, we would encourage you to also look up Button Batteries management and their potential problems.
We hope you’ll never need to use these knowledge but when it comes to the safety of our precious it’s always a matter of better safe than sorry.

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