Leaving a young anaphylatic child with friends - do you leave epipen as well?

[Gwu]

Hi There

DS has an epipen in case he drinks milk. This has only ever happened twice in his whole life and he's 4 y.o. One time was my fault (I gave him a few mouthfuls of Krispy Kreme and the other time this dumb ass relative gave him a few mouthfuls of her tea as she forgot he was allergic to milk).

He's at the age where I can leave him at friend's houses. Of course I'll tell the parent about his no touch, no drink food policy and about his severe reaction to milk but do I leave the inhaler, antihistamines and epipen as well and tell them how to use it and basically, scare the life out of them so that he never gets an invite again? I'll be about a 15 min walk away and contactable by phone.

What do you mums of anaphylatic children do? I know this is such a stupid question and a dumb thing to worry about given everything else?

Thanks in advance.

G

[Julia76]

hellish: I haveq uestioned how the teachers would get my ds epipen (kept in staff room)in the event they needed oit. Fortunately they always have either learning suport assistants in the class room(so always more then 1 adult in the class at a time) so someone can run up & get the epipen. The staff room is close by to his class so not far to go, although Im unsure of the distance from his new class to the staff room next term. Actually it as made me think about when he gets in to year 5 & 6, as they are in a different building to the school office & staff room. Mind you by then he will hopefully be responsiable enough to carry his epipen around with him. Maybe I should try him with his epipen in the pouch around his waiste when he goes to his friends & see how he gets on & then after this if he has shown he can be responsaible I can then try him waring it at other times. Do you think maybe I should do this, so he wares it at school so it is with ihm at all times?

[tatt]

Maybe encourage him to wear it first when you go out as a family - so he gets used to it under supervision first? Then let him take responsibility for remembering to take it out.

Our primary said they would put in place a system where there would be a red card in their emergency back that any child could take to the office. The office would then know they should call an ambulance and send the pen back. I don't think they ever implemented it (i.e. briefed the children what to do if it was needed/ made sure office staff knew) but it's something you could consider.

[hellish]

julia76 - try this (I'm in Canada so you may find something similar in the UK) but my dd loves hers.
www.kozyepi.com/

I tend to look after the epi pen whenever she is with me (as I think the responsibility of having it at school is enough for now). Her teacher is very supportive and we have never had any problems.

I just keep thinking about a statistic I once read about almost all anaphalactic fatalities happening because the epi pen was not with the person who needed it. (sorry if being over-dramatic)

In my dds school there are 10 children who carry epipens and in each room (including toilets, staffroom, library etc) there is a poster with photos of all those children and info on what they are allergic to. It gave me a shock when I saw her pic up there but none of the kids have ever made a big deal of it and she just knows that's how it is.

[IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo]

Obviously you have already a lot of answers but to add to the consensus. Epipen should never be further away than a child than the same building and in the ususual place where everyone can find it.

I send DS with his kit (epipen, inhaler and piriton) whereved he goes. He is normally invited again.

Having said that, I'm very careful of who I leave him with. Some parents have the best intentions but are heavily distracted (know a very nice woman who has shown up to my house with an almond cake, and think nothing is wrong with serving nutella to her children when DS is at her house. She knows DS is allergic, she knows DS reacts by eating or skin contact but someway it doesn't sink that when allergic you react to everything not only to peanuts wearing their own shell...). She is nice, has the best intentions, keep inviting him, but I just can't. So I say "we can't that day but why don't you bring your LO over on this other day?"

[IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo]

How come is already nearly 3:00???

Off to sleep!

[Julia76]

Hi all, sorr not been on for a while as really busy but thanks for all your sugestions. I sent me ds with Epipens etc when he went to play around our friends the other day. She looke dafter them whilst he played whith her ds & then when he came home, she gave them back to him & he then gave them to me when he got home. I had a good chat with him & explained the importance of looking after them & not broadcastin gthe fact he had them etc. hy he needed them with him at all times(although he does know this) but I thnk he now undersatnds that this is sometihnfg he will need to get used to having the,m ewith him all the time. I am already careful to whom he stays with. He only ever plays at my sister's house, his nan & grandad's, & our friends(his best friend).. I can actaully say they are brilliant. They do not have peanuts or nuts in their house anymore, as he spends alot of time their, & they do go out of their way to make sure there are no risks. My ds & their ds share the same birthday & my ds is going to their house with his db for a birthday tea & cake. All food & cake is safe for him to eat & its such a relief to know that there is somewhere my ds can go where I can feel comfortable that he is pretty much safe(although we always worry dont we?)
I will try to get a epipen belt for him & I need to also get him a medicalert bracelet as this will give me some peace of mind.

[Julia76]

Sorry for all those typing mistakes. Hope you could read it ok.

[ToughDaddy]

We leave 2 pens. We also have simplified chart of symptoms, actions, contact number, everything all on one page that we leave.