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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nightclub took DDs epipens

506 replies

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 08:56

My DD - 18 and a 1st year uni student - went to a nightclub last night and they refused to let her keep her epipens on her. They said if she needed them
She had to go to the medical room.

She was with a group of friends and had all paid to get in and the venue also refused to refund if they decided not to go in.

AIBU to be absolutely livid and to follow this up with the company.

For context my daughter has a life threatening allergy to nuts - but not peanuts.

OP posts:
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5
Targetted · 04/03/2023 10:21

cakeorwine · 04/03/2023 10:16

I googled and found 1.

Hardly loads

Show quote history

Your Google must work differently to mine then. I found articles re Ipswich, Newcastle, Nottingham (a dozen instances in the one city). Surely you're not going to argue women aren't at risk from these kinds of attacks?.

Obviously they need to find a better way of dealing with it but not by denying there's problem.

Coraline353 · 04/03/2023 10:22

cakeorwine · 04/03/2023 10:16

I googled and found 1.

Hardly loads

Show quote history

And there's no proof at all in that article "she believes was an injection similar to an EpiPen" and something about a red mark on her bum

GrinAndVomit · 04/03/2023 10:23

RampantIvy · 04/03/2023 10:21

Bloody hell!

Have you no understanding of 18 year olds?
If my DD at 22 had been ridden roughshod over something like this you can bet your life I would have got involved.
I doubt very much if many 18 year olds would have the confidence and knowledge about how to follow up something as serious as this.

Your remark shows a complete lack of empathy and social awareness, as well as being utterly ridiculous!

GrinAndVomit · Today 09:47
Your daughter needs to follow this up. If she’s old enough to go nightclubbing

And the same goes for you @GrinAndVomit

I suspect that both of you suscribe to the mumsnet myth that when DC turn 18 they miraculouslt become mateure, confident and responsible adults. The news is that they don't. You should know this from many of the posts from supposedly mature adults on mumsnet from posters who haven't seen 18 for many years.

Both of your comments are unhelpful and unsupportive Hmm

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I don’t. But I do believe that as they become adults we have to take a step back when they ask us to.

RampantIvy · 04/03/2023 10:23

Maybe epipen holders should keep a copy of their prescription with their epipens to avoid this happening?

cakeorwine · 04/03/2023 10:23

Targetted · 04/03/2023 10:21

Your Google must work differently to mine then. I found articles re Ipswich, Newcastle, Nottingham (a dozen instances in the one city). Surely you're not going to argue women aren't at risk from these kinds of attacks?.

Obviously they need to find a better way of dealing with it but not by denying there's problem.

Show quote history

With Epipen like devices?

Really - because the only 1 I found was the one you linked to.

Spiking happens. Spiking with Epipen like devices - that's the debate here

Targetted · 04/03/2023 10:24

Coraline353 · 04/03/2023 10:22

And there's no proof at all in that article "she believes was an injection similar to an EpiPen" and something about a red mark on her bum

Show quote history

So they're actually using a standard syringe that takes several seconds to administer the drug? Come on. Of course people need to have their epipens, but really, you're going to pretend there's no problem with them?

bonjello · 04/03/2023 10:24

cakeorwine · 04/03/2023 10:21

Good for you.

I am speaking from my experience

Show quote history

Yes fair enough. I am speaking from mine. Sorry to hear your experience is so bad. I genuinely thought things had changed so sorry it hasn't. Seems a lot of places need to catch up.

Xol · 04/03/2023 10:24

gogohmm · 04/03/2023 09:25

There has been cases of people being injected maliciously in nightclubs. Whilst your dd genuinely needed them how can they guarantee that someone wouldn't use a medical device to sneak in an illegal substance? I can see the need for a balanced approach, having a fully staffed medical room is surprising to me, I'm impressed, I think that's a suitable compromise

So what happens if OP's daughter starts collapsing in the middle of a crowded nightclub? She needs the epipen immediately, not after someone has struggled through to the medical room, found the paramedic, explained what has happened, found the epipen, and struggled back again.

And for "fully staffed medical room" read "office that we call the medical room when the club's open".

1Wanda1 · 04/03/2023 10:24

"I wouldn't leave it to my 18 year old to make the complaint, although I would involve them through the whole process so they can see how to handle it when they're a little older."

This comment by @GeekyThings is bang on. I have uni-aged kids as well and I think supporting them in dealing with "adult" difficult issues is the right way to go about it.

Very surprised that a paramedic apparently supported the security staff in such a ridiculous and dangerous view.

bonjello · 04/03/2023 10:25

RampantIvy · 04/03/2023 10:23

Maybe epipen holders should keep a copy of their prescription with their epipens to avoid this happening?

Why though? It's an epipen. It's a medical device. No one takes one out for fun. People with hearing aids aren't asked to prove they are deaf.

RedDoughnut · 04/03/2023 10:25

I don't want to sound too hysterical about this
But I'd really encourage you to follow through and as a last resort go to the Press. Your actions could save a life.

Dancingqueenwannabe · 04/03/2023 10:29

NoSquirrels · 04/03/2023 09:10

If they have a medical room, that’s staffed, and she and her group of friends were told where it is, then is it different to a school or education establishment holding the epi pens in their medical room?

Legislation states that schools must keep the epipens in a box stored close to where the child is (in primary school). They are not allowed to held in a medical room or locked away.

Wheresthebeach · 04/03/2023 10:32

1Wanda1 · 04/03/2023 10:24

"I wouldn't leave it to my 18 year old to make the complaint, although I would involve them through the whole process so they can see how to handle it when they're a little older."

This comment by @GeekyThings is bang on. I have uni-aged kids as well and I think supporting them in dealing with "adult" difficult issues is the right way to go about it.

Very surprised that a paramedic apparently supported the security staff in such a ridiculous and dangerous view.

Absolutely this. Yes complain to company and the council.

Targetted · 04/03/2023 10:32

bonjello · 04/03/2023 10:25

Why though? It's an epipen. It's a medical device. No one takes one out for fun. People with hearing aids aren't asked to prove they are deaf.

Show quote history

You can't drug someone else with a hearing aid. People carrying controlled drugs do need to be able to prove they have them legitimately.

WandaWonder · 04/03/2023 10:33

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:49

Because they check bags

And your second comment is just ridiculous and makes it clear you don't have a loved one with a extremely fast reacting life threatening allergy.

Would I be ok to complain if she died because of this rule or would that also be ridiculous?

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I get it you only want people to agree with you, it's ok

EqualFranknessWithYourLadyship · 04/03/2023 10:33

Please act for the sake of other peoples children if not your own. Alternatively name the club and I will.

Simonjt · 04/03/2023 10:35

Targetted · 04/03/2023 10:32

You can't drug someone else with a hearing aid. People carrying controlled drugs do need to be able to prove they have them legitimately.

Show quote history

No, we don’t actually, you making something up doesn’t make it legislation.

RainbowBrightside · 04/03/2023 10:36

These bouncers are generally on a power trip and love it. I would definitely complain and ask if this is a company wide policy or whether these plastic policemen just took it upon themselves to do this. If it’s company policy then she just shouldn’t go back and you should shame them online as well as reporting them (not sure to who) In a life threatening emergency your daughter hasn’t got time to get to a medical room FFS!! And as for refusing to refund their money if they decided not to go in, that’s ridiculous. Definitely take that up with them. I’m annoyed on your behalf.

Forever42 · 04/03/2023 10:37

I would definitely complain.

Imagine the furore if a person with anaphylaxis does on their premises because they had removed the EpiPen and the patient wasn't in any condition to get to a medical room to access it.

Marva · 04/03/2023 10:37

If I needed to carry an epi-pen I wouldn't ever not have it on me - I'd have left rather than surrender it and complained after to get my money back.

I had anaphylaxis three weeks ago in hospital (I was there as an out patient) where I reacted to a drug they gave me IV. I felt a tightening in my chest, just had time to call the nurse, say "I feel bad", then my blood pressure tanked and I passed out. Woke in an oxygen mask to 5 nurses and a doctor around me, doctor giving me drugs and nurses attaching heart monitoring equipment and standing ready with the defilibrator. My heart beat was low and irregular, the doctor later told me.

Because of the drugs I got, they didn't need to use the defilibrator and just 10 minutes later I was feeling fine again. But if I'd had a serious allergy to something encountered outside the hospital with an equal anaphylaxic reaction, there is no way I would have been able to go to a different room and I probably would have died without prompt medical attention.

Forever42 · 04/03/2023 10:37

dies

Rainbowshit · 04/03/2023 10:37

Are people really seriously arguing that epipen holders shouldn't be allowed to hid into their own epipens on a nightclub because there's a risk someone might have a doctored one in order to spike someone?!?!

Jesus wept. 🙈

bonjello · 04/03/2023 10:37

Targetted · 04/03/2023 10:32

You can't drug someone else with a hearing aid. People carrying controlled drugs do need to be able to prove they have them legitimately.

Show quote history

As a user of a controlled drug - no you don't. There is no requirement for me to be able to proove it. If it comes up with the police they can get evidence from my GP.

HedgeRin · 04/03/2023 10:37

www.eadt.co.uk/news/21734704.ipswich-liquid-nightclub-refuses-entry-nut-allergy-sufferer-carries-epi-pen/

This nightclub reviewed it after a complaint, it’s worth a try

from this response www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/club-bans-girl-with-needle-952385.amp

Id advise her to get a tough pouch for them, with a medical letter in. It seems it’s common

There we’re a number of reports I found alluding to modified Epi-pens being used for harm: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10290183/amp/Young-women-Newcastle-alleged-needle-spiking-attacks-busy-nightclubs.html

I guess the reasonable solution is a pouch, a laminated medical letter and having ID to prove that she is carrying it for medical reasons in a high-risk environment. I completely understand she shouldn’t be separated.

I think the policy adaptation I’d want is a clear policy outlining the conditions of brining Epi-pens on site. I think that’s a reasonable compromise for safety for all. If they don’t publish it or make people aware or give them a way of bringing them in then it’s unsafe

Mariposista · 04/03/2023 10:39

Terrible practice. I hope your daughter did the mature thing and left the club immediately. Her safety is far more important than a night out. And her friends should have been grown up enough to accompany her too.