Anapen®

ADRENALINE IS LIFE SAVING medication for someone experiencing a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). 

Adrenaline is the first line emergency treatment for anaphylaxis. Adrenaline devices are designed to be used by anyone in an emergency. 

Adrenaline is a natural hormone made by our bodies but in anaphylaxis, our body cannot make and release enough adrenaline to reverse the potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. For this reason, we need to give more adrenaline through a device such as Anapen®. 

An Anapen® contains one dose of adrenaline. 

How to give Anapen® 

Instructions on how to give an Anapen® can be found  

• on the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis for Anapen®
• on the Anapen® 
• via QR code on the end of the Anapen® case 
• via QR code on the ASCIA Action Plan/First Aid Plan which takes you to the ASCIA website where there are instructions on how to use Anapen® 

Follow the 4 steps below: 

PULL OFF BLACK NEEDLE SHIELD

PULL OFF GREY SAFETY CAP from red button

PLACE NEEDLE END FIRMLY against outer mid-thigh at 90° angle (with or without clothing)

PRESS RED BUTTON so it clicks and hold for 3 seconds. REMOVE Anapen®

Anapen® is given into the outer mid-thigh

There is a large muscle in the outer mid-thigh. Injecting adrenaline into this muscle helps get the adrenaline to the rest of the body quickly. The adrenaline device can be given through clothing. 

Remember:  hold the leg still if you are giving an adrenaline device to someone else as they may move unexpectantly. 

When the Anapen® has been used, the needle is exposed and there is a risk of needle stick injury (accidently pricking yourself or someone else with the needle). To avoid this, the Anapen® should be placed back into the case (needle end first) after use. Keep your fingers away from the needle end. 

If no case is available:  

• Place into a hard plastic container, such as a lunchbox  
• Recap the needle carefully by placing the needle shield, wide end up, on a flat surface and then placing the needle end of the device into the wider end of the needle shield (see instructions below under Anapen® trainer information)

There is a risk of needle stick injury when placing the used device back into the needle shield, however, if no hard plastic container or Anapen® carry case are available, place the needle end of the device into the wider end of the needle shield as stated above.

Anapen® Trainer devices 

It is important to know how to give an Anapen® in an emergency. Using an Anapen® trainer is a great way to do this. The Anapen® trainer contains no needle or medication and can be reused (unlike the actual Anapen® used in an emergency which contains only one dose of adrenaline and cannot be reused). 

If your child is at risk of anaphylaxis, practiscing with them could help you think about how you may need to hold them if you had to give Anapen® in an emergency. It may also help the child understand what would happen if they had anaphylaxis. 

It is important to store the Anapen® trainer away from the real Anapen®. You can mark the Anapen®  trainer with tape or a sticker to highlight that it is not the real Anapen® containing adrenaline and a needle. 

Unless the Anapen® trainer is reset in the correct way it can easily become jammed and will not be able to be used.