Make me feel better, sell it over-the-counter
Somehow I found myself reading about a cool little device called the Epi Pen Jr., a product that allows you to administer a bit of Epinephrine (Epi) when needed, either to yourself or for your child. Currently it is only available through a pharmacy and with a prescription. Epinephrine is often administered when an allergic reaction occurs, leading to anaphylaxis which can be fatal if left untreated. We all know someone who is severely allergic to peanuts or bee stings, shellfish, etc., and this device can be a life saver out in the field.
It certainly makes sense that people with known allergies should have access to such a device. But as a parent with two young children, it would be nice to have Epi on-hand, in case it is ever needed. I don’t know yet if my kids have a serious allergy to various things and I wouldn’t want to find out the hard way while being unprepared. For example, if I happen to have the kids on the Dad’s Camping Weekend we may be far away from a place where we could get proper medical attention. The Epi Pen Jr. would be a nice addition to my first aid kit. Heck, I’d even take a class in order to qualify myself for proper use and administration.
There are many other items that I would like to carry but are not available to me as a common person with no known health issues (except mental issues of course). I think with proper training we should all be able to carry life-saving items, either for ourselves or for those we happen upon that are in need of assistance. First Aid card? Check. CPR card? Check. Ability to react to a bee sting gone wrong? Not yet.
On the commerce side of things, making more items available also makes sense. Since the Epi Pen Jr. seems to have a 12 month shelf life, I would sign-up for automatic replacement of expired devices. I’d view a change to non-prescription availability as a way to boost the economy and save some lives — What more could we ever want? Free beer.
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