Epipens, their use and possible dangers

[MartinL]

This is all academic of course .
Circumstances will dictate actions on the day !!

VM

Yes,

Those desperate to use their ill-gotten epipen will shout "carpe diem", and possibly kill someone.

Whilst others will dial 999 and same a life!

 

[victor meldrew]

Yes,

Those desperate to use their ill-gotten epipen will shout "carpe diem", and possibly kill someone.

Whilst others will dial 999 and same a life!

Verbal abuse is the sign of a lost argument , sarcasm is the lowest form of wit !
This thread has died a death methinks but I'm not about to dial 999 !
VM
Come on admin ! close this second thread on the same theme !

 

[MartinL]

No one is being abused, true this thread is in danger of being hijacked by what is now (see votes), a minority opinion with a dangerous viewpoint!

Please can some members with a QUALIFIED OPINION give there view on; the need for people to carry epipens and the danger of their unqualified use.

 

[VEG]

close it because you dont like the opinions?
The figures are quite disturbing when only 4 have actually got an allergy 12 got one "just in case".

 

[victor meldrew]

No one is being abused, true this thread is in danger of being hijacked by what is now (see votes), a minority opinion with a dangerous viewpoint!

Please can some members with a QUALIFIED OPINION give there view on; the need for people to carry epipens and the danger of their unqualified use.

I don't think you recognise verbal abuse/ sarcasm when generated by yourself .
Your use of "Qualified opinion" in bold capital lettering is a perfect example implying that anyone with a differing opinion is not qualified to offer it !
High handed if I ever witnessed it !!
A poll proves nothing , just look at the government .Which is the result of a poll .
VM
Ps this thread has run it's course therefore this is my final post on it or I risk being accused of "troll baiting"
( That was sarcasm )

 

[AnotherNewBee]

I don't think you recognise verbal abuse/ sarcasm when generated by yourself .
Your use of "Qualified opinion" in bold capital lettering is a perfect example implying that anyone with a differing opinion is not qualified to offer it !
High handed if I ever witnessed it !!
A poll proves nothing , just look at the government .Which is the result of a poll .
VM
Ps this thread has run it's course therefore this is my final post on it or I risk being accused of "troll baiting"
( That was sarcasm )

Are you qualified? If not, have you consulted someone who is to confirm the validity of your opinion?

I am not (though I am a former St John ambulance paramedic). I have consulted a very highly qualified A&E Sister (who is also a specialist cardiac nurse).

 

[BeeJayBee]

Those desperate to use their ill-gotten epipen will shout "carpe diem", and possibly kill someone.

Verbal abuse is the sign of a lost argument , sarcasm is the lowest form of wit !

I am one of the six who voted "I tried to get one but was told NO WAY!"

MartinL's comment isn't far from the response I got from my GP when I asked if it would be possible to get an epipen in case either I or a beekeeper I happened to be with, reacted badly to a bee sting with what might be anaphylactic shock.

He was absolutely blunt in his refusal.

He said he did not believe that I, with my out of date first aid certificate, would necessarily be able to quickly and accurately tell the difference between anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest, stroke, sudden onset asthma (and other things I can't recall).

He said that if I were to adminster an epipen, which contains adrenaline, to somebody with a heart condition, which might not have even been diagnosed, or somebody fitted with a pacemaker then I could kill them.

That, frankly, was enough to make me feel an utter fool for wasting his time and for thinking it might have been a good idea, more especially as the majority of beekeepers I know are well into their retirement years and don't wear their medical history on their sleeve.

 

[MartinL]

I am one of the six who voted "I tried to get one but was told NO WAY!"

.....when I asked if it would be possible to get an epipen in case either I or a beekeeper I happened to be with, reacted badly to a bee sting with what might be anaphylactic shock.

He was absolutely blunt in his refusal.

That, frankly, was enough to make me feel an utter fool for wasting his time

Yep, Me too!

I wanted one "just in case". Being "ex military" I had always been proud of the fact that my first aid kit was kept up to date and ready for action.

Thought it was a good thing to have (with the bees) and didn't bother asking my doc because my friends wife is a Pharmacist, (why speak with the monkey when you have direct access to the organ grinder)!
However, her "Qualified" reaction was a little more terse than your Doctor but with the same gravity.

I consider myself a little more enlightened for the experience, but do worry that some people are fraudulently acquiring these deadly items by telling porkies!


Ignorance is bliss till you get the wake-up call.

 

[AnotherNewBee]

I consider myself a little more enlightened for the experience, but do worry that some people are fraudulently acquiring these deadly items by telling porkies!

I'd be more concerned about the GPs who are dishing these things out without proper testing to ensure they're prescribing properly. IMHO that, at the very least, is careless and in some cases might even be negligent.

 

[REDWOOD]

I promised myself I was not going to reply to this thread but just to let you know not all rural areas have mobile signals, my apiary does not so if me or my wife get anaphylactic shock can someone tell me what to do and what are the signs to look out for and at what point should I *** my self or will I be too far gone ?

 

[VEG]

sounds like you have a pen all ready so you should have been told when/how to use it.

 

[region2]

I promised myself I was not going to reply to this thread but just to let you know not all rural areas have mobile signals, my apiary does not so if me or my wife get anaphylactic shock can someone tell me what to do and what are the signs to look out for and at what point should I *** my self or will I be too far gone ?

Don't ask us - epipens are prescription drugs so ask your Doctor for advice on when/how to use it.

R2

 

[AnotherNewBee]

I promised myself I was not going to reply to this thread but just to let you know not all rural areas have mobile signals, my apiary does not so if me or my wife get anaphylactic shock can someone tell me what to do and what are the signs to look out for and at what point should I *** my self or will I be too far gone ?

Just my opinion, but if I knew I was at risk of anaphylaxis I wouldn't keep bees on a site with no mobile phone signal.

If I didn't know I was at risk I wouldn't be carrying a pen to *** myself with.

 

[REDWOOD]

Just my opinion, but if I knew I was at risk of anaphylaxis I wouldn't keep bees on a site with no mobile phone signal.

If I didn't know I was at risk I wouldn't be carrying a pen to *** myself with.

So what did beekeepers do 15 years ago before mobile phones ?

 

[REDWOOD]

Don't ask us - epipens are prescription drugs so ask your Doctor for advice on when/how to use it.

R2

I did and he told me, but how many people with pens don't know

 

[AnotherNewBee]

So what did beekeepers do 15 years ago before mobile phones ?

If they didn't know they were allergic to bee stings they took the (relatively small) risk much as we do now. I'm pleased to say that my bees are on a site with a signal and they'll stay that way until I've been stung a couple of times at least.

If they knew they were allergic they made their own minds up and either played Russian Roulette, or didn't. The Epipen wasn't available, for public use, until the 80s. I guess some carried whatever was available before Epipens.

It's much the same as riding a motorcycle. If you regularly ride a motorcycle you accept that sooner or later you will either fall off or get knocked off. With bees, sooner or later, you will get stung.

 

[VEG]

so why ask just post what you were told

 

[REDWOOD]

A bee sting, for example, may not cause an allergic reaction the first time.
Another bee sting may produce a sudden, severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock.
These reactions usually occur within seconds to minutes of exposure. Occasionally, they are delayed.
You may develop sensitivity and anaphylaxis to a substance that you have been exposed to many times in the past without a reaction

 

[region2]

I did and he told me, but how many people with pens don't know

So you are saying that these mysterious people with epipens have been told they need one or they might die but weren't given the instructions on how to use or, even more mysteriously, didn't ask what to do to save their life with their new piece of life-saving equipment? Sounds a bit far fetched to me.

Life is all about risk taking whether you realsie it or not. Crossing the road. Changing lanes. Choosing a partner. So an apiary without mobile 'phone reception is a risk with the worst consequence being death IF you are stung and IF you have a reaction and IF you cannot get to help by other means.

Good luck to you if you stick your epipen in anyone else without qualified medical advice. I won't be doing it...

R2

 

[region2]

A quick look at the facts I found on Google!

In 2000, the World Health Organisation reported that in the USA, there were only 54 deaths attributable to bee stings – from a population of 281 million.

On average four Bee or Wasp sting anaphylaxis deaths are reported per year in the UK and the average age being 50 years (BSACI).

Reactions to subsequent stings range from being the same in 43%, reduced intensity in 45% and more severe in only 12%. In fact a many people (50% adults and 80% children) with mild reactions will lose their insect venom allergy over time.

You are statistically more likely to die in a Road Traffic Accident rushing to hospital than from the actual sting itself!

R2