Well known Sonoma racer died from swallowing bee/bug

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by benb

I went and looked this up after what fourflys mentioned.

I have had numerous first aid classes that covered Epi-Pen injections, I can't ever recall anyone talking about laws around using them in an emergency situation. But most states including CA have Good Samaritan's laws and that is always discussed in first aid classes IME. Google searching laws is not simple or easy. I turned up a reference to NY possibly explicitly allowing someone with even just first aid training to give one to someone in an emergency without a prescription, that's about it. It sounds like even online classes like the Red Cross have are enough to allow you to administer them.

If I'm the one having a reaction and my airway is closing and someone hands me one they happen to have to me I am 100% giving myself the injection.

I think I would probably give one to someone else too in a closing airway situation. They are not exactly dangerous in comparison to a closing airway.

It's way way way less scary than having to do CPR or use the AED, and you are always supposed to be calling 911 anyway anytime one is used or needs to be used.

I am also near 99% sure when my mother went into shock (MA, a long time ago) and her airway started closing the EMTs gave her a shot almost immediately when they arrived without a prescription. There is no time to go to the hospital first.

All that said the only way I'd think one might be present at a bike race would be if another participant had a prescription and came running.

I'm on the first aid team at work. I am almost certain the most class covered these, but I have no idea if we have them in the office or it was just meant for someone with an allergy who had one. It is not like an Epi-Pen would be a big deal in terms of cost for a place that has already invested in a ton of gear including multiple AEDs.

so good samaritan laws are a whole different thing.. I thought you were initially referring to someone who was hired to act in a EMS-like capacity and likely held some type of license like an EMT-card.. they are NOT covered by good sam laws, even when off duty in most cases.. they still have to act within the scope of their license..

some states do have local regulations that allow a higher level of care that what National EMT allows.. for example, when I ran in Virginia, we could do Combi-tubes if we were in a rural area (sort of a can't get it wrong airway), but would have to wait on the paramedic to do an ET tube if I was in VA Beach, for example.. could also depend on what your local medical direction allows you to do as well in some cases.. finally, we often carried meds in the rig that I, as an EMT, was not allowed to administer, but the Paramedic could.. they often rode around in a "zone car" and responded to certain calls.. on the Coast Guard ship, I could a LOT more on active duty folks..

*also I think a lot of folks don't realize that a licensed EMT MUST have a medical director that they "work for".. that's easy when you work for a fire house, ambulance service, hospital, etc.. not sure how the folks that work these small venues like a cross race on their own manage that.. makes me wonder what their level actually is sometimes.. I see the same type if folks at my kid's horse shows.. I can't imagine it's cheap to pay a Dr to sign off on your stuff and be on call if you have a medical question in the field..

hope that makes sense..