HEALTH

You've probably seen the signs in your school caf. You know, the ones that say: "Peanut and tree nut free table" and "No nuts!" They're hung near the tables that your friends and classmates—or maybe even you—with food allergies eat at. It's possible that your pals who sit at those tables even have something called an EpiPen stashed in their backpack, in the nurse's office or in your teacher's desk.

What the heck is an EpiPen? It's a handheld device a bit bigger than a jumbo Sharpie that contains the drug epinephrine and a needle. When a severe allergy attack occurs, an EpiPen is injected into the upper-thigh so that epinephrine can be administered to the bloodstream and begin working to open up the airway, reduce swelling and calm hives. 

Recently, the company that makes EpiPen has been in the news due to an increase in cost of the auto-injector that your classmates—and *so* many others —need. According to CNN, the same pack of EpiPens that cost $100 in 2009 now costs $600—that's crazy! This surge in cost likely affects your parents more than it does you, but it's still important to know.

It's impossible to avoid the use of EpiPens—of course, allergy attacks just happen sometimes. But there are certainly ways that you—if you do not have an allergy yourself—can be more careful with these foods: Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. Those eight things cause about 90 percent of all food allergy reactions. So in the lunchroom, be sure to keep your PB&J sandwich away from any classmate with a peanut allergy. If your class if planning a party or picnic, ask your teacher if any of your classmates have allergies. Finally, wash your hands thoroughly after lunch and snack time.

Have you ever had to use an EpiPen? What do you think about how expensive they've become? Share your thoughts below.

Photo credit: Shannon Fannin

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by Sydney Adamson | 8/27/2016