This announcement that arrived earlier this month about the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Mylan Specialty is the marketer and distributor of EpiPen® (epinephrine) and EpiPen Jr® (epinephrine) Auto-Injectors. alliance, which is landmark and signals that a new dawn has truly arrived. Florida is the second state to pass what we call “an entity epinephrine” law. Which means, an entity, such as a business, a theme park, a church or restaurant can stock and use undesignated epinephrine if it is believed that a person is experiencing anaphylactic shock. If you recall, many of our allergists remind us that epinephrine is the first line drug of choice to combat a life threatening allergic reaction. This step by Disney seems to feel like a big statement of, “life threatening allergies are real and we are going to create a safer environment for our guests”. This step also sends a big message to other states showing the benefits of “entity” epinephrine law. The gains are numerous of this new marriage. You can download this Disney Epi Map to check out how the locations will be identified- I’m personally pretty darn excited!
Highlights of this ground breaking collaboration.
- Maps (see above) will highlight for people with life threatenign allergies, the location of EpiPens® throughout Disney domestic theme parks and cruise ships.
- Awareness will be raised in general for non-allergic guests who will visuall see EpiPens® located in the parks and resorts. The more the general public hears about allergies and Epinephrine, awarness increases naturally.
- Disney also is planning to introducing educational materials to increase awareness and preparedness for anaphylaxis.
- If this collaboration works, we’ll have a strong example of how entity stock epinephrine works.
- Other businesss may be inspired to consider stock epinephrine.
- Disney already works hard to accomodate guests with food allergies, this action now kicks up that effort about four notches.
- Note: our community should NEVER stop carrying their own prescribed epinephrine due to stock epinephrine access. Every single second counts and self carry is still this safest choice.
I’m anxious now to personally visit a Walt Disney Park and Resort, just so I can see an Epinephrine box in action! If you do see one, please take a picture and share it here with us!
Congratulations Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Mylan for this ground breaking moment. May awareness grow ten fold and your guests with food allergies enjoy the magic of Disney.
note: the topic image is of a cupcake from the food allergy friendly Sensitive Sweets Bakery in Fountain Valley, California (Southern California)!
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..