Knowing how to use an EpiPen can save a life — and it’s easier than you think. Here’s what to look for in an allergy emergency and how to act fast with confidence.
If Allergy Awareness Week (11–17 May) passed you by this year, you’re not alone. But honestly? It’s never the wrong time to learn how to use an EpiPen and help someone having a serious allergic reaction, especially when it could make the difference between life and death.
Thanks to Pharmac funding, EpiPens® are fully subsidised for those at risk of anaphylaxis, and that’s made them more accessible than ever. It means there’s a good chance someone in your child’s class, at your local sports club, or in your wider whānau is carrying one. That’s a great step forward — but only if the people around them also know how to use it.
Read more: Hey, are you okay mama?
How to use an EpiPen:
“Blue to the sky, orange to the thigh. It’s that simple. An EpiPen® is colour-coded for ease, designed so anyone can use it.”
Allergy NZ Chief Executive, Mark Dixon
So here’s the really important part: would you know what to do if someone near you had a severe allergic reaction and couldn’t treat themselves?
Allergy New Zealand wants everyone — not just parents, teachers or first aiders — to feel confident stepping in during an allergy emergency. To make it easy, they’ve created a simple visual poster that shows exactly how to use an EpiPen in an emergency. It outlines:
- How to spot the signs of anaphylaxis
- Where and how to administer the EpiPen®
- What steps to take afterwards (like calling 111 and saying “anaphylaxis”)
You can download and print the poster in A2, A3 or A4 — it’s perfect for your home, your workplace, your kids’ school, or the local community noticeboard.
A few key things worth remembering:
- An EpiPen® is designed for anyone to use — no medical training required. If the person can’t administer it themselves, anyone nearby can help.
- It’s colour coded for ease — ‘blue to the sky, orange to the thigh’ is the phrase to remember. Just take off the blue safety cap, press the orange tip against the outer mid-thigh, and hold for three seconds.
- Call 111 and stay with the person until help arrives. It’s that straightforward.
Anaphylaxis can come on suddenly and progress quickly, especially in children. That’s why knowing how to act calmly and quickly matters — and it’s something we can all learn in just a few minutes.
There are also resources for:
- Parents and caregivers, with practical info on managing allergies at home and on the go
- Teachers, early childhood centres and schools, including the updated 2025 Allergy and Anaphylaxis Guidelines
- Community groups and workplaces, who may want to display the poster and raise awareness
- Multilingual households, with resources available in te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan and more
Even if you don’t think you’ll ever need to use an EpiPen®, it’s worth taking a few moments to learn what to do — just like you’d learn CPR or how to use a defibrillator. It’s about being prepared, being calm under pressure, and supporting the people in our communities who live with allergies every day.
Visit www.allergy.org.nz to access the free resources and get up to speed. It doesn’t take long, but the knowledge could stay with you forever — and might even help save a life.
