Life comes at you fast. This is a reality that Elliott Sadler, one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR’s Xfinity series, knows all too well. At the age of two, Sadler’s son Wyatt experienced an anaphylactic reaction after tasting a peanut for the first time.
“He began coughing, scratching his face and developing hives,” Elliott recalls. “Realizing that he was having an allergic reaction, my wife and I took him to the emergency room.”
Committing to lifestyle change
Wyatt was subsequently diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy. When Elliott learned that his son would not outgrow the allergy, he focused his energy on raising awareness for life-threatening food allergies — and helping Wyatt enjoy a healthy childhood.
“We avoid foods with nuts and make sure to read labels thoroughly to keep Wyatt away from them,” he explains. “We’ve also learned to take precautionary steps and to educate anyone who would be caring for Wyatt when we can’t be around, including his grandparents, babysitter, teachers, coaches and friends’ parents.”
For Elliott and his wife Amanda, there is no such thing as “too prepared.”
“We have an anaphylaxis emergency plan in place,” he says. “If Wyatt were to have a life-threatening allergic reaction, we would deliver epinephrine with AUVI-Q (epinephrine injection, USP) and dial 911 to seek emergency medical care.”
Learning from the racetrack
AUVI-Q is the first and only epinephrine auto-injector with an auto-retractable needle. Both AUVI-Q and the AUVI-Q Trainer include innovative features such as step-by-step voice instructions. “The Trainer is designed to guide an untrained user through the steps to administer epinephrine safely should they have to use AUVI-Q in an allergic emergency, much like how my chief crew communicates with me throughout the race to walk me through difficult situations,” Elliott explains. “It’s important to act fast, but safely.”
AUVI-Q does not take the place of emergency medical care. Seek immediate medical treatment after using AUVI-Q.
Reports estimate that up to 15 million Americans are living with food allergies, including 5.9 million children under age 18.1,2 That’s 1 in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom.1 In response, many administrators are working to make schools a safer space for all students.
“My wife has worked closely with our local community and Wyatt’s school to improve awareness of life-threatening allergies because every child deserves a safe environment,” Elliott states. “My goal is for my son to worry less about his peanut allergy because he and those around him are prepared.”
For more information about AUVI-Q (0.3 mg, 0.15 mg and 0.1 mg) visit www.auvi-q.com.
Indication
AUVI-Q® (epinephrine injection, USP) is a prescription medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions.
Important Safety Information
AUVI-Q is for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and does not take the place of emergency medical care. Seek immediate medical treatment after using AUVI-Q. Each AUVI-Q contains a single dose of epinephrine. AUVI-Q should only be injected into your outer thigh, through clothing if necessary. If you inject a young child or infant with AUVI-Q, hold their leg firmly in place before and during the injection to prevent injuries. Do not inject AUVI-Q into any other part of your body, such as into veins, buttocks, fingers, toes, hands or feet. If this occurs, seek immediate medical treatment and make sure to inform the health care provider of the location of the accidental injection. Only a health care provider should give additional doses of epinephrine if more than two doses are necessary for a single allergic emergency.
Rarely, patients who use AUVI-Q may develop infections at the injection site within a few days of an injection. Some of these infections can be serious. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms at an injection site: redness that does not go away, swelling, tenderness or the area feels warm to the touch.
If you have certain medical conditions or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have more or longer lasting side effects when you use AUVI-Q. Be sure to tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, especially medicines for asthma. Also tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions, especially if you have asthma, a history of depression, thyroid problems, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart problems or high blood pressure, have any other medical conditions, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Epinephrine should be used with caution if you have heart disease or are taking certain medicines that can cause heart-related (cardiac) symptoms.
Common side effects include fast, irregular or ‘pounding’ heartbeat, sweating, shakiness, headache, paleness, feelings of over excitement, nervousness, or anxiety, weakness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, or breathing problems. These side effects usually go away quickly, especially if you rest. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
Please see the full Prescribing Information and the Patient Information at www.auvi-q.com.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
References
1 Facts and Statistics. Facts and Statistics – Food Allergy Research & Education. https://www.foodallergy.org/facts-and-stats. Accessed May 15, 2018.
2 Gupta RS, Springston EE, Warrier MR, et al. The prevalence, severity, and distribution of childhood food allergy in the United States. Pediatrics. 2011;128(1):e9-17
