Mendocino Community Health Clinic nurse Sue Juetten presents Epi-Pen donation to Chief Mike Josephson of the Lake Pillsbury Fire Protection District. Courtesy photo.

LAKE PILLSBURY, Calif. – For some people, a walk in the woods may not be a walk in the park. A bee sting in the back country or a peanut in a power bar eaten along a trail can be the beginning of a battle to survive. If you’re severely allergic, such a life-threatening reaction can cause death in a matter of minutes.

Severe allergic reactions of this kind are called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock; its most common causes are insect stings, foods like shellfish, nuts, wheat or soy products, milk or eggs, and in some cases, new medications.

The symptoms often become abruptly apparent; they include difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness. In milder cases, symptoms can range from dizziness and confusion to hives, swelling in the lips and a general tingling sensation.

In real life, these things occur.

Mike Josephson, fire chief of the Lake Pillsbury Fire Protection District (LPFPD), has seen it happen more than once.

A firefighter since 1986 and LPFPD Chief for five years, he’s had to respond to episodes of anaphylaxis numerous times. In the Lake Pillsbury region, a bee sting is the most common cause.

To support the life-saving work of the Lake Pillsbury FPD, Mendocino Community Health Clinic (MCHC) recently donated an Epi-Pen to the fire fighters. An Epi-Pen is a syringe that delivers a single dose of epinephrine, the drug of choice for the emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions.

“I’ve seen the Epi-Pen applied in cases of anaphylaxis; it’s an incredibly useful tool,” Chief Josephson said. “Unconscious victims can begin breathing and regain consciousness in a matter of minutes. Without the Epi-Pen on hand, we have had have to wait for a medical crew to come in by helicopter before we could deliver this treatment. It’s a very dangerous situation. My crew is now better prepared to deal with severe allergic reaction, and we thank MCHC for its contribution to our work.”

Long-time MCHC nurse Sue Juetten visits Lake Pillsbury regularly and recommended the donation. “It’s a relatively small gift, but it can mean so much,” she said.

If you know you are allergic, take a doctor-recommended antihistamine along with you. Hiking five miles back to get it out of the car doesn’t provide much protection. Let people know that you could have such a reaction, and make sure others know where to find your medication in case of emergency. If you’re allergic to bee stings, avoid crawling through the chaparral. If peanuts are the problem, read labels carefully.

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency; it requires immediate treatment. Since it is impossible to predict how severe an allergic reaction will be, any person showing symptoms of anaphylaxis must be transported to a hospital emergency department immediately.