College student dies after being exposed to peanuts

My sister sent a story she read in the Washington Post titled "College student dies after severe allergic reaction to peanut butter." It was so sad, I could hardly finish reading the article. Sometimes things hit a little too close to home.

Son #1 experienced a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) several years ago. Son #2  has a tree nut allergy - not to be confused with a peanut allergy. (Peanuts are actually from the legume -or bean family - and they grown in the ground.) Tree nuts grow on....... well....trees! Son #2 is allergic to pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc. I am allergic to seafood. We all carry epi pens - EVERYWHERE!!!!

Apparently, the college student, Chandler Swink, had visited an apartment where someone had made peanut butter cookies. Somehow, he came into contact with the cookies or some of the peanut residue. He started to feel symptoms of anaphylaxis and went out to his car to use his Epi Pen. 

The National Institutes of Health list these symptoms of anaphylaxis:

• Skin—itching, hives, redness, swelling
• Nose—sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose
• Mouth—itching, swelling of the lips or tongue
• Throat—itching, tightness, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the back of the throat
• Chest—shortness of breath, cough, wheeze, chest pain, tightness
• Heart—weak pulse, passing out, shock
• Gastrointestinal (GI) tract—vomiting, diarrhea, cramps
• Nervous system—dizziness or fainting 

 Chandler then drove himself to the hospital. However, he was later found unconscious in the parking lot. He had suffered cardiac arrest and an asthma attack. He was taken off life support a week later. What a horrible thing for his family to have to experience. My heart hurts for them :(

The National Institutes of Health suggest: 

If you or someone you know is having an anaphylactic episode, health experts advise using an auto-injector, if available, to inject epinephrine (a hormone that increases heart rate, constricts the blood vessels, and opens the airways) into the thigh muscle, and calling 9-1-1 if you are not in a hospital. If you are in a hospital, summon a resuscitation team.

If epinephrine is not given promptly, rapid decline and death could occur within 30 to 60 minutes. Epinephrine acts immediately but does not last long in the body, so it may be necessary to give repeat doses. 

At the first sign of symptoms, give yourself epinephrine and then immediately call an ambulance or have someone else take you to the nearest emergency facility.

Unfortunately, Chandler drove himself to the hospital. Maybe he had used his Epi Pen before and then was treated at the hospital and survived? Maybe he thought it would be okay? Who knows. 

I know I am going to have a reminder talk with my sons. Use the Epi Pen and then call 911. 

My thoughts are with Chandler's family.