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Grafton Street
Pharmacist saves life of 17-year-old girl with epi-pen on Dublin street
The young woman had gone into anaphylactic shock related to a severe nut allergy.
A PHARMACIST HAS saved the life of a young woman who suffers from a severe nut allergy on a busy Dublin street.
Sarah Chambers, who works at Hickey’s Pharmacy on Grafton Street, administered two life-saving adrenaline injections on Tuesday evening to the 17-year-old girl, who had descended into anaphylactic shock believed to be related to the consumption of a chocolate drink she had bought earlier.
After ringing her father to tell him she felt unwell, the young girl was told to get to the nearest pharmacy.
“The patient explained that the last time she had an allergic reaction to nuts was when she was aged four,” Chambers said, adding that the girl had “characteristic symptoms of anaphylactic shock” like swollen lips and a rash. She immediately phoned an ambulance.
I administered two adrenaline pens and stayed with her to monitor her condition until the ambulance arrived.
The epi-pen is designed for such emergencies and provides an immediate dose of adrenaline to the patient.
It has been law that all first responders must have the ability to administer an epi-pen injection since October 2015. Adrenaline, a first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, works by increasing blood pressure, stimulating the heart, and relaxing muscles in the lungs.
The young girl was taken to St James’s Hospital. She was later discharged and her health has returned to normal.
While wishing to remain anonymous, she has expressed her strong appreciation of the prompt action of Chambers and the staff of Hickey’s Pharmacy.
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