Here in the US we can get a doctor, in my case also a beekeeper, to train us
to use ephedrine syringe and an ampoule. We receive a certification good for
4 years. The training consists  symptom differentiation between a local vs a
systemic reactions which is the deadly one, use of the ampoule and needle
etc. The session lasted 1.5 hours
We have had epipen delivery failures, so we opted for the syringe method.
Reactions can be caused by other allergies besides bees. Reactions can lie
dormant for years from many other factors, such as spiders, foods, medicines
and almost anything one can think of.
A member of our beekeeping group recently had a reaction and used an epipen
which saved her life as she was in a remote location and alone. This gave
all a dramatic wake up call.
This same doctor has trained our local first responders last year and they
have used it 15 times already. Not all were  insect stings.
If a systemic reaction occurs you have around than 20 minutes to get
treatment before you start to die from shock.
Many times there is a 'bounce back" 20 minutes after the initial reaction so
it behooves us to have two doses. This can be costly with epipens.
The ampoule containing 0.3mg of epinephene and a syringe cost me $5.60.
There is enough for three shots.
 I actually bought 3 kits, one for my beekeeping equipment, one at home and
one for my truck and keep each in an old eyeglass case.

One wonders when we read of an old beekeeper "having a heart attack" while
working his bees if it might have been shock?

Dan Veilleux
The Boone area
In the Mountains of NC

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