Waltham Student Injects Himself With Epipen During Health Class

WALTHAM, MA — An 11-year-old at McDevitt Middle School in Waltham injected himself with a real EpiPen in health class, during a training that was supposed to only have dummy EpiPens, WCVB first reported.

He was rushed to Newton-Wellesley Hospital where his mom met him after the nurse called her.

"Somehow he, when he reached into the batch, got a hold of a real, live EpiPen, and used it -- like everyone else — and stuck it into his thigh," she told WCVB.

The boy is OK now, but the incident has parents asking how this could happen.
The school sent home a letter to parents saying in part, "We are investigating this specific incident and are reviewing our school-wide safety procedures to ensure that this type of incident does not take place again."

Read the entire email here:

Dear McDevitt Families,
I am writing with an update on a health situation that took place here at school today. During a lesson in health class about allergies, emergencies and the immune system, students were learning about EpiPens. As part of this lesson, students use an EpiPen Trainer. Unfortunately a real EpiPen was accessed by a student during the lesson, and the student was injected with epinephrine.
The student was seen by the doctor and is at home resting and should fully recover soon. We are investigating this specific incident and reviewing our school-wide safety procedures to ensure that this type of incident does not take place again.
I want to emphasize and reassure all families that the safety of your children is my number one priority at all times. Please contact me in the main office if you have any questions.
With appreciation,
Principal Sabin

PrincipalJohn W. McDevitt Middle School

See the WCVB story about it here.

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/ Patch