Police And EMT's Save Life Of Person With Anaphlaxis In Caldwells

WEST CALDWELL, NJ — People may go into anaphylactic shock — causing their blood pressure to drop and their airways to narrow, restricting breathing — whey encounter an allergen.

Children have died from peanut and other allergies, including a boy with a fish allergy who died in Brooklyn in 2019 merely because someone nearby was cooking fish.

Those with allergies are encouraged to carry an epinephrine pen so they can inject the life-saving substance, but not everyone is aware of their allergies or remembers to carry the pen.

Fortunately for a person in West Caldwell last month, local police and EMT's who work with them had an Epi pen and knew what to do.

The West Caldwell police reported at the end of last month:

"On Aug. 22, 2022, Cpl. Huster, an EMT with the WCPD Emergency Services Unit, responded along with Ptl. Berardino to a local medical facility on a report of a patient experiencing life threatening anaphylaxis symptoms.

"The patient was administered a dose of epinephrine by Cpl. Huster and was later transported to a local hospital by the West Essex First Aid Squad.

"Members of the West Caldwell Police Department, Emergency Services Unit, are trained in the use of and carry life-saving epinephrine ('Epi Pen') while carrying out their police duties."

The police did not specify what caused the shock.

Epi pens can often be purchased at a discount if prescribed.

Read other recent crime/safety stories in the Caldwells here on Patch.