Mylan and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts form strategic alliance to increase awareness of anaphylaxis and bring EpiPen auto-injectors to Disney parks

Nov 07, 2014 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Friday November 7, 2014 10:05am EST by WDWMAGIC Staff

Mylan Inc. today announced it has signed a multi-year strategic alliance agreement with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to help increase awareness of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening (severe) allergic reaction.

As part of the agreement, EpiPen® (epinephrine) and EpiPen Jr® (epinephrine) Auto-Injectors will be deployed across the Disney parks and cruise line ships from late 2014. In addition to emergency medical services (EMS), nurses trained to administer EpiPen Auto-Injectors are available during First Aid station operating hours to assist guests experiencing a severe allergic reaction. To help guests identify EpiPen locations, Disney's guide maps will now include an EpiPen Auto-Injector symbol and new signage at First Aid stations.

"Mylan's mission is to provide the world's 7 billion people access to high quality medicine and set new standards in health care. In support of this mission, we are committed to enhancing access to EpiPen Auto-Injectors and to increasing awareness of anaphylaxis. Like life, severe allergic reactions are unpredictable, so people need to be prepared," said Mylan CEO Heather Bresch. "We are very proud to be working with Disney, which already has a strong reputation for meeting the needs of people managing severe allergies, and believe we can further raise awareness of anaphylaxis through this collaboration and our joint commitment to education."

"For our guests who live with severe allergies every day, identifying EpiPen locations is an additional tool they'll have for their anaphylaxis management plan," said Dr. Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "This new strategic alliance will help raise awareness of EpiPen locations so that our Guests with severe allergies may have the best possible experience at our parks and on our cruise ships."

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4disneyloversNov 10, 2014

Thank you for your support jakeman :). I wanted to be delicate in what I said so I appreciate you backing me up.

jakemanNov 10, 2014

I understand where you are coming from, but I think the intent is in case of unknown allergies becoming severe (which can occur). Having an Epipen for those cases can quite literally save a life. Because folks are coming from all over the world and being exposed to new allergens daily at WDW. If someone has a severe allergic reaction in America in the World Showcase, for example, they very well could be dead by the time they make it up to first aid. You keep saying metformin but I don't think you know what that means. The word you are looking for is insulin. Someone experiencing anaphylatic shock will, in most cases, experience relief of their life threatening symptoms within literal seconds of administration. Metformin is a daily drug for the management of type 2 diabetes. If you would like to get into the additional pharmacological reason why metformin is a bad example, I'm happy to discuss that as well.

4disneyloversNov 10, 2014

I found out when I googled it that Metformin is used to treat diabetes related issues. I see your point. Maybe in the future you will see some things to treat high and low blood sugar in these locations as well. But certainly we can be happy about things they are trying to help with as opposed to being upset that they haven't covered everything.

Nubs70Nov 10, 2014

Then I want WDW to deliver me a 1000mg tab of Metformin when I arrive at my Ohana reservation.

wdwjmp239Nov 10, 2014

Better to be safe than sorry.

zero creativityNov 09, 2014

We carry epipens for our son and will continue to do so even with them in the park. But in case it jams, gets lost or overheats it is good to know there will be others. On a side note at the high school I teach at, epipens are in public access areas along with defibrillators so anyone can use them if needed. Maybe that is how they will be set up at wdw

unkadugNov 09, 2014

I've heard that Disney has a rule that nobody dies on property. They must be taken off property before they can be declared dead. Of course there have been exceptions to this rule.

Nubs70Nov 08, 2014

Not assuming, just discussing as the means/method/ chain of custody is a tad undefined. This discussion in enlightening as I know what the ramifications of using Epi Pens without need. However, you taught me that certain incidents can require more than a single injection.

Mouse_TrapNov 08, 2014

Not being funny but this reads more like a marketing scheme by the manufacturer. Trying to convince people with the slightest allergy that they need to carry such devices. Expect their logo being plastered all over the park maps and signage etc. I'm sure they are a great invention, and a live saver for some people. I'm not against them being held in the park - but wouldn't you just keep them at first aid locations? One question I would like to know though, how many people have died (or hospitalised even) on Disney property from anaphylaxis?

4disneyloversNov 08, 2014

I totally understand what you are saying. Personally I think anyone that should carry an epipen and chooses not to would be redicilous considering the fact that the time it could take for you to get one could still be too late when you could have your own immediately. I would hope anyone needing access to an epipen would be smarter than to rely on someone else to have one for them. I also agree that these would have to be held by CM. They can't be out for the taking. Disney wouldn't take that chance.

StarWarsGirlNov 08, 2014

You assume that these locations are self serve locations. On the contrary, they would probably be accessed by asking a CM at a location for it. For instance, if you were at a QS restaurant and needed an epi pen, it would probably be from a CM who keeps them out of guest reach, such as behind the counter, but who could get an epi pen to you much quicker than an EMT. I also don't think these would be self administering locations because there are too many people who would just walk off with them. If you go up to a CM and ask for one, they can verify that someone is in an anaphylactic reaction and needs the epi pen. Also, I really don't need an EMT to administer an epi pen. If I'm unable to do it myself, everyone who travels with me can administer the epi pen, as is the case with the majority of people who carry epi pens. Also, unlike an AED, epi pens are easy to use. A quick swing into the thigh, hold for three seconds, release. If I needed a second dose, EMTs could be minutes away. Time is of the esense during an anaphylactic reaction. By the time an EMT gets there, it could be too late. I'm sure for first time reactions, they call first aid, or if no one else in the group knows how to administer it, they will call an EMT. But this is more for those of us who have previously needed epi pens and for whatever reason need more than one or have forgotten to carry it.

StarWarsGirlNov 08, 2014

My guess would be that these locations would be at restaurants, gift shops, and attractions that are already staffed by CMs. Restaurants are an especially good place for the locations. If you've gone into an anaphylactic reaction, you need to inform a CM anyway. There's a good chance that they need to call 911. When you've gone into anaphylaxis, you need to get seen by a doctor, and in places like MK, there's no viable way for you to get to a hospital (or possibly urgent care) quickly unless you contact a CM. They can get you out and to a hospital pretty quickly. There's also no reason that Disney would need to hire any new staff. They can put these epi pen locations where CMs already are and train those existing CMs. For instance, if someone goes into an anaphylactic reaction in a gift shop that is a location, the CMs could be behind the counter with epi pens. Then, all I would have to do is ask for it, or someone in my group could ask for it.

Nubs70Nov 08, 2014

Would you feel better if access to WDW sponsored pens was through a trained WDW EMT or from a free to access location similar to AED access?

StarWarsGirlNov 08, 2014

We do. But there are a variety of reasons why this is also good. First of all, none of us is perfect. We forget our epi pens. For instance, I carry one in my purse, but sometimes I forget to get it out of my purse when going down to the pool. This gives us added piece of mind. Second, sometimes multiple epi pen injections are needed. Since I've only ever needed one shot of epinephrine when I've gone into anaphylaxis, I only carry one epi pen. But suppose someone like me needs two or more shots because of continuous exposure? That's where the locations would come in handy.