Real family stories
Share your epinephrine story
Have you struggled to obtain enough EpiPens, experienced a severe reaction, or needed more than one dose? Your story helps advocate for change.
Epinephrine Access Initiative
Every child deserves immediate access to life-saving medication.
No child should suffer or die because epinephrine was unavailable, inaccessible, expired, or denied by insurance.
Why this matters
The reality families face
Anaphylaxis is fast, unpredictable, and often requires more than a single dose of epinephrine. Access cannot be a question of cost or coverage.
- Food allergies affect millions of children nationwide.
- One dose of epinephrine is not always enough — biphasic anaphylaxis can require additional doses.
- Families are forced to choose where to keep limited devices: home, school, daycare, sports, travel.
- No child should be left unprotected because insurance limits access to life-saving medication.
Real incidents
Why more than two EpiPens matter
Anaphylaxis doesn't follow a schedule and one device is rarely enough. These are the situations families navigate every day.
Biphasic anaphylaxis
Up to 1 in 5 anaphylactic reactions return hours later — requiring a second or third dose of epinephrine before EMS arrives.
Device stored at school
Reactions happen at recess, on the bus, at a birthday party. A pen locked in the nurse's office can't help in those minutes.
Expired devices, delayed refills
Insurance limits often delay replacement for months, leaving families relying on expired epinephrine in an emergency.
Multiple caregivers
Grandparents, coaches, sitters, and parents all need access. One two-pack can't cover every environment a child lives in.
Stories are shared for awareness and educational purposes and do not constitute medical advice. Always follow your physician's emergency action plan.
Live Sentinel Network
Momentum behind the initiative
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Families Supporting Reform
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Stories Submitted
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Petition Signatures
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Organizations Supporting
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States Represented
Totals include verified baseline reach plus live activity submitted through Sentinel Biosystems.
Sentinel Policy Recommendations
A national framework for epinephrine access
Three pillars that protect every child at risk of anaphylaxis — at home, in school, and everywhere in between.
Pillar 1
Insurance Coverage Reform
Legislation requiring insurance providers, Medicaid, Medi-Cal, CHIP, and employer-sponsored plans to:
- Cover all medically necessary epinephrine prescribed by a physician.
- Cover devices for home, school, daycare, transportation, and extracurricular activities.
- Replace used devices without delay.
- Replace expired devices when medically necessary.
- Eliminate unnecessary prior authorization requirements.
- Prohibit quantity limits that conflict with physician recommendations.
Pillar 2
School Safety Requirements
All schools, childcare facilities, camps, and youth programs must:
- Maintain stock epinephrine on-site.
- Stock both pediatric and adult doses.
- Train all staff annually — including substitutes.
- Conduct emergency response drills.
- Maintain current emergency allergy action plans.
Pillar 3
QR Emergency Safety Plans
Sentinel QR Safety Profiles integrate critical emergency info:
- Allergies & medical conditions
- IEP & 504 information
- Emergency Action Plans
- EpiPen dosage instructions
- Medication locations
- Parent & physician contacts
- Step-by-step emergency response
Display locations
ClassroomNurse officeCafeteriaField tripsTransportationAfter-school programs
Explore QR Safety SystemLegislative framework
Proposed national standards
A baseline of protections we are bringing to lawmakers, school boards, and pediatric advocacy partners.
- Minimum access to physician-prescribed epinephrine.
- School stock epinephrine requirements.
- Annual allergy emergency training for all staff.
- QR-based emergency action plans for every student at risk.
- Insurance coverage protections without quantity limits.
- Protection for childcare, camps, and after-school programs.
Coalition
Organizations we hope to collaborate with
Building shared standards with the leading voices in food allergy and anaphylaxis advocacy.
FARE
Food Allergy Research & Education
InvitedFAACT
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team
InvitedKids With Food Allergies
A division of the Allergy & Asthma Network
In DiscussionFANA
Food Allergy Network of Advocates
Future PartnerStatus labels reflect Sentinel's outreach roadmap. Not affiliated unless explicitly noted.
Coverage calculator
How many EpiPens does your child need?
Select every environment where your child spends meaningful time. Most insurance plans only cover one two-pack — see your real coverage gap.
Build your plan
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Recommended locations
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Insurance covers
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Coverage gap
Educational estimate based on common insurance limits — not medical advice. Follow your physician's emergency action plan.
Help change thisJoin the Sentinel Family Registry
Help us demonstrate the real need for food allergy protections, school safety improvements, epinephrine access, and QR emergency plans.
National momentum
School district & state support map
Families represented, districts engaging, petition signatures, and pilot schools — visualized state by state.
Participation:NoneLowMidHigh
Advocacy petition
Sign the petition
Require insurance to cover medically necessary epinephrine for children at risk of anaphylaxis — and require schools and childcare programs to maintain stock devices and annual training.
One EpiPen can save a life. Access to enough EpiPens can save it twice.
Join the movement to ensure every child has access to life-saving medication wherever they learn, play, travel, and grow.