A severe allergic reaction can come on quickly and become life-threatening.

Giving your child an epinephrine shot can slow down or even stop an allergic reaction.

That's why it's important to have an epinephrine shot with you all the time and know how to use it.

It could save your child's life.

First, be sure you know which end of the injector is the tip and which end is the top.

Grasp the injector in your fist with the tip pointing down, and don't touch the tip.

Then pull the cap off the top with your other hand.

Giving the injection into bare skin is best, but you can jab through clothing if you need to.

Hold the tip of the injector close to your child's thigh.

Then jab the tip firmly into your child's thigh.

It's important that the injector go straight into the skin at a 90-degree angle to the thigh.

Keep the injector in the thigh for 10 seconds and then the injection is complete.

Don't try to use the injector again.

Remove the injector, and place your hand on the area where the medicine entered the skin.

Rub the area for about 10 seconds.

Finally, put the used injector, needle-end first, into its storage tube.

Put the cap back on the tube.

Don't try to bend the needle.

Call 911, and keep the used injector with you.