Tuesday morning, July 26, the Reno Fire Department say they donated $7,500 worth of EpiPens to the Community Health Alliance so the medication can get used before it expires. EpiPens are used to treat serious allergic reactions to medication, food, insect stings and more.
"I am honored to be in a position to be able to donate this lifesaving medication to the Community Health Alliance," Reno Fire Chief Dave Cochran says. "They provide high-quality health care to northern Nevadans, regardless of their ability to pay."
The 25 donated EpiPens are valued at around $300 each, a price that is often too steep for uninsured and underinsured members of the community.
"We are grateful for the donation of 25 EpiPens from the Reno Fire Department," said Charles Duarte, CEO of the Community Health Alliance. "They will go a long way to help some of our families without insurance who have loved ones with serious allergies, and will help them feel safe and protected."
Reno Vice Mayor Oscar Delgado adds, "We appreciate the work that the Community Health Alliance does here in Reno by providing medical care for those who might not otherwise get it. This is just one way we're able to help support their mission."
The Reno Fire Department says they switched to using epinephrine kits about two months ago to save money. The kits consist of a syringe and a vial of epinephrine, the same lifesaving drug in the EpiPen, but cost about $15 each, versus EpiPens, which cost about $300 each.
"The benefit of the epinephrine kits goes beyond saving taxpayers thousands of dollars each year," Cochran says. "The kits have proven effective for allergic reactions and take minimal additional time to administer."
(Reno Fire Department contributed to this story)
