Frequently asked questions
The question almost everyone asks first is how to get the epinephrine itself, so that one is at the top.
How do I get epinephrine for my school or business?
Two documents. First, a prescription written in your organization's name rather than a named person's. Second, a standing order: a written instruction from a prescriber saying when trained staff may administer it, at what dose, and what to do afterward.
Ten states hand a school that second document: Arizona, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Utah, Virginia, Washington. A school there registers with the health department instead of finding a physician. Only two do the same for camps, gyms, restaurants and workplaces: Utah and Wisconsin. Wyoming school districts need no prescription at all. Check your state →
Everywhere else, any physician, and usually a nurse practitioner or PA, can sign one. The ACAAI publishes a free toolkit with a ready-made standing order and prescription template built for exactly this. Bring it to the appointment already filled in.
Then buy the devices through your usual pharmacy or supplier, or apply to a free program if you're a K-12 school. Full detail on Getting Epinephrine & State Laws.
Does the cabinet come with epinephrine?
No. ARK is a storage cabinet only. We don't sell, supply, or prescribe medication. Most organizations buy standard auto-injectors through their usual supplier; K-12 schools may qualify for a free program. See the question above.
What devices fit?
EpiPen and EpiPen Jr, Auvi-Q, neffy nasal spray, and most authorized generic auto-injectors.
Is my organization allowed to stock undesignated epinephrine?
In most states, yes, but the rules differ, and some states permit only auto-injectors rather than nasal spray. Check your state and confirm with your state health department.
How much does it cost?
Volume pricing applies for multiple locations. Request a quote.
Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. We accept POs from schools, districts, municipalities, and agencies, and terms are available for schools, districts and agencies. Our W-9 is available on request or with any quote.
Can we use grant or settlement funding?
Often, yes. Many organizations purchase through school health budgets, safety grants, or state programs. Tell us your funding source in your quote request and we'll format the quote to match what your funder needs.
Where should we mount it?
Somewhere visible and high-traffic: main office, hallway, cafeteria, gym, entryway. Many customers mount beside an AED. Mount so the cabinet protrudes no more than 4 inches into the corridor, or with its bottom edge no higher than 27 inches above the floor. This is the ADA rule for protruding objects; your installer will recognize it.
How many do we need?
Depends on buildings and floors. Most organizations put one at each main entrance plus one on each additional floor. Tell us your layout in a quote request and we'll suggest a configuration.
What's the warranty?
Three years.
How long does shipping take?
Contact us for the current lead time. Cabinets ship from Waterford, Michigan.
Where should epinephrine be stored in a school?
Where a stranger to the building would look for help: the main office, the cafeteria, the gym, or beside the AED. Visible, labeled, at adult reach, and unlocked. See Where it goes on the schools page for the order we recommend.
Does stock epinephrine need to be locked up?
No, and it shouldn't be. Epinephrine is not a controlled substance, and a locked cabinet defeats the purpose of a stock supply — the person reaching for it may not have the key. Every state that addresses storage requires it to be accessible in an emergency. ARK is tamper-evident, not locked.