Frequently Asked Questions

The PCM inserts work by either absorbing or releasing thermal energy, helping to keep the temperature inside the pack stable as the temperature outside the pack changes.

The HOT inserts should be used in warmer weather, and should be completely solidified before you leave the house. That way they can absorb the thermal energy that enters the pack, instead of having the epinephrine absorb it. As the inserts absorb incoming heat, they will start to melt, and once the inserts are entirely melted, it’s time to “recharge” them. This can be done by bringing them to a temperature under 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28º C), which should be around room temperature.

The COLD inserts work in the opposite way. They should be entirely liquefied before you leave the house. The COLD inserts will release thermal energy as they freeze due to the colder outside temperature. This helps keep your epinephrine warm. Once the inserts are entirely frozen, you can “recharge” them by bringing them to a temperature above 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18º C), which should be around room temperature.

The inserts are completely reusable! Just make sure the HOT inserts are solidified and the COLD inserts are liquefied before you use them.

This can be achieved by bringing the HOT inserts to a temperature below 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28º C), which is around room temperature. As for the COLD inserts, they should be brought to a temperature above 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18º C), which should also be around room temperature.

According to a five-year study supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense, these phase change materials experienced zero thermal degradation while exposed to over 65,000 thermal cycles.

This largely depends on what the outside temperature is. The farther the external temperature is from room temperature, the less time the inserts will last before needing to be “recharged.”

During initial testing, the pack using HOT inserts kept an epinephrine stand-in below the maximum allowed temperature (30ºC/86º F) for approximately two hours in direct sunlight at an external temperature of 36º C (96º F)

The pack using COLD inserts kept an epinephrine stand-in above the minimum allowed temperature (15ºC/59ºF) for approximately two hours in the winter at an external temperature of  10º C (50º F).

The PCM inserts are made from natural sources such as palm oil, palm kernel oil, rapeseed oil, coconut oil and soybean oil.