To help raise awareness around hydrocortisone emergency injection kits, we ask you to #ShareYourKit. At the ADSHG we like to feature members of our amazing community, as they show us how they store and carry their kit, to help encourage us to keep our kits with us at all times and normalise this potentially scary situation.

Here Dan, a response police officer, shares how he manages his Addison's with his job and how he stores his emergency injection kit.

Meet Dan

My name is Dan and I'm 45 years old. I was diagnosed with Addison's when I was 20 and it was a really scary time. It took 18 months to properly diagnose me and it was only thanks to a locum GP that I was finally diagnosed - he saved my life.

Being told you have a disease that requires lifelong medication was terrifying and the support systems back then weren't great so I felt very alone and scared. But after a while, I got used to it and decided to challenge myself. So I took up kickboxing and got my blackbelt, fought in various tournaments and even had a go at a cage fight. I've run a marathon as well as several half marathons and 10K's. Nowadays I stick to hiking which is a bit calmer but I'm hoping to once again get out running in the near future.

I joined the police in 2022 which has been a lifelong ambition. It's been hard as I've struggled with night shifts and the effects it has on my body and mind. I made contact with another police officer through the ADSHG Member's forum who gave me some amazing advice and offered her support which has been really helpful. She has given me hope for my future in the police.

My Kit #ShareYourKit

I carry my injection kit in my kit bag so I know it's always handy if I need it (which so far I haven't). All my team know about my condition and know what to do in case of an emergency. It contains all the usual kit, as well as some salt sachets and extra hydrocortisone. I also take it when I go hiking and on holidays. So basically it's with me most of the time.

Addison's Admin