Young woman whose allergic reaction almost killed her FIRED for leaving work to go to hospital
The outraged sales assistant has shared her story on Facebook... she was sacked after going into anaphylactic shock
A young woman who claims she was fired after having a severe ALLERGIC REACTION at work was only 10 minutes away from death when she finally reached the hospital.
Danielle Duperreault was working at a clothing store in Saskatoon, Canada, when she came into contact with bell peppers – and went into anaphylactic shock.
Another colleague drove Danielle to the hospital because she was unable to drive herself but, shockingly, the pair were then fired BY TEXT by their callous boss.
It reads: “Hi I gave your shifts away this week and unfortunately I won’t be scheduling you any longer.
“Will mail your last paystub to you. Take care, wish you all the best.”
A horrified Danielle posted the screen shot on Facebook along with a rant about her treatment, which has now been shared nearly 17,000 times.
She wrote: “I got fired today, from Urban Planet. And you all would probably think it would be over tardiness or not doing my job and so on and forth.
“But today I came into contact with bell peppers, something I am severely allergic to.
“I called a manager upstairs and one came up asking me what was wrong, at that point my airway was already closing.
“She proceeded to show a tremendous amount of attitude. I did not have an EpiPen on me at the time because mine was expired and I needed to get a prescription for a new one.
“So she told me to go look in my car then proceeded to wander off.
“Meanwhile I'm getting fainty and I'm vomiting, I went out to my car and searched for one but no luck.
“So I go back into the store, gurgling and clutching my throat while customers and a few staff around me were freaking out and that same manager stood calmly at the computer typing away.
“I proceed to the back room where a male staff member basically had to carry me up the stairs and get my stuff for me, because was so lightheaded I could barley stand up, and I couldn't feel my extremities.
“I go to clock out when I hear a colleague of mine yell, ‘should I call an ambulance?’ The manager ignores her.
“I clock out and she calmly says, ‘text me when you get to the hospital’. (I'm clearly not able to drive.)
“Where my friend meets me in the parking lot (another employee on her way into work) I motion her to come over and without hesitation she takes the keys and rushes me to a medical clinic.
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“We didn't even have time to get to the hospital, we had to go to a medical clinic and have epinephrine there where I was then sent by ambulance to RUH.
“My throat had almost completely closed and I nearly passed out due to lack of oxygen. The manager then fires both of us via text message.”
Aside from exposing the horrific treatment by her former employer, Danielle also had a serious message about the availability of live-saving EpiPens.
She added: “I firmly believe that there should always be an EpiPen on hand in every store.
“Who knows if a customer needs one in an emergency, or someone who doesn't know they have allergies and doesn't own an EpiPen.
“And frankly everyone I talked to about this believes that if she seen a customer in peril, she'd jump in to help.
“The doctors said if I would have waited another ten minutes I would be dead.
“So please like and share this post to raise awareness about allergies in the workplace.
“There should be training on how to administer an EpiPen, how to handle a situation like that, and how to deal with the aftermath.”
Danielle told CBC News the company were still paying her, until she found a new job.
Urban Planet’s parent company Y.M. Inc. told BuzzFeed Canada that the CEO has personally apologised to Danielle.
A spokesman said: “We have thoroughly investigated this. Simply put, the actions were unacceptable.”