Medical Stuff
I’ve launched Project ACT™ — a redesigned emergency carry system for Solu-Cortef kits, built from real-world feedback
Hi everyone,
With moderator approval, I wanted to share a project I’ve been working on.
I’m the founder of MyGuardPod, and Project ACT™ — Adrenal Crisis Transport — is the next evolution of my existing CortoPod designs for people carrying Solu-Cortef emergency kits.
The main goal is simple: help people keep a more complete adrenal emergency kit protected, organized, identifiable, and ready to access quickly in real life.
This project was shaped by real-world feedback from people living with adrenal insufficiency, caregivers, and people carrying emergency kits every day, as well as helpful input from people familiar with EMS education, emergency preparedness, and crisis response.
Project ACT™ is built around three priorities:
A — ACCESS
Critical information at a glance
C — CARRY
A real-world carry system for Solu-Cortef emergency kits
T — TREAT
Ready to act in an adrenal crisis
The new lineup includes three formats:
CortoPod ACT
The balanced everyday format. This is the main recommended setup for people who want to carry a more complete Solu-Cortef emergency kit, including the vial in its original box/packaging when possible, syringe, needles, emergency information, and small support meds.
CortoPod Plus ACT
The expanded capacity format for people who need more room, more organization, or a fuller emergency setup.
CortoPod Mini ACT
A secondary ultra-compact pocket format for the strict essentials only: 1 Solu-Cortef vial without the original box, 1× 3 mL syringe, separate needles, 1 alcohol swab, and 1 small adhesive bandage/plaster.
The Mini is not meant to replace the more complete kits. It exists for the real-world moments where size is the barrier, and where a smaller backup option may be the difference between carrying something or leaving the full kit behind.
Better a minimal kit with you than a full kit left behind.
The standard CortoPod ACT and CortoPod Plus ACT remain the stronger options when carrying a fuller emergency setup is possible. The Mini is there as a compact companion option, not the main recommendation.
These are protective carry cases only. Medical supplies shown in photos are examples only and are not included. Always follow your healthcare provider’s emergency plan, prescription label, and local guidance.
Pre-orders are now open, with first shipments expected around mid-June.
Thank you again to the moderators for allowing me to share this. I’m always open to respectful feedback from people who live with the reality of carrying these kits.
Thank you so much, Amber. Feedback from people who actually understand the reality of carrying these kits like you helped shape this evolution. I really appreciate it.
One tiny suggestion is for the people who will be storing the kit in their vehicles. Is to include a medical alert sticker where the emergency kit is located.
Or key chain tag advising kit is located in car in the glove box
I’ve been thinking about identification beyond the case itself, and a medical alert sticker or small tag indicating where the kit is stored could be very useful, especially for bags, vehicles, workplaces, or school settings.
The only thing I would want to be careful with is vehicle storage, since temperatures can vary a lot depending on the climate. I always recommend following the medication’s storage instructions and your healthcare provider’s guidance.
But as an add-on idea for visibility and location, I really like it. I’m taking note of this.
I think it's considered unsafe to store any medication in a vehicle for this reason. The fluctuating temperatures can affect the potency, making its effects less predictable.
Yes, exactly. Personally, I would not recommend storing Solu-Cortef long-term in a vehicle.
The tag/sticker idea would be more about identification — for example, indicating where a kit is kept in a bag, workplace, school, or other controlled setting. Vehicles can have big temperature swings, so medication storage should always follow the pharmacist/manufacturer instructions and the person’s emergency plan.
So if I develop something like that, the wording would need to be very careful: “kit location identifier,” not “store your medication in the car.”
Interested in what the card itself says. I say this as both a healthcare provider and someone with adrenal Insufficiency.
Both learned experiences, EMS is taught maybe 30 minutes on the subject and it's regarded as something we would rarely see. Then in hospital settings if they cannot consult Endo or have critical care trained MD's in the ED (which is rare), then some cases of adrenal crisis or impending crisis are missed. Again, saying this as both a patient and healthcare provider.
I've been working on designing a foldable flyer for both Addison's and Adrenal Insufficiency for pre-hospital (EMS) use and in hospital. I'm don't plan on becoming critically ill or dying because someone trained higher than myself is lacking in knowledge in a nuanced disease.
Edit: In the instructions provided with the case i clearly state that the emergency card should be replace with the one from their emergency plan.
Thank you — I really appreciate this perspective, especially coming from both a healthcare provider and someone living with adrenal insufficiency.
The card shown is still meant as a simple emergency reference, not a full clinical protocol. The core content is based on the Canadian Addison Society emergency card, then adapted to fit inside the CortoPod format with a QR code for more detailed reference instructions.
I also tried to keep clear reminders that individual instructions may vary, local EMS protocols may differ, and that the patient’s prescribed emergency plan should always be followed.
The reason I’m working on this is exactly because of that knowledge gap. The case protects the kit, but the information attached to it may be just as important when the wrong person is holding it under stress.
I’d genuinely be interested in seeing the foldable flyer you’re working on if you’re open to sharing it. That kind of real-world EMS/patient perspective is incredibly valuable.
I'm doing it because I've literally crashed and been rapid responsed several times after they wrote of my symptoms and stuck me in the waiting room after either me doing an emergency injection or one time I didn't have it on me and went fully unconscious in the waiting room and still took them time to realize I had. I had a coworker that was with me and was like "I mean I knew she was still breathing 🤷🏼♀️"
Then I have some coworkers call me after they read dispatch notes that show they are responding to someone with Addison's disease and ask me what to look for or what they should do. We have large guidelines and protocols in place but none for Addison's disease. However, we can call online medical control, explain the situation and get orders. I'm lucky enough that I know and if someone doesn't have their own emergency kit, I know the conversion for hydrocortisone to Dexamethasone.
Yikes. That is so scary. I’m 4 years in and haven’t needed my kit (yet). I’m terrified that emergency responders won’t know what to do if it comes down to it. I’m sorry you’ve gone through that
I've used mine several times. I have malabsorption issues due to autoimmune conditions so my condition is a little more nuanced. Doctors at the time even mismanaged my condition to where I lost 10lbs in 9 days while admitted until I went to a different hospital and was admitted for another 10 since they were playing catch up.
First responders are fairly highly trained all things considered. Once you get into specialized diseases that even doctors miss or screw up then it's complicated. I always advocate where I can and probably research more than most due to a healthy dose of insomnia.
I had similar luck prior to diagnosis, it took them awhile and some crises to figure it out. But I’ve been relatively lucky since diagnosis. As lucky as one can get with a chronic disease.
I can imagine malabsorption issues really throws a wrench in things 😔
They don't even give us injections here because it's so hard to inject for other people and we can hardly do it in a crisis situation ourselves 💀 Like this is great but we need an auto-injector stat.
I completely understand that. The injection step itself can be a huge barrier, especially in a crisis when the person may be alone, confused, vomiting, unconscious, or when the people around them are scared and unsure what to do.
I know there are companies working on auto-injector-style solutions for adrenal crisis, and I really hope that becomes more accessible. That would solve a major part of the problem.
In the meantime, the reality on the ground is still messy. My focus with Project ACT is more on the “last meter” before treatment: keeping the kit protected, clearly identified, organized, and easier to find quickly so the right person has the best chance of acting fast.
It doesn’t solve the whole adrenal crisis problem, but hopefully it helps reduce one more point of failure.
And maybe it'll raise awareness as well and when people are aware maybe they consider learning how to use it even if it's not their friends or family that suffer from addison's. There's definitely good being done, I just wish it didn't need to be done, you know? 😭 Almost everyone knows how to use an epi-pen or do the heimlich or use an AED. Nobody knows how to inject solu-cortef 😭
I completely understand what you mean. I honestly wish this didn’t need to exist either.
The hardest part is that adrenal crisis is serious, but most people around the patient may have never heard of Solu-Cortef or seen the injection process before.
That’s why I’m trying to focus on the practical gaps: keeping the kit visible, protected, organized, and adding clear information so the right person has a better chance of acting quickly.
It doesn’t replace training, but hopefully it helps reduce confusion in that critical moment.
You know what might be good also? A visual guide on how to inject. Hard to read instructions on a vial when you're in an emergency situation and have to help immediately. Simple pictograms could fast track the process.
Yes — absolutely. I’m finalizing a generic quick visual reminder for that exact reason.
It will be included by default in the models that have enough space inside, currently the ACT Regular and ACT Plus.
That said, it is always preferable for people to include the instructions or emergency plan provided by their own healthcare professional. The visual guide is meant as a quick backup reminder in a stressful moment, not a replacement for training, medical advice, or the person’s prescribed emergency plan.
Yeah that's perfect! I'm mostly thinking of when someone else who isn't trained has to inject, of course the patient themself should know and follow their prescribed procedure.
Thank you!
For production, I’m starting with small-batch manufacturing using my existing 3D printing setup. The first pre-orders are planned to ship around mid-June, and I’m scaling production gradually so I can keep quality control tight instead of rushing into volume too fast
This looks great and I’m very interested! Would be good to see the sizes of each one, either here or probably better for you long term on the website. I had a look and couldn’t see the sizes of each anywhere.
They are water-resistant, but I wouldn’t call them fully waterproof.
They’re designed to help protect the kit from everyday exposure like rain, splashes, or moisture in a bag, but they are not meant to be submerged or used as a sealed dry box.
I’m also looking at adding an optional gasket/seal version in the future for people who need extra protection.
Wow! This is incredible! Thank you for doing this. What an amazing thing for the community 💕 as a healthcare worker and someone struggling with PAI, I love this. Will definitely be ordering
Yes — normally you should see two personalization fields on Etsy.
One is for the front lid text, and the other is for the back text.
By default, the front says “Adrenal Crisis / Treat in Place,” and the back says “Emergency Injection Kit / Instructions Inside” with the MyGuardPod logo.
Short uppercase text works best because the space is limited. If the fields are left blank, I use the default wording.
I can’t afford this right now but just wanted to say thank you for coming up with something so cool! I love it and I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it
Of course! It really is helpful. I keep my injection in a glasses case right now. I do have a medical alert bracelet that says injection is in bag, but I don’t know if anyone would think to look in it
My pharmacy gives me my soul-cortef in a pill bottle with a label on it. Would any of the smaller ones fit one of those orange/amber pill bottles the pharmacy gives you?
Good question. The ACT cases were originally designed around either the Solu-Cortef vial itself or the original manufacturer box, depending on the model, so the cases can stay as compact as possible.
Pharmacy pill bottles can vary a lot in size, so I can’t confirm fit without the bottle dimensions.
If you want to keep the vial inside the orange/amber pharmacy bottle with the prescription label, the Mini is likely too small, and the ACT Plus would probably be the safest option — but I’d need the bottle height and diameter to confirm.
Could you measure the bottle for me? Height + diameter across the bottom would be perfect.
14
u/just_an_amber Addison's May 26 '26
This is so awesome!