Blog: Legislative Alert: Arm Schools With Tool to Combat Anaphylactic Shock

Posted by: Anthony Green at Feb 09, 2012 12:00 AM CST

Keywords: Advocacy, Education

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Epi-pens can save lives. Consider the case of seven-year-old Ammaria Johnson, who died after a severe allergic reaction at her Virginia elementary school, from a peanut given to her by another child at recess. My friend Margaret Carlson wrote about the case in Bloomberg, “You don’t need to find a cure for a complex disease like cancer. You don’t need to revolutionize an industry... All you need is empathy, common sense and a hundred bucks [the rough cost of an Epi-pen].”

Can you and I do something to avoid future tragedies like Ammaria’s? Yes. Urge your state Senators and Member of Congress to sponsor the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, HR 3627 which was introduced in the House by David Roe (R-TN), a physician, and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD). The bill was introduced in the Senate by Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) as S. 1884.

This legislation encourages states to permit school nurses and other authorized personnel to administer epinephrine to any student believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction, and to maintain a supply of epinephrine that is prescribed by a licensed physician, and is stored in a secure and easily accessible location. It provides a safe harbor from liability related to the administration of epinephrine to students believed, in good faith, to be having an anaphylactic reaction.

Here’s a sample letter you can use when you write to your federal legislators. Please put it in your own words and discuss your own experiences if you have had any. The list of names at the end of the sample letter is for your legislators' information, so they know who to call. Please do not contact these folks. If you have any questions, you're welcome to contact me: agreen@safekids.org; 202.615.4300; agreen163@me.com; twitter with me @toneindc .

Dear Congressman XXX or Senator XXX:

I urge you to cosponsor the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (HR 3627 in the House, S 1884 in the Senate). Anaphylactic reaction is a significant problem for our young people. The statistics tell the story. More than 15% of school-aged children with food allergies have had a reaction in school. It is estimated that 25% of cases of anaphylaxis in schools involve individuals with a previously unknown allergy. Delays in the administration of epinephrine to patients in anaphylaxis can result in rapid decline and death in 30-60 minutes.

There is an easy correction for this growing problem when anaphylaxis occurs in schools: the availability of Epinephrine. It’s easy to administer, inexpensive and proven to be safe with training. This legislation encourages states to permit school nurses and other authorized personnel to administer epinephrine to any student believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction, and to maintain a supply of epinephrine that is prescribed by a licensed physician, and is stored in a secure and easily accessible location. Again, I urge you to cosponsor this common sense solution to this growing problem.

The people for your staff to contact to become a sponsor are as follows:

Richard Durbin: Binta Beard, 202.224.2152
Mark Kirk: Shauna McCarthy, 202.224.2854
David Roe: John Martin, 202.225.6356
Steny Hoyer: Amy Shultz, 202.225.4131

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Comment on this Blog Post:

Posted by Tonya Davis at: February 10, 2012

Alot More Action could be taken in the Schools to keep these kids safe, More and more is being takin away than Givin to our Schools! I agree with this post 100%.