Smith Hails Federal Passage of Bill to Protect Children with Life-Threatening Allergies

The following is a press release from the office of State Sen. Matt Smith: 

State Sen. Matt Smith (D-Allegheny/Washington) hailed bipartisan federal passage of the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, which President Obama signed today.

“States have been making strides in recent years to protect the growing number of children with severe food allergies, but I’m thankful to Congress and the president in recognizing the need for action at the federal level to keep kids safe,” Smith said. “Passage of the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act will incentivize states, like Pennsylvania, to act now and put proactive policies in place.”

The federal legislation gives funding preference to states with plans in place to improve access to emergency epinephrine medication. Specifically, plans should permit trained personnel to administer epinephrine medication to any student reasonably believed to be having an allergic reaction, require schools have one or more trained personnel during operating hours, and instruct schools to maintain a stock of epinephrine medication for such emergencies.

Such plans would be in place should Smith’s legislation, Senate Bill 898, become law. Smith’s measure would require schools to maintain a stock supply of epinephrine medication and requires designated personnel to be trained through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The bill is currently under consideration in the state Senate Education Committee.

“Stock supplies of epinephrine medication will not only help protect the millions of children with food allergies, it will provide peace of mind to their parents,” Smith said. “Pennsylvania should get on board and follow the recommendations of parents, educators and advocacy groups across the nation by requiring schools to stock epinephrine medication.”

“Seconds are crucial when a child experiences anaphylaxis,” Smith said. “Moreover, a quarter of young people experience their first allergic reaction at school and may not have access to prescribed medication without S.B. 898 in place.”

Currently, Pennsylvania schools are permitted to stock the epinephrine auto-injectors, but not required to do so. Consequently, policies and levels of protection for students vary from school district to district. Federal grant money and programs offered by drug companies to provide free or reduced priced medication are designed to remove some of the financial obstacles facing school districts.

Smith added, “We’ve seen what can happen when medication is not available to a student experiencing anaphylaxis. These tragic deaths are preventable - and frankly unacceptable – when the solution is simply having medication and trained personnel on hand. The cost of not protecting our children at school is simply too great.”

Smith’s legislation is supported by the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.