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 Senate members voted 56-0 today to send House Bill 5892 to the
governor to increase access to emergency epinephrine under the
Illinois Emergency Epinephrine Act, which was originally drafted by
Madigan’s office. Implemented in 2011, the current law allows school
nurses to administer emergency epinephrine auto-injectors to
students without known allergies who appear to be in anaphylactic
shock. The Act also allows schools to keep emergency epinephrine
auto-injectors for students who are authorized to self-administer
the dosage during a reaction, and it allows for any school personnel
to administer the auto-injector for students who have a medical plan
in place.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andy Manar, would expand the law by
allowing any trained school employee or volunteer to administer an
epinephrine auto-injector for any person with an unknown allergy
believed to be in anaphylactic shock. This change would greatly
increase access to emergency epinephrine in the many Illinois
schools without school nurses on staff. The expansion is critical
because studies show 25 percent of first-time allergic reactions
among children occur at school.
“Increasing access to emergency epinephrine in schools is a simple
yet critical safety measure we need to take to address the growing
number of children living with potentially life-threatening food
allergies,” Madigan said.
Currently, 37 states allow trained personnel, in addition to school
nurses, to administer an emergency epinephrine auto-injector for a
student with an unknown allergy. In Virginia, which is among those
37 states, 448 emergency epinephrine auto-injectors were
administered during the 2012-2013 school year. Of those incidents,
75 percent involved individuals who had no previously known allergy.
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“More and more children are being diagnosed with food
allergies, with peanuts, eggs, milk, soy, and wheat as the most
common culprits,” said Sen. Manar. “Ensuring timely access to
this life-saving medication can mean the difference between life
and death for a child.”
The bill would extend liability protection to advanced practice
nurses and physician assistants who provide standing protocols
and prescriptions for emergency epinephrine, further enabling
schools to obtain prescriptions to keep auto-injectors on hand
in the event a person suffers an allergic reaction. The bill
also requires schools to report every administration of
emergency epinephrine to the Illinois State Board of Education
to allow educators and medical professionals to better plan for
emergencies.
Rep. Michelle Mussman sponsored the bill in the House.
“I am very proud to be working with the Attorney General’s
office and all concerned parties to clarify and improve the
Emergency Epinephrine Act. Food allergies are on the rise and it
is vital that children and adults in our school buildings have
timely access to this life-saving medication,” said Rep. Mussman.
[Text received; THE OFFICE OF
ATTORNEY GENERAL LISA MADIGAN]
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