Proposed Federal Legislation re: epinephrine in schools

[EBrady]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-durbin-kirk-epi-1115-20111115,0,2712158.story




The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act is sponsored by Durbin (D-IL) and Kirk (R-IL) and supported by groups including the following:
FAAN
Food Allergy Initiative
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
American Academy of Pediatrics.


PLEASE feel free to add your group here if you support, and contact info/ways to help support this.

Edited to pull out non-working link.

[hedgehog]

The first link works, the second does not.  Although this would not directly affect my family, I think it is a good law--one that should either already be in place, or not necessary because states already had more common-sense laws or policies. 

[ajasfolks2]

I've been looking for a link to the actual text of proposed legislation -- if anyone has link, please post so we can see actual language . . .

[EBrady]

Link to Senator Durbin's official website:
http://durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=d8c8cab6-187c-4cc6-b660-d32cfceaaa67



Link to TheAllergistMom's blog on same topic:
http://theallergistmom.com/2011/11/15/making-the-news/



Link to related statement from Illinois Attorney General:
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/children/EpiPens_School_FactSheet82311.pdf

[ajasfolks2]

Some related threads here (will add more as I can -- feel free to beat me to it!):

Epi pens and prices (for schools who may be purchasing)


UNLOCK THE EPIPENS!!

[EBrady]

Actual NAME for the proposed legislation:

School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act

[EBrady]

For comparison and FYI.

Link to the Illinois legislation text:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=84&GA=97&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=3294&GAID=11&LegID=&SpecSess=&Session=


.pdf link to same:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/HB/PDF/09700HB3294lv.pdf

[EBrady]

If you'd like to contact your US Senator to request his/her support of the proposed legislation:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[GingerPye]

Done.  Thanks!

[hezzier]

This got me thinking so I stopped by our nurses office yesterday to see if she has been given any Epis for the general populations (I live in IL)...and oh surprise, she hasn't.

Guess I'll call the district nurses office today.

[ajasfolks2]

Both of you (GPye & hez) -- AWESOME follow up!! 

[hedgehog]

DS carries his own epi now, so this does not directly affect us much.  But I just sent e-mails to both my senators giving the reasons for my support of this bill.

[hezzier]

DS carries his own epi now, so this does not directly affect us much.  But I just sent e-mails to both my senators giving the reasons for my support of this bill.

DS has epis at school also, but our nurse has told me on more than one occasion how parents fill out the forms indicating an allergy and then never drop off the epis.  So without the general in case of emergency epis, legally her hands are tied and she can't do anything but call 911.  Nevermind the parents I have run into (2 that I can think of) that are still under the impression that their kids peanut allergies are "mild".

[EBrady]

Officially introduced!

Senate bill number is S. 1884.

My understanding is that there are submitted letters of endorsement from the following so far:

FAAN
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
National Association of School Nurses

[GingerPye]

 
Thanks for keeping us updated, EB!