Access to emergency epinephrine act

[lakeswimr]

Our district has a local physician write standing orders for epis that are purchased.  The nurse gets a twin pack of jrs and regular.  The district has to pay the doctor some fee for this service but I don't think it is that much. 

[Momcat]

I had the same problem here in CA.  We also have a law allowing schools to keep undesignated epis.  But our school district didn't have anyone to prescribe them, any money to pay for them, or any school nurses to diagnose anaphylaxis and administer epi.

[Momcat]

Cross-posting from peanut allergy fatality thread:

Having read the proposed law, I don't think it will change anything except to underscore the inequities in our educational system.  Schools have to compete for grants for lifesaving medications!?  Guess which schools will receive the money: that's right--the ones who need it least.   Should we offer grants for schools to install fire extinguishers?

This is more political posturing to make the public feel like something is being done about the problem.  Now we can all pat ourselves on the back that kids will have access to epinephrine and if they didn't... well, it's the school's fault for not applying for a grant.  Right?

[Momcat]

Has anybody seen benefits from the Food Allergy Management Act?  You know, the one that encourages schools to voluntarily adopt good food allergy management policies?

[CMdeux]

Oh, you mean, have any schools voluntarily begun hiring nurses and keeping epinephrine injectors unlocked?  Keeping party foods out of classrooms?

That kind of thing?

Not so you'd notice, at least locally.  Y'all are shocked, I can tell.   

[rainbow]

The thing about the grants is a cop-out.  ANY school can find $100-200 for Epipens.  In our state, lower income schools actually get WAY more funding (double that of high SES districts). 

The law will make a difference.  But there is a moral obligation too, and schools must be prepared given the high incidence of life threatening food/insect allergies and quick nature of life threatening reactions requiring immediate access to epinephrine.

[hezzier]

ANY school can find $100-200 for Epipens. 

Only if they want to and someone is pushing for it, whether it's a parent or the school nurse, etc.

[aouda]

Having read the proposed law, I don't think it will change anything except to underscore the inequities in our educational system.  Schools have to compete for grants for lifesaving medications!? 

Not exactly.  It's more the case that the fed gov't will reward states whose schools do comply.  (These states would be granted preference for asthma-related grants administered by the Department of Health and Human Services).  FAAN didn't link to the full text of the bill, so here it is:  http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s112-1884/  The bill goes into great detail over self-administration.  But it cannot trump state law.  Some states may already forbid self-carry of meds.  Those states can either change their own law on self-carry/self-administration, or by virtue of their state law -- necessarily exclude their schools from preferential treatment from HHS (thus removing any incentive for schools within the state to comply with S. 1884: School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act).

[rainbow]

ANY school can find $100-200 for Epipens. 

Only if they want to and someone is pushing for it, whether it's a parent or the school nurse, etc.

Well, they will want to a bit more given the potential liability issue once the act is passed.  However, if not pushed, they may just wait, using a low-priority 'it won't happen here' attitude...but then they are much more likely to get sued if there is a death in their district.