Authorizes students to carry epinephrine and an epinephrine auto-injector in school

Effects of present law which this bill would alter

Adds a new section 921 to the Education Law

Summary of specific provisions

The education law is amended by adding a new section 921 which allows students who have been diagnosed by a physician or other authorized health care provider with a severe food or other allergy to carry and use the prescribed medication epinephrine and a device to self-administer epinephrine.

Justification

The following information is taken from the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology position Statement on Anaphylaxis in Schools: Life-threatening severe allergic reactions can cause the condition Anaphylaxis which is a collection of symptoms including breathing difficulties and a drop in blood pressure or shock, which are potentially fatal. Common examples of potentially life-threatening allergies are those to foods and stinging insects. Life-threatening allergic reactions may also occur to medications or latex rubber and in association with exercise. It is estimated that 1% to 2% of the general population is at risk for anaphylaxis from food allergies and insect. stings, with a lower reported prevalence for drugs and latex. Asthmatic subjects are at particular risk. Approximately 50 anaphylactic deaths caused by insect stings and 100 food-related anaphylactic deaths are recognized each year in the U.S.

School personnel should develop a system of identifying children with life-threatening allergies to prevent anaphylactic reactions, and they should also be prepared to deal with those that occur despite precautions. It is imperative that epinephrine be recognized as the drug of choice and that all efforts are directed toward its immediate use. Data clearly shows that fatalities more often occur a way from home and are associated with either not using epinephrine or a delay in the use of epinephrine treatment.

All school personnel should be aware of those students who have been prescribed epinephrine. This information should be readily available and reviewed by all personnel.

Staff members involved with the child's care should be instructed about the potentially severe nature and proper treatment of the allergic problem. This information should be reviewed with the

student's parents before each school year or special activities (e.g., school trips). Any questions and possible treatment strategies should then be discussed with the parent, the child's physician, or both.

If prescribed, every student should have the epinephrine auto-injector device clearly labeled with his or her name and classroom number. School personnel should be instructed about the location of the medication.

Accidental food ingestion can occur despite avoidance measures. Treatment should be immediately available for these emergency situations. Treatment protocols need to be prescribed by a physician. The school staff should have written instructions from the child's physician and signed by the parents, providing easy to follow steps for recognizing a reaction and administering medication. Several federal laws protect the rights of disabled children, which include those with life-threatening food allergies.

Epinephrine injection is available in a number of self-administration delivery devices. There are no contraindications to the use of epinephrine for a life-threatening allergic reaction. Epinephrine should be kept in locations that are easily accessible and not in locked cupboards or drawers. All staff members should know these locations. Children old enough to self-administer epinephrine should carry their own kits.

All students, regardless of whether they are capable of epinephrine self-administration, will still require the help of others because the severity of the reaction may hamper their attempts to inject themselves. Adult supervision is mandatory.

All individuals entrusted with the care of children need to have familiarity with basic first-aid and resuscitative techniques. This should include additional formal training on how to use epinephrine devices. A school-wide food allergy awareness program for the staff, including an allergy emergen~y drill, should be developed to ensure that everyone will know what to do if a reaction occurs.

Legislative history

2004 - A.11093 2005 - A.2166 - Referred to Education 2007/2008 - A.3921- Referred to Education 2009/2010 - A.2471 - Referred to Education

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

No fiscal implication.

Effective date

120 days after if becomes law; however, the Commissioner of Education is authorized immediately to promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this act on such effective date.