School Safety Success: A Recent Washington Bill Helps Students with Severe Food Allergies
Did you know that 33 million Americans live with life-threatening food allergies? Though most of us think of allergies as food our friends and family can’t eat, there’s more going on underneath the surface. An allergy is where the immune system has an abnormal reaction to what’s being consumed, causing digestion, skin, or breathing problems. A few of the most common food allergies include cow’s milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and sesame. Other things can cause severe allergic reactions, such as bee stings, latex, and medications.
1 in 13 children have a life-threatening food allergy, and the number is only increasing. With children spending most of their time at school — nine months a year, five days a week, and several hours a day — legislators are taking action to ensure that students can safely enjoy their time there, without fear of an allergic reaction. In a typical classroom of 25 students, at least one student is likely to be affected by food allergies, and 1 out of 5 students will have an allergic reaction while at school.
When someone encounters a life-threatening allergy, they go into anaphylactic shock, also called anaphylaxis, which causes blood pressure to drop and narrows airways. If not treated, the person will go into cardiac arrest. Anaphylaxis is treated with epinephrine in the form of an autoinjector, commonly recognized as the EPI Pen brand, followed by additional treatment and supervision from a medical professional.
Even though epinephrine injectors save lives, they’re expensive. The cost ranges from $100 for a generic brand to $800 for name brands, depending on insurance. Some insurance companies may only cover specific autoinjectors. Regardless, many families cannot afford to buy their children an epinephrine injector.
For children with severe allergies in Washington State, there’s good news. Schools are now able to supply, order, and store epinephrine autoinjectors in their nurses’ offices for emergency circumstances during the school year thanks to Bill ESHB 1608. The bill went into effect June 6th, 2024, and was uncontested by the House and Senate. Key parts of the bill are the following:
· “A qualified and licensed health professional may prescribe epinephrine autoinjectors in the name of the school or school district for use when necessary.”
· “School districts and private schools may maintain a supply of autoinjectors based on the number of students enrolled in each school.
· The district can receive autoinjector donations. However, they must be accompanied by a prescription.
· Autoinjectors may be used on school property, and during field trips or sanctioned excursions away from the school.
Karli Kooi, BSN, RN, lobbied for Bill ESHB 1608 in February as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student with the Washington Student Nurses Association. She shared her experience lobbying and speaking to state legislators about the bill, realizing how epinephrine injectors affected students’ attendance.
“A Washington school nurse shared how different policies requiring students with severe allergies and anaphylaxis to have EPI Pens would prevent them front attending school. Students and their families couldn’t afford the medication’s cost, so they weren’t allowed to go to school until they got the [injector], or another solution was found. It was very impactful and helped all of the lobbying to recognize how providing schools with the ability to order and stock EPI Pens is essential for kids to receive an education.”
With school back in session this fall, nurse’s offices are stocking up on epinephrine autoinjectors for students with life-threatening allergies. If your child has severe allergies or if you’re a student in a K-12 school, your district can help you prepare for anaphylaxis emergencies. Call your school or school district to bring awareness of this bill and help them start the process of getting autoinjectors into the office. For more information on food allergies and for resources, visit foodallergy.org/living-food-allergies.