Today’s big announcement: The Airline Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (S.1972) was introduced today by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)! Why does this matter to us?
The purpose of this federal legislation, per coalition leader Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE)’s press release, is to “direct the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to generate a national report examining airline policies for accommodating passengers with food allergies, and would require airlines to carry epinephrine auto-injectors for use in allergic emergencies”. Think of this as stock epinephrine for the big blue skies. The bill would also requiring training of flight crews and instruct the Federal Aviation Administration to clarify that the current epinephrine ampoules maintained in emergency kits are intended for anaphylactic reactions.
Today’sAirline Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (S.1972) announcement was thrilling for two grand reasons:
1. Work towards Safety. This is a very large stride forward in the good work to create access to normal life activities for those with life threatening food allergies.
2. Coalitions Work. I am in awe of how FARE, Allergy and Asthma Network (ANN), the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA), and my beloved pal and petite force of nature, Lianne Mandelbaum, founder of the No Nut Traveler. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Association of Flight Attendants have endorsed this legislation as well.
I urge everyone to take a few moments to read FARE’s Press Release and sign up for FARE’s Advocates Network. I’m also confident that the coalition partners will also provide opportunities for you to reach out to voice your support to Congress. This is effect our future and the generations that will follow. Our children need to be able to fly safety to and from college, for job interviews, or rush out-of-town for a family emergency without creating a secondary emergency by flying in unsafe skies.
Please share with your friends, family, co-workers, support groups, etc!
Disclaimer: I was not asked to write this blog and I just could not contain my glee!
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..