A mere 5 minutes or less can possibly save the life of a child having a food allergic reaction at school. Can you give the gift of 5 minutes to a child this week?
Please consider a quick email or call to your Senator, whether you live in my state of Nevada or not, and ask him or her to Co-sponsor S. 1884-the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act. The bill already has 24 co-sponsors as of today, April 16th, 2012. the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act It is SOOO much easier than you think and is incredibly powerful.
The Epi Pens® encourages states to create legislation that would require schools to maintain stock epinephrine. Remember Ammaria Johnson’s tragic food allergy death earlier this year? If her school had maintained stock epinephrine, she may have been alive today.
How to make a food-allergy-life-saving difference in 5 minutes or less:
Below are the details I shared with my fellow No. Nevada Asthma and Food Allergy Parent Education Group parents (I am a co-leader)-these provide details on what you can do! It is brief and to the point.
Please contact Epi Pens®ASAP (contact information below) if you are a Nevadan or contact your Senator!
Our community needs five minutes of your time.
Help save the lives of OUR children with life threatening food allergies
(preferably by Wednesday–for the purpose of impact)!
Details:
What we are seeking:
- Your personal email or phone cal to Epi Pens® asking him to co-sponsor S.1884-The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act.
- This bill encourages each state to adopt legislation that would require schools to maintain stock epinephrine. This means, along side band-aids there would be Epi Pens®.
Why?
- In the event an Epi Pen® fails or additional Epi Pens® are needed for a diagnosed student, back up will be available.
- In the event that a diagnosed student, with standing physician orders, does not have an Epi Pen® on site, one will now be available.
- In some states, the Epi Pen® can be used on undiagnosed, first reactions. This topic is still to be examined as to who at each school site would be authorized to make this decision.
- Each state would create their own legislation. It is also being discussed as to who would fund the purchase of the epinephrine.
- This bill is the first step in having this issue addressed. If you have time, read the bill from the link below for more specifics.
- Important note: Senator Dean Heller was a co-sponsor of the the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act
How to Contact:
- Please contact Lee Ann Gibson, (the Senator’s aide) leeann_gibson@heller.senate.gov or even better give her a quick call at 202-224-6244
What to say:
- I am calling to ask the Senator to co-sponsor S. 1884, the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act which would ensure that epinephrine is available in schools to treat potentially anaphylactic reactions to food and other allergens
- I am interested in this issue because of my child’s food allergies (BRIEFLY describe.)
- Be SUPER brief. Even a call of simply stating that you are asking Senator Heller to co-sponsor S.1884 is enough. A personal story adds impact if you are comfortable sharing.
Why Nevadans MUST speak up:
- Senator Dean Heller and other politicians can not properly represent us and make good decisions regarding the health and well being of our children without our requests, opinions or information.
- They needs us to tell them what is important to our communities.
To the read the bill yourself: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.1884.IS:
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!..