Food Allergy Awareness Week

So apparently this is Food Allergy Awareness Week.  I never used to think much about this sort of thing because I was accustomed to my allergies and in a familiar routine.  Even when Zaxxon was diagnosed with allergies (different from my own, how inconvenient) I didn't worry too much.  Now, however, as he gets closer and closer to preschool and I will have to leave him in someone else's care on a regular basis... well, I'm putting more thought into it.

I thought, in honor of the Week, that I would share with you legislation that is working its way through the House and the Senate.  The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act will encourage states to adopt laws allowing schools to have on hand “stock” epinephrine auto-injectors – meaning epinephrine that can be used for any student or staff member in an emergency.  While a lot of schools are helpful and supportive about emergency medication (you can bet I made sure Zaxxon's preschool will be,) many still aren't.  A little girl died at school in Virginia early this year because she didn't have access to her Epi Pen.  The act is incredibly bipartisan, so you don't even have to guess at my political leanings.

If you're interested in supporting the act, here are sample letters taken from FAAN's (the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) website to send to your senators and representatives.  Thanks for caring!

Find your senators
Find your representatives

Find out if they already support the act (cosponsors):
Senate
House

If they don't support, send an email!
Senate:
MODEL Letter of Support for the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act

Note: Please paraphrase. It is important that Senators do not receive duplicates of the same letter from different individuals. Also, under your name, be sure to include your full address and phone number.

The Honorable (insert Senator’s name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator (insert name):

I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor S. 1884, the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin, Mark Kirk, and a bipartisan group of 25 U.S. Senators. I am the parent of a child with severe food allergies. (Personalize here by inserting a brief description of your child’s allergies.)

Children with food allergies are at risk for anaphylaxis, a systemic allergic reaction that can kill within minutes due to asphyxiation or extremely low blood pressure. To prevent death, anaphylaxis must be treated promptly with an injection of epinephrine. S. 1884 would encourage states to ensure that epinephrine is available in schools and that school personnel are trained to administer it in an emergency. Epinephrine is safe and easy to administer.

The need for S 1884 was underscored earlier this year when a Virginia first-grader died when she suffered anaphylaxis at school that was not treated promptly with epinephrine. Nearly six million American children have food allergies and are at risk of anaphylaxis. Schools need to be prepared to treat allergic reactions in the event a student’s personal epinephrine auto-injector isn’t available or the student is having a reaction for the first time.

The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act is not a controversial bill. It is endorsed by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Nurses, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and other organizations.

I hope you will join your many colleagues of both political parties in co-sponsoring S. 1884 and working to assure passage of this legislation. Thank you for considering my views.

Sincerely,

Name
Address including city/state
Phone and/or email address

House:
MODEL Letter of Support for the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act

Note: Please paraphrase. It is important that Representatives do not receive duplicates of the same letter from different individuals. Also, under your name, be sure to include your full address and phone number.

The Honorable (insert Representative’s name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (insert name):

I am the parent of a child with severe food allergies, and I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor H.R. 3627, the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by over 40 Members of the House. (Personalize here by inserting a brief description of your child’s allergies.)

Nearly six million American children have food allergies and are at risk of anaphylaxis, a systemic allergic reaction that can kill within minutes. To prevent death, anaphylaxis must be treated promptly with an injection of epinephrine. H.R. 3627 would encourage states to ensure that epinephrine is available in schools and that school personnel are trained to administer it in an emergency. Epinephrine is safe and easy to administer.

Earlier this year, a Virginia first-grader died at school when she had an anaphylactic reaction to peanut that was not treated promptly with epinephrine. Schools MUST BE PREPARED to treat allergic reactions in the event a student’s personal epinephrine auto-injector isn’t available or the student is having a reaction for the first time.

The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act is endorsed by the National Association of School Nurses, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other organizations. It is not a controversial bill.

I hope you will add your name to the list of House Members, both Republicans and Democrats, who have co-sponsored H.R. 3627 and work to assure passage of this legislation. Thank you for considering my views.

Sincerely,

Name
Address including city/state
Phone and/or email address