Illinois Schools pass Epi Pen at large

[ajasfolks2]

Opening Post:

mfamom

Here's the story.  They passed the "school" epi pen law after tragedy with Katelyn last December.
www.wgntv.com/wgntv-quinnepipens-aug15,0,4211365.story

Follow ons:

GingerPye

I've been watching this story on the local news. 

It's good it's been passed; it's not good that it took a child's death to make it happen.   

CMdeux

It always seems to.   

There is a part of me that wishes that EACH of these bits of legislation carried a child's name with them...  because then it might be a lot harder for people to remain so wilfully ignorant about the fact that kids DO really die from food allergies.

Besides, these children deserve such a memorial and so do their families, quite bluntly.

[LinksEtc]

"CPS to enact new policies on allergies, diabetes, asthma management" 
January 23, 2012
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-23/news/ct-met-cps-epi-pen-20120123_1_cps-asthma-management-katelyn-carlson

allows a nurse to use the EpiPen on any student believed to be having a life-threatening reaction, even if the child has not been diagnosed with an allergy.

Students will also be allowed to carry and self-administer their own Epi-pens with the written approval of a parent or guardian.

allow students to carry and self-administer asthma inhalers

"Health Advocates Waiting On CPS To Make 'Epipens' Available For Emergencies"
January 9, 2012

Only nurses are supposed to administer epipens and most of CPS's nurses are part-time.

"We know it's a big loophole. It was one of the compromises we had to reach to get the legislation passed," Jobrack says.

"Chicago Schools to Stock EpiPens; States, Feds May Follow Suit"
February 10, 2012
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2012/02/all_chicago_public_schools_wil.html

Federal legislation sponsored by Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, and Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican, would reward states that require schools to keep a supply of the injectors on hand and allow authorized school personnel to use them if a student has an allergic reaction. The bill also has a provision that would require those states to have "Good Samaritan" laws