In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that almost 3 million children, or 1 in 25, had food allergy. More recently in 2011, the CDC estimated that up to 6 million children, or one in 13 children, had food allergies. Practically speaking, this means that about two children in every classroom have food allergies. Additionally, almost 40% of children with allergies have had severe reactions, and nearly 30% are allergic to multiple foods. Clearly, food allergies are becoming an increasingly serious problem for our nation’s children.
Recognizing the gravity of this problem, state legislatures are promulgating new laws to enable school staff to respond more rapidly to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. Current legislation has allowed schools to store and administer medication; namely, EpiPens, to students having allergic reactions provided a doctor’s prescription is on file. Additionally, most states allow students to self-carry and self-administer EpiPens in the event of a reaction. This protocol is problematic, however, in the event that a child forgets his or her medication, school personnel are either unavailable or unable to access the locked medication, or the reaction is occurring in a student with an undiagnosed allergy, which unhappily occurs frequently. In fact, up to a quarter of severe allergic reactions occur in persons not previously diagnosed with food allergy, and up to 25% of first time reactions to peanuts or tree nuts have occurred in school settings. Across the country, children have died while school staff waited helplessly for paramedics after calling 911. In response, Illinois passed legislation last summer that allows schools to stock pile EpiPens, and, in an emergency, permits school nurses or other trained staff to administer medication to students with previously undiagnosed allergies who are experiencing life-threatening allergic reactions. Similar legislation is pending in five different states and in the federal government as well.
