Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act
What You Need to Know About U.S. Senate Bill 456
In 2006, an act was introduced to the U.S. Congress to mandate the development of guidelines for schools and early childhood education centers for dealing with food allergic children. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008. The U.S. Senate, with 42 Senators in favor, was unable to garner enough votes before it adjourned, and it was dropped from the agenda.
On February 23, 2009, the Bill was reintroduced by Senators Dodd, Alexander, Whitehouse, Lautenberg, and Kerry.
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2009 would have the Secretary of Health and Human Services, along with the Secretary of Education, develop guidelines to be used on a voluntarybasis to:
- manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools and early childhood education programs.
- establish school-based food allergy management grants.
Specifically this bill covers all Head Start and Early Head Start programs, state licensed or regulated child care programs, prekindergarten programs, kindergartens, and elementary and secondary schools.
The guidelines would request documentation from parents describing the child's allergies, signs and symptoms of a reaction and medications required. Parents would also give emergency contact information and assess the child's readiness to self-administer medication.
S. 456 would also address these areas:
- Creation of an individual food allergy management plan tailored to each specific child.
- Communication procedures between the school and emergency response teams.
- Development of strategies to deal with areas where child may come in contact with allergens (ie. cafeterias).
- Training and information on the topic of food allergies to school personnel. This would include training on the use of epinephrine, the life saving medication for someone experiencing a food allergy reaction.
It also addresses non-academic outings and field trips, before- and after-school programs or before- and after-early child education program programs, and school-sponsored or early childhood education program-sponsored programs held on weekends.
The second part of the bill allows funding, in the forms of grants, for schools to meet the objectives of the bill.
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act would affect over 2 million school age children who often attend schools with no written policy or procedure for dealing with food allergies. Many schools share nurses among several buildings leaving children at risk in the event of a fast-moving allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis isa severe allergic reaction that may involve the entire body. It can result in trouble breathing, loss of consciousness and even death.
To find out where your elected officials stand on this bill, contact your Senator, about S. 456. You can also contact your U.S. Representative about the House side of the bill, H.R. 1378.
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