Law allows emergency EpiPen use at school

SPRINGFIELD — Nurses at Illinois schools might soon be better equipped to help students who suffer severe, unexpected food allergy reactions.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Monday that allows schools to stock and administer epinephrine for students who don’t have a prescription. The drug often comes in an injector commonly known as an EpiPen.

Now, students who have a prescription can carry their own EpiPens at school or leave them with a nurse. But emergencies can arise when children unexpectedly suffer from food allergies they didn’t know they had or have a reaction far more severe than is typical.

This law, said Rep. Chris Nybo, an Elmhurst Republican, can help deal with those emergencies.

“Some kids never know they’re allergic to something until they’re exposed to it,” said Nybo, who carried the legislation this year in the House.

In the Senate, Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, an Evanston Democrat, carried the plan. He said he has severe allergies and has to carry an EpiPen with him.

The new law doesn’t require schools to have EpiPens available, but it allows schools to stock them immediately.

In December, a seventh-grade girl in Chicago died after suffering from an allergy attack at school. Quinn signed the legislation in Chicago.

“When a child suffers a severe allergic reaction, every second counts,” Quinn said.