Legislation co-sponsored by state Reps. Bridget Kosierowski (D-Lackawanna) and Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks) to help childcare facilities better manage food allergies (House Bill 928) overwhelmingly passed the House last week with bipartisan support.
“As a nurse for nearly 30 years, I saw how crucial it is to quicky and expertly identify the signs of an allergic reaction and provide the right medication,” said Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna. “This bill will provide the necessary training and medication so that Pennsylvania day care workers can immediately identify the signs of an allergic reaction and provide life-saving medication like epinephrine. The lives of some of our most vulnerable residents depend on it.
“As more and more hospitals are closing and with proposed federal budget cuts threatening to overwhelm our already overwhelmed emergency rooms with Pennsylvanians who’ve lost their Medicaid coverage, the day care will have to replace the emergency room as the site where life-saving care is provided. This legislation will save lives.”
Known as Elijah’s Law, the bill is named after 3-year-old Elijah Silvera who died from an allergic reaction to a dairy product he ingested at his day care. Following his son’s death, Thomas Silvera has advocated for the passage of Elijah’s Law that would require the education and provision of life-saving medicine to childcare workers and teachers.
The bill would ensure day care facilities can get prescriptions for epinephrine delivery systems (best known by one maker’s brand name of EpiPen) to treat serious allergic reactions. The devices would deliver a premeasured dose of epinephrine for allergic reactions sometimes caused by food which can be especially severe for children.
“This bill is personal for me as a mom of a child with food allergies,” said Marcell. “We first learned about my son’s allergies on his first birthday, and since then, I’ve lived with the constant concern of what might happen when I’m not there. House Bill 928 gives our day care providers the tools, training, and support they need to act quickly when seconds count. I’m very happy to see this bill take a major step and pass the House so we can protect children and give parents peace of mind.”
The measure is already law in Illinois, New York, Maryland, Virginia, California and Arizona.
The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.
