Golden announces new law that lets bus drivers administer EpiPens

Life-saving law allows emergency allergy remedies

December 21, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

An EpiPen epinephrine auto-injector. AP File Photo / Mark Zaleski

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State Sen. Marty Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) announced that a new state law that took effect on Tuesday will help protect the lives of children with severe food or other allergies. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Terrence Murphy (R-Yorktown Heights) and passed by the Senate in June, allows bus drivers to administer an epinephrine auto-injector, such as an EpiPen, in emergency circumstances.

EpiPens are used for allergies to various foods, such as peanuts, which can trigger a serious allergic reaction.

Golden said he was proud to have supported the legislation that resulted in this new law that he said would improve children safety. “If students find themselves in a life-threatening situation on a school bus, the driver now has the authority to administer epinephrine. The availability of an EpiPen, and someone who is trained in administering it, is an important life-saving advancement,” said Golden.

According to a statement released by Golden, food and other allergies, such as bee stings, present an ever-increasing danger to children across the U.S. If a child with severe allergies is exposed or accidentally consumes an allergen, this can produce a serious reaction called anaphylaxis, which can lead to death. An epinephrine injection works to help immediately reverse the effects of anaphylaxis and is critical in the treatment of severe allergic reactions.

“As a parent, I applaud the passage of the new state law that will give parents further reassurance that our school system is able to care for the health needs of their children,” said John Quaglione, Golden’s deputy chief of staff.

While prior law allows those employed by school districts and other educational institutions to administer the life-saving injection, those who work for agencies contracted out by a school district, such as transportation services, were not authorized.

Thousands of children travel to and from school every day by bus.

Many of those children may eat breakfast or a small snack, increasing the likelihood of being exposed to an allergen and having a severe reaction.

While children with allergies to certain foods frequently carry their own EpiPen or other medicine, this new law will allow bus drivers to administer the injection and save the child’s life.

Golden told the Brooklyn Eagle, “We must work to protect our children to the best degree possible, and this puts another measure in place to do just that. We now have our children covered at all aspects of the school day.”