PENNSYLVANIA (WBNG) — A Pennsylvania bill headed to the governor would make children with life-threatening allergies safer at childcare centers.
The bill is spearheaded by state Reps. Bridget Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna, and Kristen Marcell, R-Bucks, and would require that childcare workers have the training and the medication needed to identify and stop a deadly food reaction.
“In an emergency situation, specifically an allergic reaction in a child, you need to recognize it fast and treat it quickly,” said Rep. Kosierowski. “This bill gives Pennsylvania childcare workers the training and the medication needed to save lives.”
The bill, Elijah’s Law, is named after 3-year-old Elijah Silvera who died from an allergic reaction to a dairy product consumed at his daycare.
Following the child’s death, the father, Thomas Silvera, advocated for the law requiring the education and training of life-saving medicine to childcare workers and teachers.
With the bill, childcare facilities would get prescriptions for epinephrine delivery systems (best known by one maker’s brand name of EpiPen).
The devices would deliver a premeasured dose of epinephrine for allergic reactions sometimes caused by food that can be severe for children.
“When a child is experiencing a severe allergic reaction, every second counts,” said Rep. Marcell. “Childcare providers need the training and tools to recognize what is happening and respond immediately. This legislation gives them greater ability to act during an emergency and gives parents additional peace of mind when they leave their children in someone else’s care.”
The state may provide funds to help facilities pay for EpiPens and will supply informational material about allergic reactions for childcare locations to give to parents.
“As more hospitals close and federal budget cuts push more people off Medicaid into our already overwhelmed emergency rooms, the first response needs to happen in our daycare centers. This legislation will help ensure that daycare personnel are prepared to act when there’s no time to waste,” said Rep. Kosierowski.
The law is already in place in states including Illinois, New York, Maryland, Virginia, California and Arizona.
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