from American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
An estimated fifteen percent of school children with food allergies have had a reaction at school but, surprisingly, about a quarter of emergency doses of epinephrine given in schools involved children who didn’t know they had an allergy. Forty one states now have laws requiring schools to have emergency epinephrine on hand to treat a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to food or an insect sting. The most common trigger foods for allergic reactions were peanuts, followed by certain kinds of fish. A study presented to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology documented epinephrine given to thirty eight children and adults in Chicago Public Schools last school year. Allergist Bryan Martin says stocking emergency epinephrine is a medical necessity for schools in every state.