On February 23rd at this year’s annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) in Houston, a study was presented regarding incidence of anaphylaxis in schools during the 2013-2014 school year, confirming the need for stock epinephrine.
Of 5683 schools that responded to the study survey, a total of 919 anaphylactic events were reported by 11% of the schools. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- 89% of the events occurred in students of which 22% had no known allergies;
- Of the 92% of events that reported triggers, 62% were caused by food, 10% by insect stings, and 20% from unknown causes.
- Over 50% of events occurred in teenagers, a group known to be more cavalier toward their allergies.
All respondents were schools enrolled in Mylan’s EpiPen4Schools© program and had stock epinephrine on hand provided at no cost by the firm. Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) reports that stock epinephrine was used in 310 events even though epinephrine is recommended as the first line treatment for anaphylaxis. This may be largely due to the limited number of staff trained in the use of epinephrine administration.
Here’s an item that should not be overlooked in FARE’s announcement (emphasis ours):
A second epinephrine injection was given in 9 percent of cases, emphasizing the need for individuals to carry two prescribed auto-injectors with them at all times, as well as the need to have extra auto-injectors on hand in case the need arises.
Please take this opportunity to download a set of flyers from our “Take 2” campaign, reminders to post at home, school, and everywhere else reminding you to “Take 2 epinephrine auto-injectors along everywhere, every time.”
Sources:
Flyers from Our “Take 2” Campaign
This is really sick, that we have come to the point where our schools are stocking drugs, making it a need, as though we are accepting physiological problems as a given state.
If we do not see the encroachment of an environment that subsidizes over processed foods, making that which is healthy expensive by comparison, and pumping our children with the same chemicals, used to poison our soils,then the very people who run our schools and our administrations that are supposedly there to educate us, and regulate our needs, are the very people we should not be listening to.On the ground, most people agree with me, even the so called professionals, and what is said is that there is nothing we can do. Well who do we think is holding this in place? It is us, each of us; to support something that is detrimental by not taking any action, is the same as committing the crime. A cup is a cup. If it is fear of losing a job, then stand and support a Basic Income, or a Living wage, for all no matter what, then one will not have to accept what is unacceptable. Drugs are not the answer, food that is filled with living enzymes, vitamins , minerals, lipids, etc. etc, all the things in nature that are the very physical substance of us, must be in our foods, and then these profit seeking drugs, because this is all that they are, will not need to be placed in our schools.