“An Act relating to the maintenance and administration of epinephrine in schools and certain other facilities” was signed into into law by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad on Friday.
Senate File 462 provides for:
- Licensed healthcare professionals to prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors in the name of an accredited school or district;
- Schools to obtain stock epinephrine for administration by trained personnel;
- “Good Samaritan” provisions to indemnify such personnel from liability when administering epinephrine in good faith;
- Students to self carry and self administer epinephrine when necessary.
Unfortunately, the new law does not mandate schools obtain stock epinephrine and provides no funding for them to do so.
While we at SnackSafely.com applaud the efforts of the Iowa legislature and governor to safeguard their students from anaphylaxis, we urge them to take the next step and pass legislation making the acquisition and maintenance of stock epinephrine mandatory for all schools in the state and provide a mechanism for funding the mandate.
Source: Senate File 462 – Office of the Governor
