Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search

Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 26, 2018 03:32 PM
From:	Senator John P. Blake
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Administration of Adrenal Insufficiency Medication in Schools

In the near future, I will re-introduce legislation to help protect school-age children with adrenal insufficiency – a hormonal disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough adrenal hormones. Adrenal crises occur without warning and offer very little time to react and the failure to administer medication almost immediately is life-threatening. Adults with the disorder often carry their medication with them, while school children cannot, demonstrating the need for such medications in a school setting. My bill would require schools to develop a written policy for the storage, possession, and self-administration of adrenal insufficiency medications in cases of adrenal crisis, just as current law requires such policies for asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors ("EpiPens"). The Departments of Health and Education would provide technical assistance to schools and publicly-accessible information regarding the administration of such medication. Also, a school may authorize a trained employee to administer medication. Please join me in supporting this life-saving initiative. Prior co-sponsors included Senators Fontana, Costa, Tartaglione, Hughes, Brewster and Schwank.

---