Governor signs bill to prepare public venues for allergic reactions
Georgia was among the first states to let schools stock epinephrine, an emergency medication to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, and now the state is expanding access to restaurants, recreation camps, youth sports leagues, theme parks, resorts, sports arenas and other public venues.
Gov. Nathan Deal signed Senate Bill 126 into law last week. The legislation allows organizations to obtain epinephrine auto-injectors and authorizes trained employees to administer the medication to victims of anaphylaxis.
The legislation builds on House Bill 337 from last year, which allowed schools to stock epinephrine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have documented a sharp increase in food allergies among children over the past couple decades. A tiny proportion of the population is affected, yet fatalities in metro Atlanta grabbed public attention. Lawmakers then expanded access to the life-saving epinephrine, which can stabilize victims of allergic reactions until emergency medical personnel arrive.
Often, victims have no idea they had life-threatening allergies.
“I know this law will save lives in Georgia,” Karen Harris, founder of Food Allergy Kids of Atlanta, said in a statement after Deal signed the legislation.
About the Author
Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.
