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.
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