Axne-Backed Legislation to Assist Schools with Response to Allergies, Asthma Attacks Passes House

Press Release

Legislation cosponsored by Rep. Axne will provide staff trainings for common but life-threatening conditions
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) to encourage K-12 schools to have trained personnel in asthma and allergy management and emergency response.

The School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act will help provide asthma and allergy grants from the Department of Health and Human Services to train school administrative staff and school nurses in the use of emergency medications to treat asthma and anaphylaxis.

"Iowa parents who are sending their children into classrooms with peanuts, mold, and countless other triggers for allergies and asthma should have confidence that someone on staff knows how to handle that kind of medical emergency." said Rep. Axne. "With this bipartisan bill, we provide critical funding to offer trainings on how to manage and respond to these very common conditions for school staff to ensure our students are protected."

The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services recommend that schools have comprehensive management plans in place to support children with asthma and serve allergies.

Unfortunately, most schools do not have such programs in place due to lack of funding, assistance, and trainings.

An asthma and allergy action plan and proper trainings ensure that if a child has a serious and life-threatening asthma or allergy attack, a school nurse or administrator is able to provide the correct medication response immediately.

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