New laws allow schools to stock emergency medications

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Starting this fall, schools across the state can be better equipped to handle a medical emergency.

“Maybe a kid forgot their EpiPen or maybe this is a child or an adult who has not yet been diagnosed with that life-threatening condition and because of this type of legislation, these entities are now able to have these medications on hand,” explained Food Allergist Dr. Alice Hoyt.

Dr. Hoyt is talking about two new bills that Governor Jeff Landry signed into law. They both allow K-12 schools, businesses, camps and childcare centers to now stock emergency medications such as albuterol, epinephrine and even Narcan, making them ready for almost any situation.

“They can be prepared for someone who suddenly has a bee sting and didn’t know they were allergic; they can stock epinephrine,” said Dr. Hoyt. “Didn’t know a child has asthma and is at a camp, they can stock albuterol.”

However, with this new legislation comes new responsibilities for educators and caregivers to be ready to respond in an instant.

“All schools should have a medical emergency response plan and a medical emergency response team that knows how to recognize and respond to medical emergencies and utilize these emergency medications,” said Dr. Hoyt.

That is where Sarah Jane Lowery can step in.

“For you to know where it is, how to use it, when to use it, how to take care of the medications, so those are the things we can help provide,” said Lowery.

She is the Program Director for the nonprofit Code Ana. They have free programs to help schools create a response team, recognize symptoms and use the medications properly when an emergency happens.

“Schools feel prepared, they feel ready, and they’re not stressed, and they have good outcomes when something happens,” said Lowery.

Lowery said they can even help schools stock up on the medications, so students have a better chance of surviving an emergency.

“You can be ready, and we can help you get there,” said Lowery.

The new laws go into effect August 1. For more information on the trainings or to sign up, you can visit Code Ana’s website.

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