Testimony of Jayne Schrempp
Families Educating Allergy / Asthma Together (FEAT)
Ohio House Health & Aging Committee
June 17, 2015
Good morning - I am Jayne Schrempp from Kettering, Ohio and I would like to voice my support for House Bill 200, to allow any entity that serves food to have non-patient specific epinephrine in their facility. This bill concerns such places as restaurants, colleges and universities, places of employment, amusement parks, sports facilities, child care settings and other locations.
I am also here today representing the Families Educating Allergy/Asthma Together - or FEAT – which is an advocacy and education support group for families with allergies and asthma in the Centerville, Kettering, and surrounding communities. Our group is affiliated with the Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT), which is based in West Chester. The mission of FAACT is to raise awareness for all individuals and families affected by food allergies and life-threatening anaphylaxis.
It is estimated that one in the 13 children in the United States has a food allergy. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction to such allergies and annually the U.S. sees 90,000 emergency visits and approximately 1,500 deaths as a result of anaphylaxis. Quick access to epinephrine is critical when anaphylaxis occurs.
My family lives with the threat of anaphylaxis every day, because my grandson, AJ, is severely allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. He is now 8 years old, he was diagnosed with food allergies when he was 18 months old. His food allergies impact his entire family every day. We attempt to not allow his food allergies to define him. He is no different from other boys his age – he plays all sports, attends sports and nature camps,and he visits his friends; the only thing different about AJis that he always has his epinephrine auto injector with him.
This year AJ is attending several camps where lunch is either provided or carried in by the campers. AJ will have his “epi-pen”; but there could be a child there – who does not yet know he or she has an allergy - who ingests food or is stung by an insect and then suffers an anaphylactic reaction and no epinephrine is available for immediate administration.
Because several of the members of our group have had first time reactions to an allergen at restaurants and other facilities, FEAT is pleased that this bill has been presented into the Ohio Legislature. The passage of this permissive bill could be the difference between life or death for an individual.
Because we know AJ has a food allergy, we are ready to respond with epinephrine in case an emergency should happen. Despite our best efforts to keep AJ safe and away from potential allergens, it is impossible to know for certain, 100 percent, that every day will be safe. And our family is a step ahead, because we know about the food allergy. There are some children or individuals who do not yet know they have an allergy to certain foods, or insect stings. They have not been diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy so they do not have epinephrine on hand.
This is the critical reason we need to allow food-serving entities to stock undesignated epinephrine.
It is important to note that House Bill 200 is a permissive bill. It would not require any entity to stock epinephrine, but does permit them to have it on premises for emergency situations. Any entity that chooses to stock epinephrine would follow protocol to maintain undesignated epinephrine auto-injectors. The bill outlines training to be provided as well as liability protection for employees trained to administer an epinephrine dose in the prescribed manner.
Other states have enacted, or are working on similar “entity” epinephrine legislation. Florida, Oregon and Rhode Island have enacted legislation. Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Utah and West Virginia have passed entity epinephrine laws, with Colorado and Oklahoma awaiting the Governor’s signature. Similar legislation is pending in at least 17 other states.
The members of FEAT commend Ohio Rep. Christina Hagan and the co-sponsors of House Bill 200, for their efforts to address food allergies, which is a growing health issue in Ohio and in the United States.
We ask that you please vote in support of House Bill 200.
Thank you for hearing my testimony today.