COLUMBUS – The House has passed a bill that would let restaurants, child care centers, amusement parks, colleges, sports venues and other places in Ohio keep “epi-pens” on hand to treat severe allergic reactions from insect stings, food or other causes.
The House voted unanimously to pass on the proposal Tuesday, sending it to the Senate for consideration.
The measure would permit certain public and private entities to keep epinephrine injectors for life-threatening emergencies without possessing a license that otherwise would be required.
“When having only moments to respond means the difference between life and death, it should be a priority of ours as Legislators to expand access to life saving measures,” said sponsoring Rep. Christina Hagan (R-Alliance.
She says the proposal is aimed at children and others who are not aware of their food allergies or other potential allergens.
“Ninety thousand visits to the ER and 1,500 deaths annually can be attributed to anaphylactic reactions to common allergens, many of these reactions occurring are happening to people who had no previous knowledge of such an allergy,” she said.
The bill also outlines training requirements, storage standards and liability protections for employees at such places who would be authorized to administer the epinephrine.
The measure does not require facilities to stock epinephrine allows them to get it it for emergencies.
It also says any entity that stocks epinephrine auto-injectors must follow physician guidelines in order to administer the injection.