Howarth’s measure allowing bus drivers to administer EpiPens advances

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Howarth that would permit school bus drivers to administer epinephrine to students in emergency situations cleared the Assembly Education Committee on Thursday.

“More children are affected by allergies, especially food allergies, each year,” said Howarth (R-Burlington). “The growing concern means we can’t have any blind spots when looking after what is most important, the safety of our students.”

A food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room every three minutes, according to the nonprofit Food Allergy Research & Education.

The bipartisan bill (A3679) is also sponsored by 20^th District Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and aims to create a safer environment for food allergies on buses. Under the bill, school bus drivers will be permitted to administer epinephrine to students during anaphylactic emergencies if certain conditions are met.

The student’s parent or guardian has to provide written authorization for the bus driver to administer epinephrine and the bus driver must be properly trained through the Department of Education.

“With the prevalence of allergies in children, we have to make sure they are protected on their way to school. You never know how a snack someone is eating on the bus or the lunch they packed will harmfully impact another child,” Howarth said.

Food allergies have been on the rise and increased by 50 percent between 1999 and 2009, according to the nonprofit Food Allergy Research and Education.  Statistics show 4.9 million children in the U.S. have a food allergy — roughly two in every classroom