Submitted by the MSV Medical Student Section
WHEREAS, allergies are the 6th leading cause of illnesses in the United States, with food-related allergies accounting for 31% of cases[i], and
WHEREAS, studies indicate that over a twelve-year period, 3,051 deaths were due to anaphylaxis from food allergies[ii], and
WHEREAS, there are approximately 200,000 emergency room visits each year due to food allergies, with the annual cost exceeding $25 billion[iii], and
WHEREAS, one in three individuals have presented with food allergic reactions in a restaurant, and
WHEREAS, restaurant staff and patients are not adequately trained to effectively address allergic reactions[iv], and
WHEREAS, effective management of anaphylaxis requires a comprehensive effort between individuals and public venues[v], and
WHEREAS, epinephrine is identified to be the first-choice medication in the treatment of anaphylaxis, and
WHEREAS, delayed administration of epinephrine increases the risk of hospitalizations and results in poor outcomes[vi], and
WHEREAS, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recognizes the importance and supports expanding access to epinephrine beyond schools[vii], and
WHEREAS, the Food Allergy Research and Education organization supports enhancing health care access to life-saving medications for individuals with food allergies[viii], and
WHEREAS, 36 states have passed entity laws allowing for public institutions to obtain epinephrine auto-injectors and administer to persons experiencing anaphylaxis[ix], and
WHEREAS, Virginia has no current entity laws that allow for the expansion of epinephrine use in public venues aside from public schools, and
RESOLVED, that MSV supports expanding access to epinephrine in public venues, and be it further
RESOLVED, that MSV supports standardized training for staff and the allocation of resources to store, manage, and oversee epinephrine use in public venues within Virginia.
[i] Allergy Facts and Figures – AAFA. Retrieved from https://www.aafa.org/allergy-facts/
[ii] Dying from allergies: fatal anaphylaxis in the United States: AAAAI. Retrieved from https://www.aaaai.org/global/latest-research-summaries/Current-JACI-Research/fatal-anaphylaxis
[iii] Wood, R. A., Camargo, C. A., Lieberman, P., Sampson, H. A., Schwartz, L. B., Zitt, M., … Simons, F. E. R. (2014). Anaphylaxis in America: The prevalence and characteristics of anaphylaxis in the United States. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 133(2), 461–467. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.08.016
[iv] (2019, June 12). How Restaurants Address Food Allergies | EHS-Net | EHS | CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ehsnet/plain_language/allergy-practices.htm
[v] See iii
Gaines, A. D. (2007). Self-injectable Epinephrine for First-Aid Management of Anaphylaxis. Pediatrics, 120(1), 238–238. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-0736
[vi] See i
[vii] AAFA. Retrieved from https://www.aafa.org/public-policy-support-asthma-allergy/
[viii] Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan. Retrieved from https://www.foodallergy.org/life-with-food-allergies/food-allergy-anaphylaxis-emergency-care-plan
[ix] Entity/Public Space Stock Epinephrine. Retrieved from https://www.allergyasthmanetwork.org/advocacy/current-issues/stock-epinephrine-entity-laws/
