Food Allergy Canada calls for laws requiring schools to stock epinephrine devices

TORONTO – Last May, six-year-old Kofi Berkley began experiencing itchy skin and bumps during recess at his Edmonton elementary school. Despite having no known allergies, the recess supervisor brought Kofi to the school office where Principal Joanne Harle and an administrative assistant applied ice to his skin and administered an EpiPen.

The child's eyes swelled and his lips began to swell, indicating a severe allergic reaction. The school had two EpiPens on hand due to an Alberta law enacted in 2020 that requires schools to store epinephrine devices, regardless of whether a student has a known allergy.

Food Allergy Canada, an advocacy group, is calling for all provinces to adopt similar legislation, stating that Alberta is the only one that mandates all schools to stock epinephrine devices. Jennifer Gerdts, the executive director of Food Allergy Canada, explains that these devices are akin to defibrillators, meant for emergencies where a severe allergic reaction occurs unexpectedly.

U.S. data suggests that 25% of anaphylaxis cases at schools involve students with no prior history of severe allergies, implying no significant difference in Canada.

Alberta’s legislation also mandates teachers and school staff to complete Food Allergy Canada’s “Allergy Aware” online training module, which takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Kofi’s father, Cristen Berkley, expressed relief knowing the teachers were prepared for such emergencies, easing his concerns about his son's safety.

Harle emphasized the importance of giving Kofi the epinephrine quickly, noting that the paramedics later praised the school staff for their swift action. Dr. Scott Cameron, a pediatric allergist and clinical immunologist in Victoria, agrees that epinephrine devices should be stocked in schools not only for first-time anaphylactic reactions but also for families who cannot afford to buy multiple autoinjectors.

Many families rely on their children's schools to provide a constant supply of epinephrine, as accidents can occur outside of school premises as well. Cameron advocates for broader policy adoption in provinces like B.C., which mandates automated external defibrillators and naloxone kits in schools but lacks similar provisions for epinephrine. Food Allergy Canada is in discussions with B.C. to explore similar legislation.