{
  "id": 6259674,
  "title": "Food Allergy Canada calls for laws requiring schools to stock epinephrine devices",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/food-allergy-canada-calls-for-laws-requiring-schools-to-stock-6259674",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-08T08:00:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/09/08/food-allergy-canada-calls-for-laws-requiring-schools-to-stock-epinephrine-devices/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kofi Berkley, a six-year-old student, experienced an allergic reaction at his Edmonton elementary school last May. His symptoms included itching, skin bumps, swollen eyes, and difficulty breathing. Principal Joanne Harle and an administrative assistant quickly administered ice to Kofi and recognized the need for an EpiPen, which they administered within a minute. The school had two EpiPens on hand due to Alberta's 2020 legislation requiring schools to stock epinephrine devices for emergencies. Food Allergy Canada, an advocacy group, is urging all provinces to adopt similar legislation, as most jurisdictions only mandate schools to have EpiPens for students with known allergies. Jennifer Gerdts, the executive director of Food Allergy Canada, compares epinephrine devices to defibrillators, stating that they are essential for emergency situations. Data from the U.S. suggests that a significant number of anaphylaxis cases at schools involve students without a known history of severe allergies. Alberta's legislation also requires teachers and staff to complete a 30-minute \"Allergy Aware\" online training module. Kofi's father, Cristen Berkley, expressed relief knowing that teachers were prepared for such an event. Dr. Scott Cameron, a pediatric allergist, emphasizes the importance of having epinephrine devices in schools, as families often cannot afford to provide multiple injectors. He argues that schools should prioritize stocking epinephrine devices, similar to the mandatory implementation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and naloxone kits.",
  "summary": "TORONTO — Last May, six-year-old Kofi Berkley started getting itchy and developing bumps on his skin while he was playing with his friends at recess.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Food Allergy Canada calls for laws requiring schools to stock epinephrine devices",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/food-allergy-canada-calls-for-laws-requiring-schools-to-stock",
        "published": "2026-09-08T08:00:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}