TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A proposed bill in Tallahassee that would require EpiPen and anaphylaxis training for some schools is being heard in its final Senate committee Monday afternoon.
Winter Park mom Sherry Isler has been pushing for the legislation ever since she discovered that her young son would not have access or help with his EpiPen while in after care at Aloma Elementary School.
After the Islers first shared their story, Orange County Public Schools told News 6, they now require allergy and EpiPen training in all before and after school programs, but Isler wants to get results statewide.
In 2024, state lawmakers from Orlando proposed legislation to require training in before and after school programs, but it never made it into committee.
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This year, the issue is once again before lawmakers with House Bill 1197 and Senate Bill 1514.
Isler traveled to Tallahassee on Monday to testify before state senators about the need for school staff to have anaphylaxis training.
“Right now, during regular school hours (students) have an emergency action plan, an EAP, that says that if they have a EpiPen and if they had a reaction that they’ll get the EpiPen administered first and then 911 will be called, but it only covers regular school hours,” said Isler. “So this bill makes sure that the EAP is effective at all times when a student is on campus, including before and after care, extracurricular, school dances, sports.”
The bill has already been amended in a different senate committee and would now only apply to students in grades kindergarten through 8th.
Both the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend anaphylaxis and EpiPen training for school staff, which many organizations offer for free.
The need may also be greater now than ever before. According to the CDC, food allergies are rising now affecting one in every 13 kids.
“There have been children that have died from anaphylaxis at schools, and it really shouldn’t happen. As long as they have training on how to prevent an allergic reaction and how to treat it immediately, nobody has to die,” Isler said.