Health Advocates Waiting On CPS To Make 'Epipens' Available For Emergencies
CHICAGO (CBS) -- With one injection, "epipens" can save lives.
Last summer, Illinois lawmakers passed a law making it legal for all schools to stock them, just in case a child has a life-threatening food allergy reaction.
But CBS 2's Dana Kozlov wanted to find out why Chicago public schools still don't have them.
Jason Gustaveson and his wife are on a crusade to get CPS to stock epipens.
"It's like fire extinguishers or fire alarms," says Gustaveson, whose son is allergic to eggs and some nuts.
One injection could save a life.
Since the law allowing general use epinephrine auto injectors in schools passed last summer, Gustaveson has been contacting CPS. But so far, he says, he has not gotten a response.
Jennifer Jobrack and the food allergy initiative pushed to get the law passed. Jobrack says one in 13 kids now have food allergies. That's two students in every classroom.
Other districts and private schools already have epipens. Dr. Ruchi Gupta also has been working to get them at CPS.
Gupta says there are issues, such as addressing potential liability concerns and cost. The price is about $100 per pack.
There is one loophole in the law. Only nurses are supposed to administer epipens and most of CPS's nurses are part-time.
"We know it's a big loophole. It was one of the compromises we had to reach to get the legislation passed," Jobrack says.
A CPS spokesperson says the district expects to present the school board with a stock epipen policy this month. Officials are also developing a plan to pay for them and train people on their use.
A year after a CPS student Katelyn Carlson died from an allergic reaction in school, health advocates hope this finally happens.
