Video: New Survey Shows Three in Four School Nurses Have Students at Risk for Severe...

Video: New Survey Shows Three in Four School Nurses Have Students at Risk for
Severe Allergic Reactions Who Do Not Bring Auto-Injectable Epinephrine to
School
Parents of students with known allergies are urged to put auto-injectable
epinephrine at the top of the school supplies list

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey conducted by the
National Association of School Nurses (NASN) found that 72% of school nurses
have students with a known history of allergies or prior use of epinephrine
whose parents have not provided the school with auto-injectable epinephrine.
Also known as adrenaline, epinephrine is the first-line standard of care for
treating anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be
caused by nuts, insect bites or stings and other allergens.(1,2,3) Eight out
of ten school nurses (82%) surveyed have also seen increased numbers of
children at risk for anaphylaxis in the past few years.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to:
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/NASNbacktoschoolsurvey/34387/

"We cannot overlook the importance of preparation when sending students
back to school," said Amy Garcia, RN, MSN, executive director of NASN. "It is
crucial that parents of children at risk for severe allergic reactions provide
the school with auto-injectable epinephrine."
As many as 45 million Americans have allergic sensitivities that put them
at risk for anaphylaxis.(4) It takes only one to two minutes for a mild
allergic reaction to escalate to anaphylaxis.(5) The faster the onset of an
anaphylactic reaction, the greater the likelihood that it will be severe.(6)
Most anaphylactic deaths have occurred when auto-injectable epinephrine was
not used or not used in time.(7,8,9)
The online survey of 489 school nurses also found that:
-- 56% have witnessed anaphylaxis at school
-- 68% support or strongly support making stock auto-injectable
epinephrine universally available in schools
-- 72% said that establishing a policy by the local school district would
strengthen support for creating a stock auto-injectable epinephrine
program in their school(s)
-- 93% have students with prescribed auto-injectable epinephrine for whom
the school stores the medication

Larry S. Posner, MD, FAAAAI, assistant clinical professor at UC San
Francisco said, "Being prepared in case of an emergency is critical in
preventing the most serious effects, since accidental exposure to known food
allergens are the rule rather than the exception and anaphylaxis may progress
very quickly. We know that in fatal anaphylaxis, respiratory or cardiac arrest
will usually occur within 10-20 minutes for bee stings and within 20-45
minutes for food reactions.(10) That gives very little time for an appropriate
response."
Due to the quick onset of anaphylaxis, being prepared is vital to keeping
children safe. "Creating a plan to prevent exposures and respond to severe
allergic reactions in our schools requires informing classmates, teachers and
other school staff about the student's allergy and teaching them to recognize
the symptoms so they can assist if an emergency arises. It also means having
auto-injectable epinephrine handy that is easy to use and can be quickly
administered in a crisis situation," Ms. Garcia said.
About the NASN Survey
NASN's "Management of Asthma and Anaphylaxis in Schools Survey" was an
anonymous online survey conducted between May 17 and July 11, 2008 among U.S.
school nurses. 489 nurses completed the 80-question survey, which included
multiple choice questions and free-form responses.
The survey was adapted from a survey conducted with the California School
Nurse Organization (CSNO) and West Coast Allergy and Asthma Network
(WestCAAN). Dr. Larry Posner and Nancy Spradling, executive director of the
CSNO developed the CSNO/WestCAAN survey.
About NASN
The National Association of School Nurses is a non-profit specialty
nursing organization, incorporated in 1977, which represents school nurses
exclusively. NASN has over 13,000 members and 51 affiliates, including the
District of Columbia and overseas. The mission of the NASN is "to advance the
delivery of professional school health services to promote optimal health and
learning in students." To learn more about NASN, please visit us on the web at
www.nasn.org or call 866-627-6767. For state specific information, please
select "Affiliate Organizations" under "QUICKLINKS" on the NASN homepage.
References:
(1) Boudreau-Romano et al. A Retrospective Review Of Anaphylaxis
Management In A Pediatric Emergency Department. J Allergy Clin
Immunol. 2008; (121:2): S25
(2) Jarvinen et al. Use Of Epinephrine In Food-induced Anaphylaxis In
Children. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007; (119:1): S29
(3) Gold and Sainbury. First aid anaphylaxis management in children who
were prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector device (EpiPen). J
Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000; (106:1): 171-176
(4) Neugut AI et al. Anaphylaxis in the United States. Arch Int Med.
2001;161:15-21.
(5) The Merck Manual. Merck Research Laboratories. 2006-2008.
(6) Nicklas et al. Anaphylaxis. Supplement to: J Allergy Clin Immunol.
1998;101(6:2):498S-501S;S469
(7) Boudreau-Romano et al. A Retrospective Review Of Anaphylaxis
Management In A Pediatric Emergency Department. J Allergy Clin
Immunol. 2008; (121:2): S25
(8) Jarvinen et al. Use Of Epinephrine In Food-induced Anaphylaxis In
Children. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007; (119:1): S29
(9) Gold and Sainbury. First aid anaphylaxis management in children who
were prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector device (EpiPen). J
Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000; (106:1): 171-176
(10) Pumphrey RSH. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;112(2):451

SOURCE National Association of School Nurses (NASN)

Jaime Murphy of National Association of School Nurses, +1-240-247-1618; or
Rashelle Isip of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, +1-212-880-5354