 IS
YOUR SCHOOL PREPARED TO PROTECT CHILDREN WITH LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES? | Sabrina's
Law In
September 2004 a tragic event occurred at an Ontario school.
A 13 year old girl died fromanaphylactic shock. As a result of this tragedy the
Government of Ontario passed a Bill (Bill 3) called Sabrina's Law. This
Bill requires that every school board in Ontario establish and maintain an anaphylactic
policy and that every school principal maintain a file and develop an individual
plan for each pupil who has an anaphylactic allergy. This must include, among
other things, details on the type of allergy, monitoring and avoidance strategies,
appropriate treatment, a readily accessible emergency procedure and storage for
epinephrine auto-injectors where necessary.
| The Bill requires that every school board establish
and maintain an anaphylactic policy, which must include, among other things, strategies
to reduce risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents, a communication plan
for the dissemination of information on life-threatening allergies, regular training
on dealing with life-threatening allergies, a requirement that every school principal
develop an individual plan for each pupil who has an anaphylactic allergy and
a requirement that every school principal maintain a file for each anaphylactic
pupil. The individual plan for a pupil with an anaphylactic
allergy must include details on the type of allergy, monitoring and avoidance
strategies and appropriate treatment, a readily accessible emergency procedure
for the pupil and storage for epinephrine auto-injectors, where necessary. Employees
of a board may be preauthorized to administer medication or supervise a pupil
while the pupil takes medication in response to an anaphylactic reaction, if the
school has up-to-date treatment information and the consent of the parent, guardian
or pupil. If an employee has reason to believe that a pupil is experiencing an
anaphylactic reaction, the employee may administer an epinephrine auto-injector
or other medication that is prescribed, even if there is no preauthorisation to
do so. The Bill provides that no actions for damages shall
be instituted respecting any act done in good faith or for any neglect or default
in good faith in response to an anaphylactic reaction, unless the damages are
the result of an employee's gross negligence. The Bill preserves common law duties.
Copyright © 2006
The Legislative Library
Office of the Legislative
Assembly of Ontario
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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