EpiPens in Madison Schools Press Release

Dean Clinic Makes Donation to Local Schools to Help Children with Life-Threatening Allergies


Dean Clinic Provides an EpiPen to Each Health Office in the Madison Metropolitan School District

Madison, Wis. – Dean Clinic and pharmaceutical company Dey Pharma, have teamed up to make Madison schools safer for children with allergies. For the 2011-2012 school year, more than 40 EpiPens were donated, which is enough to ensure at least one EpiPen is available in each school’s health office.

"The Madison School District is grateful for the support of community partners like Dean Clinic,” says Freddi Adelson, Health Services Coordinator for MMSD. “This generous donation allows our staff to respond quickly and appropriately to unexpected serious allergic reactions."

Roughly 1,500 people in the U.S. die each year due to anaphylaxis, a sudden and serious allergic reaction that often prohibits people from breathing. Many of those deaths could be prevented if immediate treatment is administered via an EpiPen.

“The first line of treatment is to administer epinephrine as early as possible,” says Dean Clinic Allergist Don Bukstein, MD. “The EpiPens contain the epinephrine needed to stop the allergic reaction and they can stop it in a matter of minutes.”

There are three major risk factors for fatal anaphylaxis:
-Allergic reaction to food, stinging insects or medications
-Presence or history of asthma symptoms
-Delay in administration of epinephrine

Wisconsin law now allows children with known allergies to have an EpiPen with them in schools, but Dr. Bukstein says it is still important that our schools have one on hand for back up.

“It is possible that a child may not know he or she has a particular allergy,” says Dr. Bukstein. “If his or her first exposure to the allergen is at school, they may not have an EpiPen or an action plan set up with the school. This is when having the device in the schools is critically important.”

Every child with known allergy risks should have an anaphylaxis action plan on file with all schools and caregivers. The plan should list symptoms, state that immediate action can be life-saving and outline what to do in order of importance.

“We hope the EpiPens don’t need to be used, but as a physician, it feels good to know that these schools now have an extra life-saving device on hand in the event of an emergency,” says Dr. Bukstein.

Allergen Friendly Game at the Kohl Center

Allergen Friendly Game at the Kohl Center, Madison, WI


The UW Badgers and the

Food Allergy Association of Wisconsin present:



Women's Hockey vs. Ohio State

Date: Saturday, February 18, 2012

Start Time: 12:30pm

• Designated allergen friendly general admission sections -117/118

• Enjoy an allergen friendly concession stand

• All peanut/tree nut items removed from concession stand

• Ingredient listings available for other allergens



Click on the link for tickets $1.00 – Youth/Senior and $3.00 – Adult

Use promotion code "Allergy"

Go to http://www.foodallergywis.org/ for more details.

Chapter Meeting

Questions about your or your loved one's food allergies?  Join us for our next support group meeting!

Date:  Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012

Time:  6:30pm - 8:00pm

Place:  Holy Cross Lutheran School, Madison, WI

Topic:  Open Discussion

A Tragic Loss

Last week a young girl died at school from a peanut allergy. For those of us with children with food allergies, this is our worst nightmare come true. What makes this story even more unbearable is the fact that her death could have been prevented had the school reacted differently. If little Amarria Johnson had been given an EpiPen and 911 was called immediately, perhaps this child would still be alive today.

 Read her story here: http://www.wtvr.com/news/wtvr-chesterfield-student-death-20120103,0,4150762.story

Click here to sign an online guest book for Amarria Johnson’s family: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/timesdispatch/guestbook.aspx?n=amarria-johnson&pid=155347143&cid=full


What are some things we can do to prevent this tragedy from happening to us?

 - Before the school year starts, be sure to discuss with school staff about your child’s food allergies and give the school a copy of your child’s Food Allergy Action Plan along with EpiPens and any other medications prescribed for your child.
 - Ask your local food allergy support group if they are willing to give a presentation to your school district about how to keep students with food allergies safe in the school environment.
- Role play with your child so they know exactly what they should say and do if they think they are having an allergic reaction.
- Sign this petition to urge the U.S. Senate to pass the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act! https://www.change.org/petitions/save-allergic-childrens-lives-in-schools