Washington, DC - Today, Councilmember Catania introduced the "Student Access to Treatment Act of 2007," in order to make District schools safer for thousands of District schoolchildren who suffer from asthma or severe allergies.

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease. It affects 6.3 million children nationwide and over 12,000 in the District. Childhood asthma causes almost 5 million physician visits and more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year. It also accounted for more than 14 million missed school days in 2000.

Catania's legislation would allow students diagnosed with asthma or severe allergies to possess and self-administer prescribed medications or auto-injectable epinephrine while on school property or at school-sponsored activities. It would also require each child to have an individualized asthma plan and each school to maintain spare asthma and allergy medications for emergency use.

"Students with asthma or severe allergies should have immediate access to their medications in the event of an emergency," stated Catania. "No child should wind up in the hospital because their school failed to properly store and produce their medication on a moments notice."

Allowing the self-administration of prescribed asthma and allergy medications will reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, promote student participation in school activities, and reduce absenteeism. Approximately 40 other states permit students to possess and use prescribed asthma and allergy medications while at school.

View copy of Legislation