Great news for food allergic schoolchildren in New York! Governor Eliot Spitzer has signed into law the Allergy & Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2007 (AAMA; A.4051), landmark legislation that will help protect New York schoolchildren who suffer from life-threatening food allergies. The Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of Education will develop anaphylactic policy guidelines to manage food allergy risks and prevent anaphylaxis resulting from allergic reactions in schools. All New York schools must receive the guidelines by June 30, 2008.

Here's the scope of what the guidelines would address:

• (a) a procedure and treatment plan including responsibilities for school nurses and other appropriate school personnel for responding to anaphylactic shock;
• (b) a training course for appropriate school personnel for preventing and responding to anaphylactic shock;
• (c) a procedure and appropriate guidelines for development of an individualized emergency health care plan for children with a food or other allergy which could result in anaphylaxis;
• (d) a communication plan for intake and dissemination of information on children with a food or other allergy which could result in anaphylaxis; and,
• (e) strategies for reduction of the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents including food and other allergens.

Kudos to the Food Allergy Initiative for rallying parents and support groups across New York State to achieve the passage of the AAMA!