H-1992.3  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1992

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Ballasiotes, Schual‑Berke and Rockefeller)

Read first time 03/02/1999.

Studying the need for emergency medical services personnel to be trained in the use of epinephrine.

    AN ACT Relating to the emergency administration of epinephrine; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that allergies are a serious medical disorder that affect more than one in five persons in the United States and are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease.  Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction.  Rapid and appropriate administration of the drug epinephrine to a patient suffering an anaphylaxis allergic reaction may make the difference between the life and death of that patient.  The legislature further finds that some situations may arise when the administration of epinephrine by an emergency medical technician is required to save a person's life and that it is paramount that these valuable emergency response personnel receive the appropriate training on the use of epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis.

    It is the purpose of this act to investigate the rate of anaphylaxis state-wide and the training and care standards needed to allow emergency medical technicians to administer life saving epinephrine.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  Using existing data and resources, the department of health, in cooperation with the house of representatives health care committee, shall review the use of epinephrine for anaphylaxis by emergency medical personnel and report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 12, 1999.  The report shall determine the following:

    (1) An estimate of the total number of expected incidents of anaphylaxis state-wide, grouped by age;

    (2) The approximate education and training costs associated with preparing emergency medical systems personnel to carry and administer a prefilled measured dose of 1:1000 epinephrine for anaphylaxis;

    (3) Any mitigating circumstances for the use of 1:1000 epinephrine by certified emergency medical systems personnel, including but not limited to, age factors, on-line versus off-line protocols, and specific signs and symptoms present before drug administration.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The department of health may establish a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of training emergency medical technicians to carry and administer epinephrine to persons under age thirty who display symptoms of anaphylaxis.  If a pilot program is established, the department shall establish a voluntary technical advisory committee to advise the department in the development and review of the program.  The technical advisory committee shall include appropriate state-wide organizations that represent emergency care personnel, individuals that are trained in pediatric emergency medicine, and board-certified allergists.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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