LegAlert

22 March 2010

Protect Students' Health

Urge Lawmakers to Reject "Unlicensed" Injections

Your help is needed right away to secure the defeat of two CTA-opposed measures that would jeopardize the health of students with special medical needs and put educators at legal risk should one of these students suffer harm or die.

At issue are CTA-opposed SB 1051, by Sen. Bob Huff (R-Walnut), and AB 1802, by Assembly Member Isadore Hall (D-Compton), which would allow unlicensed individuals to administer two dangerous drugs to students: insulin and Diastat.

Your action is needed quickly because the first of the two measures, SB1051, is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, March 24, in the Senate Education Committee. AB 1802 could come up as early as April 6 in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.

Background

CTA and a coalition of organizations representing health professionals and other school employees are working to defeat two measures that would allow unlicensed persons to administer two dangerous drugs to students: insulin and Diastat (valium).

Insulin is used to control diabetes, and Diastat is

used to control "cluster" or "breakthrough" seizures.

Both medications should be administered by licensed medical personnel, but SB 1051 and AB 1802 would allow teachers and other school personnel to give students the drugs.

Insulin is administered as a shot, and Diastat is administered rectally through a rectal syringe.

If either medication is administered incorrectly, the student could die.

If too much insulin is administered to a child, the child could go into a diabetic coma. If a rectal syringe

is used incorrectly, it could pierce the child's rectal

cavity. Administering the wrong dosage could cause the child to die from respiratory failure.

Given the fact the onset of seizures is not predictable and Diastat is administered rectally, classroom personnel will be unable to protect the privacy of a student while administering the Diastat.

CTA Coordinators: Contact Lawmakers