Edmonton – Hugh MacDonald, Alberta Liberal MLA for Edmonton-Gold Bar, will ask MLAs to support his Motion 504 today in the Legislature. MacDonald’s motion is designed to make schools safer for students with life-threatening allergies to common substances such as certain foods, latex, or the venom of insect stings.

The motion reads, “Be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly urge the Government to introduce legislation requiring all school boards to establish and maintain an anaphylactic policy that includes strategies to reduce exposure to anaphylactic causative agents, information on life-threatening allergies, annual first aid training on dealing with life-threatening allergies, and a requirement for every school principal to develop a plan for each pupil affected by an anaphylactic allergy, including the maintenance of a file for each anaphylactic pupil.”

Currently, Alberta has no legislation or regulations requiring school boards to take preventative action against anaphylaxis. Anaphylactic shock can lead to coma and death extremely quickly, making every second count when assisting a student suffering from a severe allergic reaction. Both Manitoba and Ontario have passed anaphylactic legislation with all-party support.

“Alberta’s school boards do a good job of maintaining a safe environment for students, but with anaphylaxis, prevention and the ability to respond rapidly are the best measures,” says MacDonald. “A single, provincially-mandated approach to anaphylactic incidents will give parents peace of mind and could very well save lives of at-risk students.”

Parents who have requested greater protections for children with allergies will be available to speak to reporters at 4:45 today in the Legislature rotunda.

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