Senator Gounardes Joins Young Constituent to Rally in Support of Life-Saving Epinephrine in Public Places

After an EpiPen saved her younger brother's life, a young Brooklynite began pushing for legislation that ensures epinephrine is available at large public venues like schools, stadiums and restaurants.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 16, 2024

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Albany, NY - New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes joined Poly Prep student Lucia Zaremba along with health advocates, experts and other lawmakers for a press event at the New York State Capitol on Tuesday in support of legislation that would require life-saving epinephrine auto-injectors, commonly referred to as EpiPens, in large public venues across New York State. The legislation (S.1078A-Gounardes/A.2885A-Rosenthal) would also require venue staff to be trained to administer the devices, which can quickly reverse the effects of life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Lucia began advocating for greater accessibility to epinephrine when her brother John suffered severe anaphylactic shock. Unbeknownst to John, he had become allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, legumes and red meat after developing alpha-gal syndrome.

“That got me thinking: what would have happened if John didn't have an EpiPen?” Lucia said at the press event. “It's scary to say, but I know the answer. He wouldn't be here today. And it got me thinking about all the places we've been where John had eaten and maybe he forgot his EpiPen, or where maybe my mom was too far away from him to give him an EpiPen. And it got me thinking about all the times he wouldn't have been as lucky. And I realized that we had to do something to protect people with allergies.”

Epinephrine devices are the only effective treatment for anaphylaxis, and such tools are already required in day care centers in New York City. To Lucia, it seemed like “common sense” that there be life-saving epinephrine in all large public venues, as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are now. She pitched the idea to Senator Gounardes, who introduced the legislation in the State Senate. Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal introduced companion legislation in the State Assembly.

“Anaphylaxis can be terrifying and deadly,” Gounardes said at the event. “This idea—that places of public assembly, large venues, should ensure EpiPens are accessible to New Yorkers—is a no-brainer at the end of the day. Because families like Lucia's, and so many other families up here, should not have to live in fear every single time they go out to dinner or to a public event.”

Senator Gounardes and Lucia joined other advocates and lawmakers on Tuesday as part of Food Allergy Awareness Day, organized by Allergy Advocates NY.

More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, and 20 million have food allergies specifically, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC says food allergies are responsible for approximately 30,000 emergency department visits and 150–200 deaths each year. The advocacy group FARE estimates nearly two million New Yorkers have food allergies—a number larger than the combined populations of Manhattan and Rochester. 

Media Contact:

Billy Richling

Communications Director

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

billy@senatorgounardes.nyc

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