Oklahoma schools are set to see a boost in their health and safety protocols with the enactment of the Emerson Kate Cole Act, which aims to improve the emergency response to severe allergic reactions in the educational setting. The new law, named after a young Texas student who passed away following an anaphylactic episode at school, will require public schools to immediately call 911 upon the administration of epinephrine, and calls for annual training of school staff on allergy awareness and the proper use of epinephrine auto-injectors.
Authored by Rep. Preston Stinson, R-Edmond, the legislation – House Bill 2047 – was able to glide through with overwhelming support and, despite a lack of gubernatorial ink. The bill automatically became law after the governor abstained from signing or vetoing within the allotted time.
The urgency and necessity of the bill were underscored by the tragic loss of Emerson Kate Cole, who tragically died after failing to receive timely medical intervention during a severe allergic reaction to food on January 17, 2023. "Parents deserve to know that if their child experiences a severe allergic reaction at school, the adults around them will know what to do and act quickly," Stinson said, according to a report from Oklahoma House Media. The incident sparked a drive for enhanced measures to protect students and ensure staff are equipped to handle such emergencies.
A critical element of the Emerson Kate Cole Act is its provision allowing trained staff to administer epinephrine to any student believed to be experiencing anaphylaxis, even if the student does not have a previous diagnosis of a severe allergy. "At the end of the day, this is about making sure there is no delay when a child’s life is on the line," Stinson elaborated on the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
