Sen. Gounardes’ Bill to Require Life-Saving Epinephrine at Public Venues is Signed into Law

New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes issued the following statement today after Governor Kathy Hochul signed his legislation to require epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPens) at all large public venues in New York State:

“This is the type of policy that seems so obvious, you can’t believe it’s not already law,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “Anaphylaxis can be terrifying and deadly. Requiring epinephrine devices to be easily accessible to New Yorkers at public venues is common sense, and ensures families don’t have to live in fear every single time they go out to a show, a concert or a ballgame. I’m grateful to have worked alongside my constituent Lucia Zaremba, who approached me with this idea after an EpiPen saved her brother John’s life. Thanks to her determination, we’ve passed a bill that can help millions of Americans live their lives more safely and securely.” 

Background:

S.1078A requires places of public assembly with a capacity of at least 1,000 people—including stadiums, ballparks, gymnasiums, concert and recital halls, theaters, amphitheaters and auditoriums—to have available an epinephrine auto-injector device whenever such places are used for public or private events, and to have at least one person present who is trained to use such a device.

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. 

Lucia Zaremba, a Bay Ridge resident and Poly Prep student, began advocating for greater accessibility to epinephrine after her brother John unexpectedly went into severe anaphylactic shock. John’s skin turned blue, and as he struggled to breathe, he turned to their mother and said “I don’t want to die.” Luckily, their mother had an epinephrine auto-injector—commonly known as an EpiPen—handy. Moments after she injected John, his skin returned to normal and he could breathe once again.

The experience got Lucia thinking: what would have happened if John didn't have an EpiPen? How many children forget their EpiPens at home on any given day? How many people with unknown allergies don't carry an EpiPen at all? 

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.

Press Contact:

Billy Richling

Communications Director

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

billy@senatorgounardes.nyc

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