WASHINGTON – Wednesday, Senators Mike Braun and Gary Peters introduced a bill that encourages states to train individuals to carry and administer epinephrine to someone suffering a severe allergic reaction.
This bill is inspired by Dillon Mueller, a young man who passed away in 2014 at the age of 18 after being stung by a bee and subsequently falling into a coma due to anaphylaxis.
He was unable to receive Epinephrine promptly, ultimately leading to his death. Coined “Dillon’s Law”, this bill would support and educate on the use of epinephrine across the nation.
“Dillon’s Law is a piece of common-sense legislation that can prevent hundreds of tragic and avoidable deaths every year. Training people on how to provide lifesaving care and guaranteeing that good Samaritans are protected from the threat of civil litigation is vital. Legislation like this has worked in Indiana, and I believe it can work on a national level as well,” said Senator Braun.
“Encouraging states to train, certify, and enable good Samaritans to act in time to save lives is commonsense policy. We know programs like this work in Michigan, so I was proud to help lead this bipartisan, bicameral bill that would implement these incentives nationwide, empowering more people to step in and help prevent a heartbreaking loss,” said Senator Peters.
“We’d like to thank Senator Braun for introducing Dillon’s Law in the Senate. Some people don’t learn they have life-threatening anaphylaxis until they first experience a severe allergic reaction. In those cases, immediate access to epinephrine can save their life. This legislation will create incentives for people to receive training on recognizing a life-threatening anaphylaxis episode, administering life-saving epinephrine, and being free from legal liability as a good Samaritan. The passage of this law means a trained bystander can help save someone’s life who is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction,” said Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
“We are humbled that Senator Braun is listening to our family’s story and grateful for his willingness to act positively on this bill. By doing so, we can and will save lives. Our son, Dillon, couldn’t be saved because the measures proposed in this bill weren’t in place at the time he died from a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), to a bee sting. The prevalence of anaphylaxis is increasing exponentially in the U.S. and by passing this bill, we can dramatically increase the odds that people will survive. We don’t want anyone to suffer the tragedy we did, especially when steps can be taken to save lives. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has sponsored, endorsed, and supported our efforts to pass Dillon’s Law nationwide and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for moving this forward,” said Angel and George Mueller, Dillon’s Parents.
DILLON’S LAW:
- Creates a grant preference under an existing federal grant program for states that allow trained individuals to carry and administer Epinephrine to an individual suffering from a severe allergic reaction.
- Provides a civil liability protection law for trained individuals to another person reasonably believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction.
This legislation is endorsed by the Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), the Elijah-Alavi Foundation, and the Dillon Mueller Memorial Fund.
