Press release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Statement of JoAnna Strother, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Oklahoma, in response to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signing Senate Bill 381 that will allow schools in Oklahoma to stock asthma medications for student use.
“The American Lung Association in Oklahoma thanks the legislature for passing and Governor Stitt for signing Senate Bill 381 today that will allow schools in Oklahoma to provide more immediate access to medications for students with asthma. Specifically, the bill allows schools to maintain a supply of asthma medications at the school, which students with asthma or believed to be experiencing an asthma episode can use if necessary. Asthma can be a deadly disease if flare-ups are not treated immediately, so this bill has the potential to save lives for schools that take advantage of this authority.
“Earlier this year, Utah also approved similar legislation, and at least 10 other states across the country have laws or regulations that allow the stocking of asthma medications in schools in place.
“Asthma impacts millions of lives and has a tremendous impact on our nation’s healthcare system and economy. In the U.S., more than 25 million Americans, including over 6 million children. In Oklahoma, 88,700 children have asthma. Asthma is also responsible for more than $50 billion annually in healthcare costs and causes 13.8 million missed school days and 10.1 million missed days of work.
“Now that this law has been passed, the American Lung Association in Oklahoma encourages schools in Oklahoma to take the next step and put in place policies that allow the school to stock asthma medications. The American Lung Association as part of its Asthma Medications in Schools project has a set of materials on this topic that may provide assistance on its public website lung.org
For media interested in speaking with a policy or health expert about asthma among kids or adults, contact James Martinez at the James.Martinez@Lung.org or 312-445-2501.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.
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