Morgan Penny describes how an adrenaline pen saved her life during a severe allergic reaction at school
Morgan Penny, a student from Bristol, stated that she likely would have died if her school did not have access to an EpiPen after she suffered a severe allergic reaction to a flapjack containing Brazil nuts. She was unconscious and not breathing within minutes of the reaction.
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New measures, known as Benedict's Law, will take effect in September. These regulations require all schools in England to maintain a stock of adrenaline pens on-site. The law also mandates that schools establish an all-school allergy policy, create individual plans for at-risk students, and provide training for all staff and teachers on how to treat allergic reactions. The law is named after Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old who died from an anaphylactic reaction to cow's milk at school in 2021. The National Allergy Strategy reports that the UK has one of the highest rates of allergies in the world, affecting 30% of adults and 30% of children. Gemma Blake, head of school at John Cabot Academy, noted that 20% of allergic reactions occur in schools. Dr. Anna Thursby-Pelham, a paediatric and allergy consultant, stated that while most children are aware of their allergies by the time they reach school, a small number may develop specific food allergies at a later stage.