Following allergy death, MKs address Health Ministry for policy changes
Several MKs have suggested different policies in order to best prevent cases of allergy deaths in the future.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, OMRI RONEpiPen auto-injection epinephrine pens manufactured by Mylan NV pharmaceutical company for use by severe allergy sufferers are seen in Washington, U.S. August 24, 2016. (photo credit: JIM BOURG / REUTERS)
Following the tragic death of Osher Deri from a surprise dairy allergy in a kosher meat restaurant on Wednesday, Epinephrine injectors have become a topic of discussion.MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism (UTJ), sent a letter to Health Minister Yuli Edelstien on Thursday, in which he urged the minister to make policy changes so that the first aid kits of all MDA paramedics will include such an injector. He claimed that it would be more effective than placing them in public places where only untrained individuals will be able to use them.Rishon Lezion Mayor Raz Kinstlich announced the installment of Epinephrine injector depositories in all food establishments in the city, N12 reported.They will also be installed in lifeguard stations on the beaches of Rishon Lezion, as well as youth centers, country clubs, and local pools, the report continued.Awareness of the severity of allergies in Israel has also become a topic of discussion, with many wondering what more can be done to prevent such cases from repeating in the future."I think the most basic problem is there is really no awareness in Israel regarding allergies, even though, that has begun to change in recent years. Back when I was in school, there was no awareness at all, the school even gave out Bamba even after I told them of my allergy," A woman suffering from a severe peanut allergy told The Jerusalem Post."Deri must have thought she would be safe there seeing as it was a Kosher restaurant, it shows that people have not learned of the dangers that such allergies can hold," the woman went on to say.She suggested that those with severe allergies take responsibility and always be prepared with their personal injectors, even if the site has its own."Staff should be trained in using it," the woman additionally suggested, "Since the one suffering from the allergy may not have had to use it before and could be too nervous to be able to use it, or alternatively not be able to get to it at all due to the allergic reaction."She conceded that the staff should have been "extra careful with the ingredients they are buying, especially since there was supposed to be no dairy there."
According to the woman, there is a lack of awareness and understanding of allergies in the country.Other MKs have also begun suggesting policy changes that would better help raise awareness and prevent such cases in the future.Yamina MK Idit Sliman suggested, in another letter to Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, adding to the MDA application an option denoting that the person in need of treatment requires an Epinephrine shot.Sliman wrote that food should have a QR code available for customers to quickly scan and be directed to the MDA application.The letter also mentioned the establishment of a national campaign to raise the public's awareness of, and ability to quickly identify an allergic reaction, as well train the people how to treat it.Deri died tragically on Wednesday after eating what appeared to be a dairy dessert at a kosher meat restaurant in Rosh Pina.She was taken to the Ziv Medical Center in Safed, where she passed away.The restaurant has since closed, and the owners and staff are under investigation for negligent actions that may have led to her death.
