A teen girl faced a terrifying ordeal when her school nurse hesitated to provide her with an EpiPen during a life-threatening allergic reaction. This incident raises serious questions about the care our children receive during school hours.
Fifteen-year-old Mia Thompson, a student at Lincoln High School in Illinois, experienced a severe allergic reaction after unknowingly consuming peanuts hidden in a pesto turkey sandwich from the cafeteria. Despite her lifelong peanut allergy and having confirmed with the staff that her meal was safe, the cafeteria had substituted pine nuts for peanuts. According to the CDC, immediate access to epinephrine is crucial for individuals like Mia to prevent potentially fatal allergic reactions.
Upon realizing she had been exposed, Mia rushed to the nurse’s office, where she encountered a shocking lack of urgency from the staff member responsible for her well-being. As Mia’s mother, Karen Thompson, recounted in a letter to the school board, the nurse suggested that Mia take an antihistamine instead of administering the EpiPen. Mia, aware of her condition, refused the antihistamine, knowing it would only mask her symptoms while the anaphylactic reaction continued to escalate.
What’s even more alarming is that the school had a detailed Allergy and Anaphylaxis Plan for Mia, which clearly stated to administer the EpiPen first. Instead, the nurse opted to call Karen for confirmation, putting Mia’s life at risk. During the call, Karen was horrified to learn that neither the EpiPen had been given nor had 911 been called. “I was stunned that a trained medical professional would disregard established protocols,” she expressed.
Even after 911 was called, the situation became even more distressing when school officials decided to send Mia to the hospital alone, without any staff member to accompany her. Karen voiced her disbelief at the lack of compassion and basic sense that led to such a decision, emphasizing that in a life-threatening situation, a minor should never be sent off solo.
Allergies are no joke—many kids know how to use an EpiPen by the time they reach middle school. If children can be taught the importance of these devices, surely the adults charged with their safety should be equally informed. The school district has since publicly apologized for the incident and agreed to cover Mia’s medical expenses, but the nurse who delayed treatment remains employed.
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In summary, Mia’s distressing experience highlights the urgent need for proper training and protocol adherence among school staff in handling severe allergies. It’s a stark reminder that in emergencies, every second counts, and children must be prioritized in their care.