SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson has passed legislation to ensure students experiencing asthma attacks can access life-saving medication where they are most needed.
“By keeping asthma medication in gyms and practice fields, we allow students to participate in sports and activities without worrying about access to medication,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Quick access to life-saving medication can make all the difference in an emergency.”
House Bill 4247 would allow schools to maintain a supply of asthma medication at practice fields and gyms and permit coaches and athletic trainers to administer undesignated asthma medication.
Asthma affects an estimated 201,000 children in Illinois and results in nearly 13,000 emergency room visits among school-aged children each year. Exercise-induced asthma – where symptoms are triggered by physical activity – can put student athletes at heightened risk of sudden respiratory distress.
The bill would complement the Resources for Every School Confronting Unexpected Emergencies program – known as the RESCUE Illinois Schools Program – which provides asthma medication and equipment to schools across the state. During the 2024-2025 school year alone, emergency asthma treatment was provided more than 2,600 times in participating schools, helping many students return safely to class without requiring hospitalization.
“There are countless asthma related emergency room visits every year,” Johnson said. “By enabling access to emergency medication in locations that students need them most, we are enabling schools to better protect their students.”
House Bill 4247 passed the Senate Thursday.
