Please support me in getting the attention of Secretary Buttigieg to require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to mandate all airlines carry epinephrine auto-injectors (epi-pens or similar) as a requirement in existing on-board Emergency Medical Kits on all flights. 

My name is Vikrant Hajarnavis and I have several food allergies. There are more than 32 million other Americans similar to me who have one or more food allergies. Thanks to the work of many, especially Mary Vargas, disability rights attorney, food allergies are a recognized disability under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). Additionally, thanks to the efforts of Lianne Mandelbaum of No Nut Traveler Inc., those flying with food allergies have a resource to navigate when traveling. However, no official guidelines exist to protect those with food allergies while flying.

On the ground, a food allergy reaction every three minutes sends someone to the emergency room. There is no emergency room access while in the air. Therefore, it is critical for anyone suffering from an allergic reaction on board a flight to have access to epinephrine. 

Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration requires commercial aircraft to carry at least one sealed emergency medical kit containing a minimum of 25 specified instruments and medications, plus first-aid kits and automated external defibrillators. This does NOT include an epinephrine auto-injector. The additional cost of carrying auto-injectors will be negligible to the airlines, but the impact of saving lives will be priceless.

Hence, I am petitioning for the following actions:

(a) Get the FAA to mandate the carriage of auto-injectors on all flights as part of their mandated emergency medical kits.

(b) Convince all airlines to voluntarily carry auto-injectors on all their flights (prior to mandate)

Sincerely,

Vikrant Hajarnavis

Rising Senior, 

Morristown Beard School, Morristown, NJ

#nonuttraveler
#foodallergies
#foodallergyawareness