A severe diabetic emergency can cause unconsciousness, seizures, or death within minutes — yet most Canadians are not trained to use Baqsimi, a simple nasal spray that can save a life.

Baqsimi is safe, easy to administer, and requires no needles or medical experience.

However, it is not currently included in Canadian Red Cross first aid training or mandated in schools, leaving teachers, coworkers, and the public unprepared to respond.

I am calling on the Canadian Red Cross to update its First Aid and CPR training to include instruction on administering Baqsimi (nasal glucagon) — a lifesaving treatment for severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes.

My daughter, Farryn, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just three years old. Since then, one of the most alarming things our family has experienced is how little basic diabetes knowledge exists outside the home — in schools, public spaces, and even some medical settings. That lack of preparedness puts children like mine at unnecessary risk.

Severe hypoglycemia is a medical emergency. It can cause seizures, loss of consciousness, and can be fatal if not treated immediately. Baqsimi is a needle-free nasal spray designed specifically for these moments. It is easy to use, requires no medical judgment, carries minimal risk to both the patient and the person administering it, and is safe to give even if the individual is unconscious.

Today, people trained in first aid are already taught how to administer EpiPens for allergic reactions and naloxone for overdoses. Baqsimi serves the same purpose: fast, emergency intervention to save a life. There is no meaningful difference in risk, complexity, or responsibility — and no clear reason it should be excluded from standard first aid education.

Including Baqsimi administration in Canadian Red Cross training would:

Improve outcomes during diabetic emergencies
Empower educators, caregivers, and the public to act confidently
Align diabetes care with other recognized medical emergencies
Reduce hesitation and fear when every second matters
Schools Must Be Prepared Too
This petition also calls for legislation requiring every school in Canada to have at least one staff member trained in basic diabetes care, including:

Recognizing signs of low and high blood sugar
Administering fast-acting glucose
Administering emergency glucagon, including Baqsimi
Children with diabetes spend most of their day at school. Their safety should not depend on where they live, how well-resourced their school is, or how loudly parents are forced to advocate. This level of preparedness should be a baseline standard of care, just as EpiPen training has become.

Why This Matters
Diabetes is not rare.
Severe hypoglycemia is not hypothetical.
And the tools to save lives already exist.

By modernizing first aid training and ensuring consistent diabetes education in schools, the Canadian Red Cross and government leaders can prevent avoidable emergencies and protect some of Canada’s most vulnerable children.

Please join me in calling for this change.

Sign and share this petition. Lives depend on it.

— Sydney Adams
Parent and Advocate for Children with Diabetes