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1/6/2012
Brian Beckcom
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Seven Year Old Dies Under School's Watch

7-year-old Ammaria Johnson is dead after suffering an allergic reaction from a peanut product. Emergency crews arrived at Hopkins Elementary School on Monday, but not in time to save the child. Johnson was already in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead at CJW Medical Center.

The girl’s mother, Laura Pendleton, claims that she had authorized an allergy action plan to give her daughter Benadryl in case she had a reaction. However the school did not give Ammaria the medication. Pendleton also says that she had tried to give an aid at the school EpiPen for emergencies, but was told to keep it at home. Epipen gives a dose of epinephrine which would have reversed the symptoms, giving enough time for Ammaria to be taken to the hospital.

Food allergies affect an estimated 6 – 8% of children under age 5. According to Maria Acebal, head of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, Ammaria’s death underscores the need for all teachers to have basics of food allergy safety as part of their orientation and continuing education. Acebal has since supported a bill that would let all schools give EpiPens to any student, regardless if they have a prescription.

A spokesperson for Chesterfield County Public Schools has stated that for any medication, the school would have to be in possession of the medication to provide it and that the medication they receive should be specific to that child, from the parent.

Pendleton has continued to claim that she tried to make her daughter’s medication available to the school.

If a loved one has suffered a wrongful death, contact the attorneys at V&B for a free consultation and free information. Toll free: 888-473-1258.


Category: Wrongful Death

Labels: allergic reaction cardiac arrest Child death death attorney died health injury lawyers prescription schoolboard victim wrongful death case

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