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11 NEWS REPORTER THEO HAYES HAS MORE FROM COLLEGE PARK. >> FOOD ALLERGIES ARE ON THE RISE. 32 MILLION AMERICANS OR 1 IN 10 ADULTS AND 1 IN 13 CHILDREN HAVE THEM. IT’S THE REASON DR. DAVID MCBRIDE AND COLLEEN WRIGHT-RIVA OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WORKED WITH LAWMAKERS. IN OCTOBER, HOUSE BILL 14-73 PASSED ALLOWING UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE TO CARRY THE LIFE SAVING DRUG. THIS WEEK, THEY’RE BEING INSTALLED NEXT TO THE AED DEVICE IN THE DINING HALLS ON CAMPUS. >> WE HAVE ABOUT 100 STUDENTS WHO HAVE SELF IDENTIFIED WITH ALLERGIES SOME NOT SO SERIOUS OTHERS LIFE THREATENING AND THAT NUMBER IS A LITTLE SMALLER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE SO WE THINK THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT SHARED THEIR ALLERGIES OR DON’T KNOW THEY HAVE ALLERGIES. THE EPIPEN GIVES US A SECOND LAYER OF PROTECTION. >> IT IS DELIVERED IN THIS AUTO INJECTION SO IT’S VERY EASY TO ADMINISTER AND WE TRAINED OUR STAFF TO USE THE EPIPENS IF A STUDENT PRESENTS WITH AN ALLERGY AND DOESN’T HAVE THEIR OWN EPIPEN. >> STUDENTS THEY THEY KEEP THEM INFORMED AND SAY THEY ARE A PLUS. >> ACCORDING TO RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN THE U.S., EVERY THREE MINUTES IN THE U.S. SOMEONE HAS TO BE RUSHED TO THAT YOU ARE A FOOD ALLERGY REACTION. >> A SERIOUS FOOD REACTION CAN BE QUITE RAPID SO ADMINISTRATION OF EPINEPHRINE EARLY I

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Food allergies are on the rise, with 32 million Americans, or 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 13 children, having them. That's the reason Dr. David McBride and Colleen Wright-Riva, of the University of Maryland, worked with lawmakers to get EpiPens in every dining hall on campus.House Bill 1473 passed in October, allowing universities in the state to carry the lifesaving drug. This week, the devices are being installed next to the AED device in the dining halls on campus."We have about 100 students who have self-identified with allergies -- some not so serious, others life-threatening -- and that number is a little smaller than the national average, so we think there are others who have not shared their allergies or don't know they have allergies. The EpiPen gives us a second layer of protection," Wright-Riva said."It's delivered in this auto-injection, so it's very easy to administer, and we trained our staff to use the EpiPens if a student presents with an allergy and doesn't have their own EpiPen," McBride said.When a student opens the case, an alarm will sound to notify a trained staff member that someone is in trouble. Students said the university keeps them informed about food allergies with plenty of signage and literature on the issue. They said the EpiPens are a plus. "I think it's really helpful because I've had friends with reactions and they didn't have one, so now at least we have them right there," said student Amaris Marsh.According to Food Allergy Research and Education, someone in the U.S. must be rushed to the emergency room for a food allergy reaction every three minutes."A serious food reaction can be quite rapid, so administration of epinephrine early in an anaphylaxis reaction is extremely important," McBride said.​