HARRISBURG — Legislation allowing schools to use life-saving allergy medication to help students in emergency situations is on its way to Gov. Tom Corbett’s desk to be acted on, according to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Dick Stevenson, R-8th.

“EpiPens have proven to have saved countless lives, especially those of children, when emergency allergic reactions have occurred,” said Stevenson, who noted that one in 13 children suffers from a food allergy.

House Bill 803 allows schools to get a prescription for an epinephrine auto injector, known as an EpiPen. The supply would be in a secure location in the school.

It permits authorized personnel to use the EpiPen on any student suffering from anaphylaxis.

Stevenson said in a news release, “Families with children who have severe allergies take great care to ensure that exposure to such foods is avoided, but sometimes accidental exposures occur in settings not in the parents’ control, like schools.

“That’s why I authored this legislation, so that schools can take proactive steps and be prepared in the event an accidental exposure occurs and a child has an allergy attack.”

Once the bill reaches his desk, Corbett has up to 10 days to act on it.