Legislation sponsored by State Representative Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) to better educate health care professionals about a rare but deadly condition was recently signed into law. Senate Bill 1814 will help health care workers recognize the signs of Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) and respond in time to save lives.
“I teamed up with Senator Neil Anderson on that because his legislative aid had actually experienced that. It was quite emotional for both of us who know Annie so well and to have witnessed her and her baby about dyeing. This is getting more and more common. It is serious business. So, the idea is that we need to educate and advocate. Educate doctors on what to look for. Educate mothers, expectant mothers, what to look for. That is what that legislation is about, advocating and educating.”
The bill also directs local health departments to alert the general public when a positive case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is detected within the local area. Additionally, two other Swanson-sponsored bills were signed. One of them, House Bill 2547, made a small change in statutes referencing the Department of Veterans Affairs, while the other, House Bill 3388 adds to the definition of “fire department vehicle” to include certain off-road vehicles and watercraft designated or authorized by local authorities for fire department use.
**courtesy of State Representative Dan Swanson**
Legislation sponsored by State Representative Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) to better educate health care professionals about a rare but deadly condition was one of three Swanson-sponsored bills signed into law on Friday.
Senate Bill 1814 would help health care workers recognize the signs of Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) and respond in time to save lives.
“AFE can strike suddenly and is extremely dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn child if proper medical care is not quickly administered,” Swanson said. “But because it is such a rare condition too much time can pass before it is properly diagnosed. This legislation will help to change that.”
In addition, the bill also directs local health departments to alert the general public when a positive case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is detected within the local area.
Two other Swanson-sponsored bills were signed on Friday. One of them, House Bill 2547, made a small change in statutes referencing the Department of Veterans Affairs, while the other, House Bill 3388 adds to the definition of “fire department vehicle” to include certain off-road vehicles and watercraft designated or authorized by local authorities for fire department use.
In all, six bills sponsored by Rep. Swanson were signed into law this summer. Earlier this month the Governor signed legislation to require higher education institutions to develop a policy for awarding academic credit for training which was conducted as a firefighter (HB 1149), a bill directing the Department of Public Health to provide educational material on its website about the tick-borne alpha-gal syndrome (HB 1754), and legislation making changes to the way online auctions and estate sales are conducted in Illinois (SB 2351).
71st District residents can find more news about the General Assembly and information about upcoming events on Rep. Swanson’s legislative website at repswanson.com
