Board Passes “Gio’s Law” to Save More Lives in Allergy Emergencies

Photo credit: Westchester County Board of Legislators

Originally published by the Westchester County Board of Legislators

Families across Westchester will soon have greater peace of mind knowing that first responders will be ready to act quickly during life-threatening allergy emergencies.

Tonight, the Westchester County Board of Legislators unanimously passed the Giovanni Cipriano Act, a new law requiring the County’s Commissioner of Public Safety to take steps to equip all eligible County police officers with epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens), which can stop severe allergic reactions.

Named for a 14-year-old New Yorker who died after unknowingly eating peanuts in trail mix, “Gio’s Law” is designed to save lives by ensuring County officers—often the first to arrive when someone calls 911—are prepared to act quickly in cases of anaphylaxis.

After a local family affected by severe food allergies brought the law to the attention of Board Chairman Vedat Gashi, he spearheaded a bipartisan bill, which is co-sponsored by every Legislator on the Board.

This local action was made possible by “Gio’s Law,” New York Public Health Law 3000-c, which authorizes counties to pass legislation allowing certain emergency responders, including law enforcement officers, to carry and administer epinephrine following appropriate training.

By adopting this measure, Westchester is making full use of the state’s framework to bring faster access to lifesaving treatment for residents. With its passage, Westchester becomes just the second of New York State’s 62 counties to enact this legislation.

Board Chairman Vedat Gashi (D- New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown) said, “When a constituent reached out asking us to help families struggling with potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, I knew Westchester needed to do everything it could. Too many families, including my own, live with the daily fear of a severe allergic reaction, and this law will help ensure that first responders are ready to save lives. I’m proud that the entire Board voted to make this commonsense step a reality.”

Majority Whip Terry Clements (D- New Rochelle, Pelham, Pelham Manor), Chair of the Board’s Public Safety Committee, said, “This is a simple, life-saving measure. Giving our officers epinephrine auto-injectors means they can act fast and protect residents when it matters most.”

Legislator Colin D. Smith (D- Cortlandt, Peekskill, Yorktown), Chair of the Board’s Legislation Committee, said, “We have heard heartbreaking stories, including the tragic deaths of children, due to the lack of immediate access to life-saving treatment. This Act takes a crucial step forward by ensuring our officers have both the tools and training to respond in those critical moments. I am proud to support legislation that will help prevent these tragedies in our community.”

Legislator Nancy E. Barr (D- Harrison, Port Chester, Rye Brook), Chair of the Board’s Human Services Committee, said, “For an individual experiencing a life-threatening allergic reaction, the quick administration of epinephrine is a matter of life and death, so training and supplying our County public safety officers with epinephrine auto-injectors is sure to save lives. I hope that the passage of this law at the County level will encourage all of Westchester’s cities, towns and villages to adopt a similar law in their local municipality if they have not already done so.”

Jared Saiontz, a Horace Greeley High School student who proposed the law to Chairman Gashi, said, “I am one of the 32 million Americans who live with life-threatening food allergies. The Giovanni Cipriano Act will be life-saving because it ensures that first responders have the tools—both training and epinephrine—to help save a life during an anaphylactic reaction.”

Chappaqua resident Stacey Saiontz, said, “I am so proud of my son, Jared, who was born with 26 anaphylactic allergies, for proposing this important legislation to Vedat Gashi, who listened and took action! The Giovanni Cipriano Act, named after our friend Georgina’s son, who sadly lost his life to an anaphylactic reaction, will provide Westchester County public safety officers with the tools they need to respond to an anaphylactic reaction when minutes can be the difference between life and death.”

Georgina Cornago, founder of The Love for Giovanni Foundation, said, “I am deeply grateful to the Westchester County Board of Legislators for adopting the Giovanni Cipriano Act. This is a vital, common-sense law that will save lives by ensuring public safety officers are trained and equipped with epinephrine auto-injectors. Food allergies affect more than 33 million Americans, and up to 25% of severe reactions occur in people who were previously undiagnosed—not only from food, but also from insect stings and even medications, where epinephrine may not already be prescribed. In these moments, every second counts, and having epinephrine only minutes away can mean the difference between life and death. We have already seen this proven in places like Lynbrook, where Giovanni’s Law first began and has already saved lives, and in Suffolk County, where within days of officers being equipped with epinephrine, they responded to an emergency call for a man in distress. Thanks to the quick actions of those amazing officers—and the availability of epinephrine—Greg Conrad, who required three doses, is alive today. With each county that joins this mission, we honor Giovanni’s memory and keep my promise to him, and to countless others like him, by building safer communities for all.”

Cornago worked with U.S. Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), who is also championing “Gio’s Law,” bipartisan federal legislation, to equip police officers nationwide with epinephrine auto-injectors and training.