Emergency Nurses Association Praises Passage of Airplane KITS Act in FAA Reauthorization Bill

Schaumburg, Ill. (October 9, 2018) – The Emergency Nurses Association praises Congress for including provisions of the Airplane Kids in Transit Safety Act in the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill. The bill was approved by the Senate on Oct. 3 and signed into law by the president on Oct. 5.

The Airplane KITS Act requires the FAA to update emergency medical kits on airplanes to ensure they contain appropriate medication and equipment to meet the emergency care needs of children, including an epinephrine auto-injector.

Passage of the Airplane KITS Act has been an ENA legislative priority for a number of years. The association has supported the measure through its injury prevention coalition work and through meetings with congressional staff.

According to a 2013 study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies among children increased approximately 50 percent between 1997 and 2011. Congress has not required the FAA to update the contents of emergency medical kits since 1998.

ENA would like to thank Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Jerry Moran R-Kan., as well as Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-NY, and John Faso, R-NY, for introducing the Senate and House versions of the Airplane KITS Act and their subsequent work to secure its enactment.