Erie County peace officers now allowed to use EpiPens
SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW) – On Monday, the Erie County Sheriff's Office began issuing epinephrine auto-injectors, or EpiPens, to deputies for the first time ever as an additional means to help save lives when there is no time to waste.
In their patrol vehicles, peace officers across the state have carried tourniquets, bandages, Narcan and other first aid items in addition to being able to use CPR training to help save lives.
But there are times when law enforcement officers arrive at the scene of a medical emergency even before an ambulance, and Sheriff Paul Sigsworth believed it was important for them to also have the ability to use EpiPens in the event of an individual suffering from a life threatening episode of anaphylactic shock
After meeting with local paramedics and emergency room physicians, he reached out to Ohio Senator Teresa Gavarone, who was immediately supportive.
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'I was shocked when seconds can mean the difference between life and death that that wasn't allowed,' said Gavarone, who sponsored Senate Bill 234, giving properly trained peace officers that authorization.
Gavarone said her enthusiasm for sponsoring the legislation was rooted in her own personal experience with a daughter who suffers from tree nut allergies and has experienced severe episodes of anaphylaxis since she was very young.
Among those who Sigsworth consulted was Dr. Donald Spanner of University Hospitals in Cleveland.
'I always tell our paramedics during training about the ones who die, die instantly, within minutes and terrible stories of children who get into nuts or get stung by a bee. Those people literally die on the scene and our only hope for these patients is the first line providers. Not just the EMTs and not just the paramedics, but the police who are there frequently before everyone,' said Spanner.
'I do believe it's going to be beneficial in the more rural areas, but it's not to say it wouldn't happen even in the areas that are covered by full time departments,' said Captain Dean Gasser of the Margaretta Township Fire Department, who was also consulted as a part of the process.
Sigsworth said, in most all cases, the patients already know their history and they also already know what they have been exposed to that triggered their episode.
'Normally what happens is we will get a 911 call and usually it's the patient themselves and they say, 'I just got stung, I just ate some food, I'm having an allergic reaction,'' said Sigsworth.
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That information would help peace officers when deciding if using the EpiPen is appropriate.
The legislation requires peace officers who are issued EpiPens to complete anaphylaxis training.
Erie County's EpiPens were provided by University Hospitals. The effort there was supported by Firelands Health.
Sigsworth said the medication would not be issued to someone who is already unconscious.
'We are not the medical experts. We don't pretend to be. We are certainly not trying to replace paramedics, but all we can do and what we want to do is preserve life until they can arrive and get them into a clinical setting where hopefully they can have a positive outcome all the way around,' said Sigsworth.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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