The Federal Aviation Administration published a proposed rule on Aug. 5 that would change requirements for emergency medical kits on commercial flights, following direction from Congress in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. Instead of updating required onboard emergency medical kit contents to include modern, FDA-approved options for administering auto-epinephrine—such as autoinjectors and nasal epinephrine—the proposal would eliminate clear national minimum requirements and require only that airlines demonstrate the ability to respond to specific medical emergencies.
According to the Food Allergy Research & Education organization (FARE), this proposed rule gives operators flexibility but fails to protect travelers with food allergies through clear national standards for life-saving anaphylaxis treatment. Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE, said, “Far too frequently, we hear stories of passengers experiencing life-threatening food allergy reactions in the air, where there is no immediate access to emergency medical care. That is why this proposed rule is so deeply concerning. Rather than taking the opportunity to modernize emergency medical kits to include autoinjectors and nasal epinephrine for the treatment of anaphylaxis, this proposal lowers the standard in the name of 'operator flexibility'—a decision that could cost lives.”
Poblete also said, “As a clinician who has been called upon to treat a passenger experiencing anaphylaxis caused by a food allergy in-flight, I know firsthand how critical it is to understand what medications and equipment are readily available. A national standard provides certainty for medical professionals and in-flight staff who may be called on to help. A patchwork of airline-specific emergency medical kits creates unnecessary uncertainty in a medical emergency.”
Poblete further stated, “It’s time for the FAA to keep true to the intent of the FAA Reauthorization Act. Congress directed the agency to ensure lifesaving medications and equipment are readily available for use by flight attendants without prior approval from a ground-based medical professional. We call on the FAA to reconsider this proposal and strengthen the minimum requirements by replacing outdated epinephrine vials and ampoules with modern, FDA-approved epinephrine administration options, including autoinjectors and nasal epinephrine, to protect passengers when every second counts.”
FARE will provide public comment on this proposed rule change.
