CHAPTER 166 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 5008 A Concurrent Resolution urging the designation of school nurses as first responders.       WHEREAS,  Subsequent to the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001, anthrax was used as a bio-terrorist attack; and

      WHEREAS,  Children are more vulnerable to chemical agents than
adults because children breathe more times a minute than adults; and

      WHEREAS,  A release of a biological or chemical agent would affect
children first, they most likely will be the first to exhibit symptoms; and

      WHEREAS,  School children and teachers work in close proximity to
other people; and

      WHEREAS,  An outbreak among children could prove to be a launch-
ing ground for a wider epidemic; and

      WHEREAS,  School nurses are a critical link in our nation's health and
defense; and

      WHEREAS,  More than 47,000 nurses are in the nation's schools and
would be instrumental as the first health care provider responding to
affected children as well as alerting authorities so fewer health problems
or deaths occur: Now, therefore,

      Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas,
the Senate concurring therein: That we urge state and local officials to
designate school nurses as first responders to a biological or chemical
attack; and

      Be it further resolved: That state and local representatives remove
any legal or regulatory barriers that would prevent a school nurse from
responding to a biological or chemical attack; and

      Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of State is directed to send
an enrolled copy of this resolution to the state board of education, the
board of nursing and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

 Adopted by the House February 21, 2002.
Adopted by the Senate
March 26, 2002.
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