New Jersey’s Benefits for Drivers With Drug Allergies

How much do you know about drug allergies? Physicians in hospital or office settings must be aware of any known drug allergies a patient has when they fill a prescription as well as being careful that they do not administer the drug to the patient while they are receiving a treatment type. If they are not careful, the physician could possibly administer a drug that is dangerous or deadly for the patient to take. This could cause adverse reactions, and the results can be quite devastating.

Some drug allergies can be minor and be viewed as an annoyance, while others can lead to extremely serious health problems or fatalities. A drug allergy can cause symptoms anywhere from seconds, minutes, to hours after the medicine was ingested or injected into the body. Some of the most common symptoms include hives or rashes, eye or skin irritation, facial swelling, wheezing, and anaphylaxis. Many people with an allergy have a reaction to sulfa drugs, anticonvulsants, and penicillin or other antibiotics.

New Jersey Assembly’s Approval for Drivers

There is a new bill that has been approved by the New Jersey Assembly for drivers with drug allergies. This bill benefits truck driver and motorists in the state who could suffer from allergies that stem from taking drugs like Penicillin. What makes this new bill so special and highly talked about? Drivers affected with drug allergies will be able to have any type of drug or medication notation added to their operator’s license to show others that they are allergic!

Assemblywoman Annette Quijano said that nearly 5.4 million people throughout the country are allergic to Penicillin and has commented on the fact that drivers licenses serve as a great place to put this information, since this is where people would likely look for this vital information in case there was an accident. As a result of this bill, the Motor Vehicle Commission would have to permit a license and identification card holder to indicate that the person is allergic to a specific type of drug medication. The reason for these identifiers is so that, when split-second decisions must be made regarding somebody’s help, this indicator could come in handy.

However, the good news is that this is not the first of New Jersey laws to help drivers with medical conditions; no, over the past few months, many different areas have fallen into consideration to help drivers live more comfortable lives. For instance, one law has made it possible for truckers and other drivers with diabetes to note the condition on their license. This is due to the fact that there are nearly 670,000 people in New Jersey with the condition. There is also something known as the “Yellow Dot” program, which provides emergency responders with critical health information for whomever signs up for the program.

As you can see, drug allergies can cause very serious and adverse reactions, sometimes even deadly results. For this reason, it is very helpful that New Jersey is considering the needs of its citizens in society, especially for those sharing the roadways. Safety is key to keeping others alive and well.