UWSP Hosts EpiPen Training and Certification

By Maddy Mauthe

UWSP faculty, students and community members gathered on September 27 to attend an EpiPen ceremony and training in honor of Dillon’s Law that was passed in the state of Wisconsin in December 2017.

UWSP is the first university in the nation to have EpiPen training events and to have trained individuals on staff. The city of Stevens Point is one of the first cities to push this initiative with support of the mayor.

Corinn Fritz, the student health director, said, “We’re the first epinephrine-certified university, and it shows that we’re really taking care of our students here. We are trying everything in our effort to ensure that they are healthy and well on our campus.”

Corrin Fritz hopes with an increase of EpiPen training offered on campus, more epinephrine devices can be distributed in dining services, Tree Haven, and other places on campus.

Dillon’s Law was passed in the state of Wisconsin in 2018 after Dillon Mueller suffered an allergic reaction from a bee sting when no epinephrine was available in the first aid kits of the Eagle Scout that was with Dillon or the volunteer first responders that arrived first on the scene.

Representative Katrina Shankland presented a bill-signing pen from the governor to various people that have helped with the passing of Dillon’s Law or played a part in training individuals and spreading awareness.

Among the recipients of a pen were Dillon’s parents, Angel and George Mueller.

“Knowing that Angel and George Mueller, Dillon’s parents, really spearheaded this education, awareness, and advocacy campaign to ensure that everyone has access to epinephrine is deeply inspiring to me. I always tell people that one person can make a difference, and Dillon is proof of that,” said Shankland.

After the pen recipient ceremony, a training course was presented where participants had the opportunity to learn to administer various types of epinephrine devices.

“My goal is Dillon’s Law nation-wide by 2025 so that everybody has a choice to carry an EpiPen or epinephrine auto-injector in their first aid kit and therefore can save someone else’s life,” Mueller said.

More information on upcoming EpiPen training will be on campus announcements.