Ryan's Law has passed the third and final reading in the Ontario Legislature with a unanimous vote.
The law will now ensure all asthmatic children have access to their inhalers while at school.
MPP Jeff Yurek introduced Ryan's Law in the Ontario Legislature after the death of 12-year-old Ryan Gibbons. In 2012, Gibbons suffered an asthma attack during recess at his Straffordville school and died. He did not have access to his relief inhaler, which was kept in the school's office.
“Today is an exciting day for myself and Ryan’s mom, Sandra Gibbons," says Yurek. "It has been a long journey but the passing of this common sense piece of legislation will ensure all schools have standardized asthma policies. Going forward, the one in five asthmatic children in Ontario can attend asthma-friendly schools.
The law would also ensures school staff are trained to identify when an asthmatic child is having an attack and are able to deal with it properly.
“It is hard to find words to describe how I feel with the passing of Ryan’s Law," says Sandra Gibbons, Ryan's mom. "Today holds a lot of emotion for myself and my family with the passing of Ryan’s Law. It has been a long road to get here but it is a feeling of relief to know that all schools will have standardized asthma policies across the province. This day means so much to me and I want to thank everyone for their support and advocacy in helping me raise awareness about asthma.”
Yurek expects a policy will be place by the start of the 2015-2016 school year.
