News Briefs

+ Habitat for Humanity earns grant for veteran program
Veterans will get the chance to help their peers as part of a new Manatee County Habitat for Humanity program made possible by a grant.

The Bassett Vita Vining & Hermann Group at Morgan Stanley in Bradenton awarded $3,000 to Manatee Habitat for Humanity for its new veteran home-repair program called “Vets Helping Vets.”  

For the program, Habitat for Humanity matches veteran homeowners in need of exterior home repairs to veteran volunteers who will work alongside Habitat construction staff to complete the repairs.  

Projects can include construction of wheelchair ramps, minor siding or roof repair, exterior painting or landscaping.  For information on how to qualify for this program, contact Didi Hager at 748-9100.

+ Scott signs school safety bill
Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill May 30 that makes it easier for schools to treat sudden allergic reactions.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron and Rep. Mike LaRosa, features a provision that pushes schools to stock an emergency supply of epinephrine auto injectors to treat severe allergic reactions.

It also allows school employees to be trained to recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis, or rapid allergic reactions, and to administer the shots when necessary, regardless of whether the child has been diagnosed previously.

It also requires school boards to list in their formal policies the names of emergency-response agencies responsible for notifying school districts of emergencies.

Those agencies must also notify private schools of major incidents, such as fires or attempted break-ins.

“I applaud Gov. Scott and the Florida Legislature for making this bill a reality,” said Brenda Olsen, chief operating officer of the American Lung Association in Florida, in a press release. “The prevalence of children suffering from potentially life-threatening food allergies has risen dramatically in recent years, and epinephrine injectors are the only thing that can effectively treat a potentially deadly anaphylactic reaction.”

Anaphylaxis occurs when the throat swells shut due to an allergic reaction, typically to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. An epinephrine injector delivers medication to the bloodstream that can treat acute allergic reactions and stave off anaphylactic shock.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control shows up to 25% of all use of epinephrine injections that occur in schools involve students and staff whose allergies were unknown at the time of the event.

Meetings & Agendas
• Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Land-use Meeting —
9 a.m. June 6, at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
• Manatee County School Board Attorney Candidate Interviews —
3 p.m. June 10, at 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
• Manatee County School Board Meeting — 5:45 p.m. June 10,
at 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
• Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Decision Unit/Fund Summary Review — 9 a.m. June 11,
at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton