b'PACEP Hosts First Harrisburg Hill DayHave you heard? PACEP hosted adischarged with unused portions ofemergency physicians. Similar Day on the Hill in Harrisburg oncertain facility provided medicationslegislation has recently passed in South October 27-28, 2025! This strategicthat would otherwise be disposed of, atCarolina and Indiana, and several initiative was a year in the makingphysician discretion. PACEP was integralother states are preparing to introduce and we are thrilled with the result.to the conversations which resultedcomparable legislation.It was a great opportunity forin the amended version unanimously passing the House the day before ourPACEP also held an exclusive meeting emergency medicine physicians,Day on the Hill. We had a scheduledwith Secretary Bogen and her team at residents and students to meetmeeting with the bill sponsor, Rep.the Department of Health. Updates on with local legislators and policyBen Sanchez and thanked him for histhe overcrowding workgroup project, makers, build relationshipssupport. PACEP also thanked otherphysician-led emergency departments, and educate them about issuesHouse members and educated Senatevaccine access, the rural health initiative, important to us. We were warmlymembers about the legislation andand the opioid epidemic were discussed. welcomed, participated in engagingadvocated for their support. PACEP works collaboratively with conversations, garnered support forthe Department of Health and our our issues, and established PACEPPhysician-Led Emergencyrelationship remains a priority.as a leading resource for healthcareDepartmentsPACEP is developing draft legislation that mandates allEveryone who participated in PACEPs issues in the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania emergency departmentsDay on the Hill felt seen, heard and The issues discussed with legislators andbe staffed by on-site board-certified orappreciatedand thats not easy to their staff included: board-eligible emergency physicians.achieve in Harrisburg. And despite being A limited exemption is includeda month out from the event, plans areSupport of HB 156Carbon Monoxidethat permits physicians of alternatealready underway to make Hill Day an Detectors in Child Care Facilities specialties to cover rural hospitalsannual event so make plans to join us this legislation requires child caredemonstrating challenges in recruitingnext fall!facilities to be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors and ensuresSupport HB 156children and caregivers are protected from preventable poisonings. PACEPCarbon Monoxide Detectors in Child Care Facilitiesmembers cared for 32 people (28The Importance of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Safety in Child CareEach year, over 100,000 ED visits and 14,000 hospitalizations are the result of carbon monoxidechildren and 4 adults) with carbon(CO) poisoning.Children are at particularly high risk of CO poisoning due to their limited ability to recognize orcommunicate symptoms and higher metabolic rates, resulting in dangerous delays in treatment.monoxide poisoning as a result of aCO is a silent killer. It is colorless, odorless, and often goes undetected until symptoms likeheadaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue occur.carbon monoxide leak at a daycarePennsylvania Case Study: Allentown Daycare Incident1In October 2022, a furnace malfunction caused a CO leak at a daycare in Allentown.center in Allentown in 2022. No carbon32 people (28 children and 4 adults) were sickened, 19 showing CO levels 10x higher than normal.No CO detectors were present in the facility at the time of the incident to prevent this tragedy.monoxide detectors were present inSupporting Evidence for CO Detectors in Daycare CentersChild care facilities serve large groups of children. One undetected CO leak could lead to a masscasualty event and easily overwhelm limited resources available for treatment, namely emergentthe facility at the time of the incident.hyperbaric oxygen therapy.CO detectors are a low-cost solution that aligns with existing health and safety standards.HB 156 passed the House in April andThe Shapiro Administration has already provided free CO detectors to all licensed child careproviders in Pennsylvania, ensuring affordability is not a barrier to child safety.PACEP was advocating for support inPACEP PositionThe Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians (PACEP) supports HB 156, requiring child carefacilities be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors.the Senate. It currently sits in the SenateThis legislation ensures children and caregivers are protected from preventable poisonings,bringing Pennsylvania in line with national best practices.Health and Human Services Committee. Call to ActionWe urge lawmakers to support HB 156 and ensure the safety of children and caregivers acrossPennsylvania.1.https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/11/us/allentown-daycare-happy-smiles-carbon-monoxideSupport of HB 446Take HomeBrenda Dill, Executive Director800 N. Third Street, Suite 408-BHarrisburg, PA 17102Medications for Patientsthis(877) ER-DOC-PAexec@pacep.netwww.pacep.netlegislation ensures patients may be 16 PACEP News | Fall 2025'