A Butler School District policy may have saved a high school student's life this week.

The school board at its Monday night meeting voted to formalize a policy allowing each schools' nurse's office to stock EpiPens in case a student suffered a severe allergic reaction to nuts or other triggers. The policy has been in effect for some time, school officials said.

EpiPens are loaded with a dose of epinephrine and are administered by injection into the leg when a severe allergic reaction like anaphylaxis occurs or is imminent.

The policy came into play Wednesday when a student suffered an allergic reaction at the senior high, said Superintendent Brian White.

While he could not divulge specifics in the case, he said the stock EpiPen was used by the nurse to prevent the student from suffering anaphylaxis, which can be a life-threatening situation.

The nurses already had the EpiPens in their offices provided through a grant.

White was thrilled that the situation turned out positively, thanks to the district's EpiPen policy.

“Thank God we had it,” White said. “Not the policy, the EpiPen.”

White said he understands that the student is doing well now.

“You have to pay attention to what the data is saying and continue to review your policies and procedures and protect your students,” he said.