An estimated 13.8 million school days are lost each year due to asthma. Sending your child with asthma to school can create concerns for both of you. The best way to keep your child’s asthma controlled and prevent asthma emergencies at school is to plan ahead.
Preparing to Send Your Child to School
These are important steps to take before and during the school year.
- Work with your child’s healthcare provider to create or update your child’s Asthma Action Plan and be sure the school has a copy on file. You should bring a copy of the updated Asthma Action Plan to school at the start of each school year.
- Call the school or visit the school/district website to find the necessary form(s) that allows your child to have and/or carry asthma medication at school. Fill out the form(s) and bring to school at the start of each school year. Save the prescription label for your child’s asthma medication to provide with the form/medication.
- Ensure your child has their quick-relief medication with them at school. Studies show that inhalers are as effective as nebulizers when used properly. School-aged children should be able to use a metered dose inhaler with spacer with proper teaching from healthcare providers, pharmacists, nurses, and parents/guardians.
- Assess whether your child is ready to carry and use their inhaler independently. Some children are ready to carry and independently use their inhaler. Others may not be ready to do so and should have a quick-relief inhaler to store at school, typically in the nurse’s office, in the main office, or in the child’s classroom. Help your child practice administering his/her asthma medication. Make sure they understand how important it is to always keep the medication close by and when they should use it.
- Talk with your child’s teachers to make sure they understand your child’s triggers and how to avoid them. Also make sure they understand your child’s asthma symptoms and how to respond.
- Make sure your child stays in the routine of taking long-term control medications if prescribed. Skipping doses can lead to increased symptoms and missed school time.
- Reinforce general hygiene, including washing hands frequently and sneezing into their elbows instead of their hands, to prevent catching upper respiratory infections that can cause asthma flare-ups.
- Keep up to date with annual vaccines to prevent viruses, such as the flu. Research has shown the flu can be more serious for people with asthma. Respiratory viruses, including the flu, can trigger asthma episodes and worsen asthma symptoms. It can also lead to pneumonia (an infection in the lungs) and other respiratory diseases.
Your Child’s Rights at School
Because children spend most of their waking hours at school, it is important that school staff are prepared to help your child if they experience an asthma flare-up during the day. Many schools require asthma management training for school nurses and at times, for other school staff. There are also policies in place that are designed to support your child.
Asthma Medication Self-Carry and Self-Administer Laws
One of the best ways that your child can take care of themselves is to always keep their quick-relief medication with them. There are laws in all 50 states that allow your student to keep their prescribed medicine with them at school and take it as needed. Your child has the right to keep their medication on their body (or in their backpack) for use as needed. Schools can no longer require that medications be held in the school nurse’s office.
Be sure to save your child’s asthma inhaler prescription label from the pharmacy. In many states, the school will need to see this packaging and will have a consent form for parents and guardians to sign. Contact your child’s school before classes begin to receive and complete the necessary forms.
Before sending your child to school with their asthma inhaler, it’s a good idea to talk with their healthcare provider and school nurse. You want to make sure your child knows when to use their medication and can administer it correctly.
Undesignated Stock Albuterol Laws and Guidelines
Undesignated stock albuterol laws and/or guidelines permit schools to keep a supply of medication for asthma emergencies.
As of January 2024, eighteen (18) states currently have such laws and guidelines in place.
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
Training and reporting requirements are included in the laws in all 18 states.
Most have language that addresses the notification of parent/caregiver and liability concerns of school personnel who may be reluctant to adopt a program.
It is important to note that none of these 18 states require that schools have medication for asthma emergencies.
What are asthma-friendly schools
Asthma-friendly schools have policies and procedures that allow students to successfully manage their asthma. Research and case studies that looked at ways to best manage asthma in schools found that successful school-based asthma programs:
- Establish strong links with asthma care clinicians to ensure appropriate and ongoing medical care.
- Target students who are the most affected by asthma at schools to identify and intervene with those in greatest need.
- Get administrative buy-in and build a team of enthusiastic people, including a full-time school nurse, to support the program.
- Use a coordinated, multi-component, and collaborative approach that includes school nursing services, asthma education for students, and professional development for school staff.
- Provide appropriate school health services for students with asthma ensuring that students take their medicines and learn to use them when appropriate.
- Provide asthma education for students with asthma and awareness programs for students, school staff, parents and families.
- Provide a safe and enjoyable physical education and activities for students with asthma.
- Support evaluation of school-based programs and use adequate and appropriate outcome measures.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention