How Can Schools Help Children with Asthma?

One in every thirteen school-aged children has asthma. Since these children, like all children, spend a great deal of time in school, schools must be able to understand asthma. School staff needs to work together to prevent or help control asthma symptoms for students with asthma. Schools should aim to create a supportive environment so students with asthma are not embarrassed about their asthma.

The best way to handle asthma at school is to create a school asthma management plan. This plan should outline the procedures the school will take to ensure good asthma care for students with asthma. A school asthma management plan should include the following:

• Policies regarding medications including where they will be kept, who will dispense them, and policies on self-carrying (see the Minnesota Asthma Inhaler law for more information on self-carrying of inhalers).
• What are the procedures for an asthma-related emergency in the classroom? In the lunchroom? On the bus? In the gym? At recess?
• When and where will a school nurse be available? Who should be contacted if the school nurse is not available?
• What education will be provided to teachers and school staff? What resources will be available?
• What is the school policy for allowing students to go outside for recess/gym class on high pollen and/or high ozone/pollution days?
• Which students have serious asthma or allergic conditions?
• How will school staff be made aware of these students? How will the information kept confidential?

In addition to a school-wide management plan, each student should have their own individualized asthma action plan on file with the school nurse. This plan should come from the student's primary care provider. A student's asthma action plan should contain the following information:

• Medications taken, including how, when, and potential side effects.
• Asthma triggers (if known)
• Specific allergies
• When to take a peak flow reading
• What might signal a potential emergency
• What to do in the event of an emergency
• Parent and healthcare provider contact information.
• Other specific details to pertaining to the child's asthma.

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