By Emily Miller
As summer winds down, families across the nation are beginning to prepare for a new school year – whether that is preschool, elementary (or primary) school, high school or even college.
For those beginning a new chapter of their educational career, a new school environment could be difficult for students who have asthma. This could be especially difficult for those who have recently moved and unfamiliar with new surroundings or those moving away from home to attend college.
Fortunately the American Lung Association (ALA) has taken it upon them to highlight, education, and provide tips for families of children with asthma. With this initiative, the organization stresses the importance of crafting a plan to properly manage asthma in a school environment.
Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood disorders in the nation, affecting close to seven million children under the age of 18.
It is also one of the primary illness-related reasons that students miss school, accounting for more than 10 million lost school days each year.
Asthma is the third-leading cause of hospitalization for children under 15-years-old.
In 2011, one-third of people with asthma experienced at least one episode, or attack – with children 39 percent more likely than adults to have an asthma episode.
“Before shopping for back-to-school supplies, parents of students with asthma should first consider their child’s health for the time they spend under the supervision of school personnel and in the environment,” said Norman H. Edelman, M.D., senior medical advisor of the American Lung Association in a press release.
“They should work closely with your health care provider and school personnel before the school year begins to put a plan in place for good asthma control in the classroom,” said Edelman.
For over 25 years, the ALA has been closely working with schools nationwide to create safe and healthy learning environments with a focus on protecting the lung health of all occupants, especially those with asthma.
Last year the ALA launched the Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative Champions Awards to help recognize those schools that have been taking steps to create a safe and healthy learning environment.
In preparation for the school year ahead, the ALA urges parents who have children with asthma to compete the following checklists:
Step 1 – Learn about asthma
Learning about asthma can be easy, as the ALA provides free resources to help you, your children and their caregivers. Keeping asthma under control is key to lead a healthy and active life.
Step 2 – Talk to the school nurse
A visit or phone call to the school nurse should be your next step. Discuss what may trigger your child’s asthma, how to reduce them, and ways to manage symptoms. Additional forms from your and your child’s health care provider may need to be signed and stored on file at their school – in case something were to happen.
Keep in mind that all 50 states and the District of Columbia allow children to self-carry and use their asthma inhalers while in school.
Step 3 – Schedule asthma check-ups
Regardless is your children has asthma or not, a visit to your child’s health care provider should be scheduled before each school year begins.
If your child has been experiencing asthma-related symptoms than additional doctor visits should be scheduled.
Step 4 – Develop an asthma action plan
Each year your child’s physician should review their asthma action plan – written worksheet detailing their condition – as triggers and symptoms may change. A copy of the plan should be on file at the school nurse’s office.
Step 5 – Get a flu shot
Due to the nature of asthma, getting an annual flu shot will help reduce your child’s risk of developing a respiratory infection which happens to be one of the most common asthma triggers.
