Asthma Action Plan for children

✅ No. 2 pencils
✅ Notebooks
✅ New lunchbox
✅ Asthma action plan

The beginning of the school year means stocking up on new supplies, getting vaccinations and attending student orientation and open houses. For children with asthma, the list of preparations is a little longer, but having a plan ensures a safe and healthy school year.

Creating an Asthma Action Plan

Carey Smith, RRT, lead asthma educator for THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children's Hospital, has six tips for how parents of children with asthma can set their kids up for success this school year.

1. Make sure your child’s inhaler is ready.

“Check it to ensure it’s not expired and it still has medication in the canister. I prefer any child have a new meter dose inhaler (MDI) before going back to school, but make sure it still has at least 100 inhalations and that your child also has a spacer device to use with their MDI for school," Smith said.

2. Meet your child's teacher before school starts.

“Attend the school’s open house or make an appointment before school starts to speak with the teacher,” Smith said. “Ask them if they're familiar with asthma, and make sure they know the signs to look for like wheezing and coughing. If there's a school nurse on campus, I would recommend also speaking with them beforehand. It makes a huge difference when you can trust who you’re leaving your child with, and they know when to call you if a medical situation arises while your child is at school.”

3. Provide the teacher and school nurse with your child’s Asthma Action Plan.

“Take your son or daughter’s Asthma Action Plan with you. This will show the teacher and the nurse which medications your child is taking, how often they’re supposed to take them, and detailed steps to take in an emergency,” said Smith. “The plan is a crucial part of your child's back-to-school preparations and an important document for a teacher or school nurse to have.”

4. Update your child’s Asthma Action Plan each year.

“There’s a line on the form a doctor can sign that authorizes that child to carry an inhaler at school. Parents should complete a new one every year, or every time the child gets a new medication. We recommend providing one copy to the teacher and one to the school nurse. Parents should also keep a copy for themselves at home,” Smith said.

5. Take your child to get the flu shot early.

“Kids with asthma are more susceptible to respiratory viruses and infections, and they tend to get sicker a lot easier,” said Smith. She reminded parents there have been flu vaccine shortages in the past few years and advised taking your child to the pediatrician’s office early to ensure they can receive the shot before school starts.

Of course, getting vaccinated only protects against the flu, but other illnesses can be prevented if you remind your child to wash his hands regularly to stay healthy year-round.

6. Talk to your child about how to get help in an emergency.

“Sometimes, adults find children with asthma in the bathroom because they’re having an attack and they get embarrassed. By the time someone finds them, they’re really sick. Talk to your kids about telling their teacher or another adult when something is wrong,” said Smith.