Your last year of high school is a mixture of joy, anticipation, and even a little anxiety for both your parents and yourself about the future. Breathe Pennsylvania can help high school students explore what to consider as you start this important transition from high school into a job, trade school or university.
You’ve probably been supported in your asthma management by your doctors, school nurses and teachers, and your parents throughout your school career, so you might be surprised how much needs to be considered to prepare you for independent living and proper asthma management.
Once you’ve decided where you’re going after graduation, you’ll need to start preparing to care for your asthma. Get started with this list:
- Talk with your parents or caregivers about your asthma management.
- Start ordering and picking up your prescription on your own to get comfortable.
- Become familiar with your insurance including what’s covered and what phrases like “in-network” mean and how they may impact your healthcare.
- Decide if you can still work with your current doctor for your asthma care. If you’re relocating, ask for a referral from your doctor and to have your records transferred to continue to receive the same level of care.
- If you don’t have an asthma action plan, ask your doctor to help you get started.
- Talk to your pharmacist to familiarize yourself with your medication, including names and purposes for each. If you’re relocating, your pharmacist can help you transfer your prescriptions.
It’s a lot to take in and it can be over whelming if you wait until the first day of the new job or school. Start now so that along with planning your future career, you can make sure you’re also ready to manage your asthma health. Taking these steps early can help secure a healthy and successful transition out of high school.
Breathe Pennsylvania can help get you started with a Student Asthma Kit that includes an Asthma Action Profile, to record how to properly manage your asthma, a free peak flow meter and spacer.
If you would like a Strategize and Be Asthma-Wize checklist to help prepare for this important transition or to talk with someone on how to get started, call Breathe Pennsylvania at 1-800-220-1990 and ask for Jeannie Simms or Jessica Schuman, or visit our web page, www.breathepa.org to request a free Student Asthma Kit.