At the top of your list of must dos for another successful school year should be preparing support for the management of your child’s asthma.
The whole process is much easier if the roles and responsibilities are defined for your asthma doctor, the school nurse, teachers, bus drivers, and of course, for you and your child.
Establishing a good network of care will help ensure your child’s safety, as well as encourage them to participate in all aspects of the new school year. Included in that network should be the school nurse, teachers, bus drivers, and anyone else you and the school nurse decide on.
You and your child need to complete an Asthma Action Profile verifying what you do and don’t know about your child’s asthma. It is important your child be included in establishing a current asthma record because you won’t always be there when they need help.
Next, meet with your physician, so you and your child can discuss and create an Asthma Action Plan. This plan should cover medications used at home and school, their purpose and dosage, and what to do if your child has an asthma attack at school. Make a copy of the one-page asthma record for the school nurse. Also, remember to provide current contact information and the needed medication for the school nurse office.
Meet with your school nurse and discuss what information should be shared with teachers and bus drivers. Your school nurse can determine the best way to share this information.
Having everyone on the same page will help support your efforts in keeping your child healthy, in school and ready to learn.
For additional information, visit breathepa.org or call 1-800-220-1990. You can also contact Breathe Pennsylvania to request a Student Asthma Kit which includes a free peak flow meter, spacer and an Asthma Action Profile.