Parents may feel concerned about sending their child with asthma to school. Will they be safe? What will my child do if they have symptoms? How will the school respond if my child is having asthma symptoms? The American Lung Association provides guidance to schools to put protective policies and practices into place so children with asthma can be safe and healthy while at school. During the 2020-2021 school year, parents are taking extra precautions to ensure that their children will be safe. The American Lung Association is here to help parents get prepared for this school year.
A few important tips to keep in mind for this school year are to:
- Keep asthma well controlled by monitoring symptoms, avoiding asthma triggers, using an asthma action plan and taking asthma medicines as prescribed, including daily long-term controller medicines.
- Keep well-child visits and asthma care check-ups as planned. Be sure to get vaccinations including an annual flu shot.
- Assess your child’s readiness to self-carry and self-administer their asthma medicines, and if your child does not self-carry, ask your child’s doctor if they are ready to.
- Request a quick-relief inhaler with a valved holding chamber/spacer to keep at school.
- Communicate early and often with your child’s school about your child’s asthma. Make sure you the school’s asthma medication policies and practices and the steps they take to treat asthma when your child has symptoms.
Is Your Child's School Asthma-Friendly?
Accounting for nearly 14 million lost school days each year, asthma is one of the main illness-related reasons that students miss school. From the classroom to your home, indoor air pollution from dust, fragrances, mold or even the classroom hamster can affect how children learn and harm their growing lungs.
- Encourage your school to adopt programs designed to maintain good indoor air quality and healthy environments in classrooms by learning the signs of unhealthy air, creating a tobacco-free campus, and adopting a school bus anti-idling program.
- Encourage your school to become asthma friendly.
How's the air at home?
In addition to your school, your home environment is equally important to keep asthma triggers and symptoms at bay.
- Keep allergens – including secondhand smoke – and sources of pollution out of your home and ensure your home has proper ventilation.
- Learn more about healthy air at home and how pollution can hurt your child's lungs.
Page last updated: September 11, 2020