Back to School with Asthma Toolkit for Schools

At the beginning of the school year, make sure your school's Health Inquiry Form includes asthma-related questions. Tracking students with asthma can ensure that students with the greatest need receive proper health services. Here are some tips to get you off to a good start:

• Send a welcome letter to all parents at the beginning of the school year that communicates the school’s medication policies and procedures and includes any required forms. Information in the letter may include how asthma treatments will be delivered based on recommendations from the CDC in consideration of COVID-19. 
• Set up an information table at Back to School Night and have a staff person available to answer questions. If your event will be held virtually, provide a FAQ section to address common questions and concerns as well as links to resources for additional information.
• Have an Asthma Action Plan on file for each student with asthma.
• Ensure immediate access to asthma medication by:
  • Using our Student Readiness Assessment Tool to help you identify a student's readiness to self-carry and administer their quick-relief inhaler. 
  • Adopting a stock bronchodilator policy to provide immediate access to quick-relief asthma medication to students with asthma.
  • For schools that administer nebulized albuterol, CDC recommends using precautions as nebulizers could be a potential risk for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. It is recommended that students switch to metered-dose inhalers with a dedicated spacer, if tolerated. If MDI with spacer is not possible, designated school health staff should wear personal protective equipment, isolate the student with nebulizer to a closed room (preferably with ventilation to the outdoors), and maintain a safe distance (6 feet or greater) or outside the door if possible, while still monitoring the student receiving the treatment. Proper cleaning and disinfecting of the equipment and room should be completed at the end of each treatment.

Poor indoor air quality can affect the health of students and staff. Many indoor air pollutants can cause asthma symptoms. Help keep your students safe by reducing or eliminating IAQ problems in the classroom by watching out for asthma triggerssuch as mold, pet dander, air fresheners and cleaning chemicals.

• Ventilation Practices
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends routine Heating, Ventilating, Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system maintenance to support healthy indoor environments. 
  • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) developed guidance about ventilation requirements during COVID-19. 
• Cleaning Practices
  • Normal routine cleaning with soap and water removes germs and dirt from surfaces. The CDC recommends cleaning with mild detergent or soap and water prior to disinfecting surfaces. You can learn more about cleaning/disinfecting surfaces during COVID-19 from the CDC website.
  • Custodial staff should verify the safety of products used in the school setting by using EPA-approved disinfectants against COVID-19 and be trained in the proper use of disinfectants. 
  • Six Steps for Safe & Effective Disinfectant Use

Offering asthma education to teachers, school staff, parents and children will make the classroom that much safer. Programs like Asthma Basics, an online course to help make sure the adults in your school understand asthma, also helps prevent asthma emergencies. Students with asthma can benefit from the Open Airways For Schools® program (children ages 8 to 11), and Kickin’ Asthma program (adolescents ages 11-16) where they can learn about their condition in an interactive and supportive group environment. Find more information on providing asthma education to school personnel, parents and students in the AFSI Toolkit.

Staying active benefits all students but may be daunting for students with asthma or their caregivers. Providing asthma education to PE instructors or coaches, managing physical activity and offering modifications to activity when needed can keep students with asthma in the game.