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Handling
asthma at school
[Click
on the asterisk next to shaded terms for definitions.]
Children with asthma< a href="../index.html" onClick="MM_openBrWindow('../glossary/asthma.htm','termasthma','scrollbars=yes,width=400,height=300')">
come to school! School staff need to work together to prevent or
help control asthma symptoms for all students with asthma.
Your school should aim to create
a supportive environment so that students with asthma are not embarrassed
about taking care of their asthma at school.
The best way to handle asthma
at school is to have a school-wide asthma management plan, with established
procedures to follow for specific circumstances.
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personnel need to be able to recognize asthma symptoms so they can
work with students whose asthma may not be controlled or handle an
acute
asthma episode< a href="../index.html" onClick="MM_openBrWindow('../glossary/asthmaepisode.htm','termepisode','scrollbars=yes,width=420,height=300')">. |
Here are some general things
to consider including in your school's asthma management plan:
- What education will be provided
to teachers and other staff? What information resources are available?
- Will students be allowed
to carry their inhalers with them at all times?
- What are the procedures
for an asthma-related emergency in the classroom? in the cafeteria?
in the gym? on the playground? on the school bus?
- When and where will a school
nurse be available? What is the procedure to follow if the school
nurse is not available?
- Who helps students with
nebulizer< a href="../index.html" onClick="MM_openBrWindow('../glossary/nebulizer.htm','termnebulizer','scrollbars=yes,width=420,height=300')">
treatments?
- What is the school policy
for allowing students to play outside on high ozone/pollution and/or
pollen days?
- Which students have serious
or life-threatening asthma or allergic< a href="../index.html" onClick="MM_openBrWindow('../glossary/allergic.htm','termallergic','scrollbars=yes,width=420,height=300')">
conditions? How are appropriate school staff made aware of these students?
How is information kept confidential?
- Who tracks absenteeism?
How is that information used to help with case management for asthma?
In addition to a school asthma
management plan, every student with asthma should have their own asthma
action plan< a href="../index.html" onClick="MM_openBrWindow('../glossary/asthmaactionplan.htm','termactionplan','scrollbars=yes,width=420,height=300')">
on file with the school nurse. A student's individual asthma action
plan describes:
- Medications taken, including
when, how and possible side effects
- Triggers< a href="../index.html" onClick="MM_openBrWindow('../glossary/trigger.htm','termtrigger','scrollbars=yes,width=420,height=300')">
for asthma symptoms
- Specific allergies, and
their symptoms
- When to take a peak
flow measurement< a href="../index.html" onClick="MM_openBrWindow('../glossary/peakflow.htm','termpeakflow','scrollbars=yes,width=420,height=300')">
- What situations might signal
a potential emergency
- What to do in the event
of an emergency
- Parent and physician contact
information
- What medications the child
can take on his/her own; which medications require assistance
- Other specific, necessary
details
Children with asthma are usually
able to participate in any and all activities when asthma symptoms are
under control.
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