Asthma and Schools
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Introduction/Quiz
What is asthma?
Why schools should be concerned
Recognizing asthma
What triggers asthma?
Tips for managing triggers
How is asthma treated?
Handling asthma at school
What to do when asthma gets out of
      control
Asthma management plans
Glossary
References
Do you know enough about asthma?
Take this pop quiz!

Take this pop quiz to see how well you understand asthma.  Throughout this text, when you see a shaded term followed by an asterisk symbol (like this), you can click on the icon to see a quick definition.  You may also read the complete glossary.

Do you know . . .

  1. What asthma is?
  2. What causes, or triggers, asthma episodes?
  3. How asthma is generally treated?
  4. What the common asthma triggers at school are?
  5. How to reduce asthma triggers at school?
  6. Which children in your class or school have asthma, and what their asthma action plan contains?
  7. How to recognize asthma symptoms?
  8. How to handle an asthma attack or asthma episode?
  9. What your school's asthma management plan is?
  10. How to encourage appropriate physical activity for students with asthma?

Were you able to answer all 10 questions?  Great!  Maybe you can work with your school colleagues to help them better understand how to handle asthma issues at your school.

Not sure about some answers? Don't worry! You've come to the right place.

Most people with asthma live healthy, productive lives.  BUT, asthma also can sometimes quickly present a life-threatening medical emergency.

Our Asthma Essentials area can help you establish a basic understanding of all aspects of asthma, including how to manage it at school.  Asthma Essentials are written especially for people who work in schools for children in grades K-12.  You don't need any medical background to understand Asthma Essentials.  And the material is short and easy to read.

Research shows that students with undermanaged asthma experience various academic and social difficulties.

The number of children under age 18 who have asthma has increased every year since 1985.  In fact, asthma is now at epidemic proportions worldwide, especially among school-aged children.  So, understanding basic facts about asthma and how to manage it at school becomes a critical issue for anyone who works at a school.

Asthma Facts for Schools

  • Nearly 5 million children in America have asthma [1]
  • Nearly one in 13 school-aged children has asthma [2]
  • Asthma is the leading chronic illness which causes school absence.  Over 10 million school days are missed each year by school children experiencing asthma-related problems. [3]

Who needs to know about asthma at your school?

  • teachers and instructional assistants
  • coaches, recess leaders, recreation instructors or assistants
  • administrators and administrative staff
  • school nurses and health assistants
  • cafeteria workers
  • buildings or grounds staff
  • bus drivers
  • PTA/PTO leaders and members
  • students with asthma and their families

Asthma Essentials is just one part of the NEA asthmaandschools.org website.  Use our comprehensive database to search for all kinds of information and resources you can use at your school to help students, and their families, with asthma.  And be sure to check the glossary for asthma terms you want to understand better.

   
What is asthma?
Asthma and Schools: text links below
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Send comments and questions to: info@asthmaandschools.org

This site is made possible by the National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN).
The website is supported by Cooperative Agreement Number U87/CCU310178 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC or NEA HIN.