Breathe Easy: Five tips for parents and teachers to manage a child’s
asthma in the new school year
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[August 19, 2017]
For
parents of the 6.2 Million children with asthma, 898,521 of which
are in Illinois, back-to-school can be a stressful time. According
to the American Lung Association in Illinois, it is important to be
prepared.
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“It is imperative that a child’s parents, teachers
and coaches are all on the same page when it comes to their asthma,”
said Lori Yonker, Director of Program Services for the American Lung
Association in Illinois. “No asthma is the same. Each child has
different asthma triggers, unique medication plans and a protocol
for their care. Every person involved in a child’s life needs to be
aware of the plan.”
In the U.S., asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalizations
among children under 15 and is one of the main reason students miss
school due to illness. In fact, asthma results in almost 10 million
lost school days every year. Additionally, asthma hospitalizations
increase at the beginning of the school year due to viral infections
and new asthma triggers in the school.
The Lung Association offers these tips for parents and teachers to
work together to better manage a child’s asthma.
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1. Make sure you have an Asthma Action Plan for your child:
Meet with your child’s asthma doctor to create a management plan to
track your child’s medication and healthcare needs. Medication and
environmental triggers are both important to the management of your
child’s asthma and are outlined in the Asthma Action Plan. Make sure
that all of the child’s teachers and coaches have a copy of the
plan. If your family cannot afford your child’s medication, speak
with your doctor about other medication options.
2. Meet with the school before the new year starts: At the
beginning of the school year, meet with your child’s new teachers,
school nurse and coaches to discuss the Asthma Action Plan. This
also provides an opportunity for parents to get to know the school
nurse.
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3. Manage Asthma Triggers in the Classroom: During your
meeting with the school, inquire about asthma triggers in the
classroom, including class pets, carpeting, food, exercise, air
quality and many others.
4.
Teach your child how to manage their asthma: All children, even
younger ones, are encouraged to learn to manage their own asthma,
including avoiding their triggers, recognizing their signs and
symptoms, and knowing when to take (or ask for) medications. The
program, Asthma Basics, can help parents and children learn about
asthma together.
5. Assess your child’s readiness to carry their own asthma
medication: In many school districts, policies are in place that
allows a student to carry and self-administer their own asthma
medication. Contact the school health services staff to find out
more about your school's policy and you can use this assessment to
see if your child is ready to carry their own medication here.
About the American Lung Association in Illinois
The American Lung Association in Illinois is the leading
organization working to save lives by improving lung health and
preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy.
The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four
strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we
breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and
their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related
diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association,
a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to
support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or
visit: Lung.org.
[Jill Thompson
Manager | Strategic Communications
American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest] |