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Asthma is the most common chronic illness among children. Most children with asthma have symptoms that can be controlled by medicine. Do not second guess the severity degree, because severity is not fixed. Severity can change with good management and good response to medications. It is important to promote to teachers the seriousness of asthma and not let the school community become complacent in their approach to asthma. Deaths have occurred in people with mild asthma that escalated to life-threatening.
Offer short training session for all school personnel
Step 1.
What do teachers and staff need to know about asthma?
Recommended action: Administer the Asthma IQ (I-1) true-false quiz at a meeting with teachers, staff and coaches to raise awareness of asthma.
Recommended action: Provide an introductory training session school personnel to assure everyone has foundational knowledge about asthma. Use the For School Staff - General Information about Asthma (I-3) to guide a presentation and discussion.
Recommended action: Distribute the Actions for the Classroom Teacher (I-8) to teachers who have students with asthma in their classrooms.
Recommended action: Meet with the principal and assistant principals to review their roles in supporting students with asthma. Use Actions for the Principal (I-14) to guide discussion and address needs.
Recommended action: Research has shown that children with asthma are at increased risk for severe allergic reactions to food. Provide a training session for food service personnel to increase knowledge about the linkage between food allergy and asthma. Use Information for Food Service Personnel (I-15) for training session materials.
What do teachers and staff need to know about asthma?
Recommended action: Administer the Asthma IQ (I-1) true-false quiz at a meeting with teachers, staff and coaches to raise awareness of asthma.
Recommended action: Provide an introductory training session school personnel to assure everyone has foundational knowledge about asthma. Use the For School Staff - General Information about Asthma (I-3) to guide a presentation and discussion.
Recommended action: Distribute the Actions for the Classroom Teacher (I-8) to teachers who have students with asthma in their classrooms.
Recommended action: Meet with the principal and assistant principals to review their roles in supporting students with asthma. Use Actions for the Principal (I-14) to guide discussion and address needs.
Recommended action: Research has shown that children with asthma are at increased risk for severe allergic reactions to food. Provide a training session for food service personnel to increase knowledge about the linkage between food allergy and asthma. Use Information for Food Service Personnel (I-15) for training session materials.
Support physical education teachers and coaches
Step 2.
What special considerations must coaches and physical education teachers provide to students with asthma?
A diagnosis of asthma does not necessarily mean that students should restrict their participation in sports or other physical activity. While some students may require modified physical activity, this is often not the case.
Recommended action: Provide an specialized training session for physical education teachers and coaches to assure everyone has foundational knowledge about asthma. Use the Actions for the Physical Education Teacher and Coach (I-9 and I-10), Breathing Difficulties Related to Physical Activity (I-12) and Ways to Help Physical Activity (I-13) to guide a presentation and discussion and distribute handouts.
Recommended action: Ask students and parents to complete the Plan for Staying Active (I-11), a worksheet that lists physical activities a student does now, ones they would like to try, and pledges to be more active.
What special considerations must coaches and physical education teachers provide to students with asthma?
A diagnosis of asthma does not necessarily mean that students should restrict their participation in sports or other physical activity. While some students may require modified physical activity, this is often not the case.
Recommended action: Provide an specialized training session for physical education teachers and coaches to assure everyone has foundational knowledge about asthma. Use the Actions for the Physical Education Teacher and Coach (I-9 and I-10), Breathing Difficulties Related to Physical Activity (I-12) and Ways to Help Physical Activity (I-13) to guide a presentation and discussion and distribute handouts.
Recommended action: Ask students and parents to complete the Plan for Staying Active (I-11), a worksheet that lists physical activities a student does now, ones they would like to try, and pledges to be more active.
Prepare school personnel for asthma attacks
Step 3.
What are the early signs of an asthma attack? or uncontrolled asthma?
Recommended action: Train teachers, staff and coaches on the fundamentals of identifying breathing difficulties and responding to an asthma episode. Use First Aid Tips for School Faculty and Staff (I-4) and Summary of Steps Managing an Asthma Episode (F-5) as the basis for a training session and handouts.
What are the early signs of an asthma attack? or uncontrolled asthma?
Recommended action: Train teachers, staff and coaches on the fundamentals of identifying breathing difficulties and responding to an asthma episode. Use First Aid Tips for School Faculty and Staff (I-4) and Summary of Steps Managing an Asthma Episode (F-5) as the basis for a training session and handouts.
