Is your child asthma ready? - Edition 1 - 2021

Is your child asthma ready for school?

With the holidays almost over, it’s nearly back to school time. But as you launch into the new school year, it’s important to help your child be asthma ready for school. Returning to school is a peak time for asthma flare-ups and medical emergencies due to asthma. But often this can be prevented.

Download the Back to School Asthma Pack to help your child breathe easy at school.

Make sure your child is asthma ready by following these steps:

• See your doctor for an asthma review
  This is a designated check-up for your child’s asthma, recent asthma control, symptoms, summer and back to school triggers, and medication use. Don’t forget to include a check on their device technique.
• Update your child’s written Asthma Action Plan
  During the asthma review ask the doctor for a signed written Asthma Action Plan. Schools and Outside School Hours Care will require an up-to-date plan for each student with asthma at the start of the new school year. Evidence tells us that using a written Asthma Action Plan to identify and manage a flare-up sooner can help to reduce hospitalisations, improve lung function and reduce the number of days off school.
• Reliever medication and spacer
  Check with the school about their medication policy and work with the staff to find the best way to manage your child’s asthma medication, including before physical activity (where applicable). Ensure medication is in date and with enough medication remaining. If not, purchase reliever medication and a spacer (and mask if age appropriate) for use at school and ensure the pharmacist labels medication with your child’s name and you label the spacer with your child’s name.
• Talk to school staff
  Make time to talk with the class teacher and the school nurse (where applicable) about your child’s asthma, their written Asthma Action Plan and their usual triggers, symptoms and medication. Also talk to your child’s sport coaches and supervisors of other school activities. Don’t forget to keep staff up-to-date with any change to your child’s asthma management.

Visit asthma.org.au/back-to-school to help your child be prepared and have a healthy start to the new school year.