Back to school with asthma

July 3, 2024

A classroom is set up in a room with large sunny windows in the upper left corner. There are student desks organized in rows facing the teacher's desk and a large white board to the upper right hand corner of the image.

During back to school season, it is important to take extra steps to help students with asthma be prepared. Having a student with asthma requires families, school nurses, teachers, and administrators to work together and come prepared with plans to support the student.

Families can make sure their child is ready for the school year through these tips:

Assess your child’s readiness to self-carry medication in the classroom. The American Lung Association has a Self-Carry Assessment tool to help you determine if your child is ready to self-carry.
The Asthma & Allergy Network Back to School Checklist is a great place to start preparing to return to school.
Complete the American Lung Association’s Asthma Action Plan with your school nurse and student.
Air quality can be a trigger for some students, regularly checking your air quality at AirNOW can help students be prepared for the day ahead.
Connect with your classroom teacher, school nurse, physical education teachers, and any coaches to share your asthma action plan and make them aware of any triggers and what should be done in an emergency.

School staff can also make school a safe place for students with asthma using these tips:

The American Lung Association provides a useful Asthma-Friendly Schools initiative toolkit to help schools manage asthma in school.
Athletics can be a trigger but also a healthy choice for students with asthma. Athletes and Asthma: The Community Coaches Role Course is a way for physical education teachers and coaches to support students with asthma.
Air quality can be a trigger for some students, starting an Air Quality Flag program at your school can help spread awareness about air quality and be an educational tool for students as well.
All school staff members need to be aware of students with asthma and understand asthma action plans to best support families. Teachers, school nurses, physical education teachers, and coaches should talk directly to families with asthma.

Download and share this back to school resource and explore the Indiana Joint Asthma Coalition website to learn more about asthma and find other available resources.