It Takes a Community:
Helping Parents Create a Healthy,
Safe Environment for
Children with Asthma
American Association of School Administrators
National School Boards Association
Why?
Nearly three children in every classroom
of 30 has asthma.
 If uncontrolled, asthma can be very
disruptive to a child’s school experience;
at worst, it can be fatal.
 With proper management, a child’s
asthma can be controlled.
 Creating an asthma-friendly environment
benefits everyone.

What is Asthma?




Asthma is a chronic (ongoing, long-term) disease that
narrows the passageways to the lungs, making it difficult
to breathe.
Children with asthma always have it, but they only have
trouble breathing when something bothers their lungs.
These are known as “triggers.”
Each person’s asthma is unique. Triggers and symptoms
differ for each person.
An asthma attack is when asthma symptoms get out of
control.
When asthma is present, the lungs
show three primary changes :
• Swelling of the lining of the airways,
• Tightening of the muscle bands around the airways, and
• Excess mucus production, making it difficult to breathe.
Normal lung tissue
Lung tissue with asthma
Symptoms of
Asthma
A child may experience one
or all of these symptoms:






Wheezing
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Rapid breathing
Difficulty talking
Tightness in the chest
Asthma Medications
There are two types of medications to
help manage asthma:
Quick Relief Medications
◦ Taken immediately at the first sign of symptoms
◦ Should be easily available to the child at all times
 Controller Medications
◦ Preventive only; does not provide relief during an
asthma attack
◦ Usually taken at home

Medical Devices that Help
Manage Asthma
Spacer and Valved
Holding Chamber
 Used with quick relief
medications.
 Helps medication reach
deeper into the lungs.
Peak Flow Meter
 Measures air output.
 Can show signs of
symptoms before a child
feels them.
Asthma can be controlled, but not
cured.
Here’s what parents can do.
Action Steps
Complete and Maintain Asthma Action Plans
 Reduce Asthma Triggers
 Manage Medications and Master Techniques
 Encourage Opportunities for Physical Activity
 Establish and Maintain Good Communication
with School and Community
 Provide and/or Take Advantage of Asthma
Education

Action Step #1: Asthma Action Plans
An Asthma Action plan has all the important
information about a child’s asthma in one place. Written
by a health practitioner, it includes:
A child’s specific asthma
triggers
 Which medications a child
takes and when to take them
 What to do if symptoms get
worse
 When to call 911

Asthma Action Plans – cont.
 An updated asthma action plan should be
completed every school year and revised
at each doctor visit.
 Provide a copy to the:
◦ School nurse and other school personnel;
◦ Out-of-school providers;
◦ Anyone responsible for the child’s care.
Action #2 - Reduce Asthma Triggers
Triggers are different for every child with asthma
and may include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pets with fur or feathers
Cockroaches
Dust mites
Pollen
Mold
Physical activity
Colds and flu
•
•
•
•
Smoke
Extreme cold, heat or
humidity
Perfume
Cleaning products and air
fresheners
Action #2 - Reduce Asthma Triggers
Take steps to reduce exposure to triggers.
Ensure children with asthma have:
A smoke-free environment
 Pets without dander such as fish
 A dust-free and mold-free environment, cleaned with
appropriate cleansers
 Ensure A/C and ventilation systems are free of air pollutants
 No bus or car idling policies
 Access to medications before and after exercise, if in the
Asthma Action Plan

Action #3 -- Manage Asthma Medications


Quick relief medications should be easily available to a
child at all times.
◦ Self-carry for students who meet school district’s
criteria
◦ Back-up emergency medication plan for students
allowed to self-administer medication
◦ Parents obtain at least 3 sets of medications/devices
(for home, school, out-of-school activity)
Schools may be a resource to parents in exploring
insurance options to cover medication costs.
Action # 4 -- Encourage
Opportunities For Physical Activity
Regular exercise is important for all children,
including those with asthma.
Children with asthma, coaches, teachers, and out of
school providers should know how to manage
asthma when a child is physically active.
 Medications and individual children’s asthma action
plans should be easily accessible.

Action # 5 -- Establish and
Maintain Good Communication
Discuss the child’s asthma with school staff and outof-school caregivers.
 Make sure the child understands his/her medications
and is able to communicate their needs
 Inform school and caregivers of absences due to
asthma.

Action #6 -- Provide or Take
Advantage of Asthma Education
Review and assess policies to see if they are asthma
friendly.
 Attend training, and obtain and share information about
asthma with school personnel.
 Make sure that the school and district provide asthma
management and emergency training to all staff.
 Review the health curriculum to see if it provides
information on asthma and asthma management for
students.

NATIONAL RESOURCES









LOCAL RESOURCES
Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers
of Asthmatics
American Association of School
Administrators
American Lung Association
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Environmental Protection Agency
National Asthma Education an
Prevention Program/NIH
National Association of School Nurses
National PTA
National School Boards Association
Resources
Guide for Families, Schools, and Communities
Available on-line at Http://www.aasa.org and at http://www.nsba.org
THANK YOU!!
This presentation was developed by the American Association of School Administrators
(AASA) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA). AASA is the membership
organization for local school system leaders across the country. NSBA represents state
associations of school boards and their member districts. This presentation was
developed under a cooperative agreement with the Division of Adolescent and School
Health of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant number U58/DP
000398-04. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not
necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.