How School Staff Can Support an Asthma-friendly School

See how school personnel can help ensure that students with asthma will have a safe and healthy school year.

Top 5 Ways School Staff Can Support an Asthma-friendly School

A new school year often means a new environment for students and staff, which makes it even more important to address situations that could impact lung health. Make sure your school's Health Inquiry Form includes asthma-related questions and encourages parents to have children vaccinated prior to the start of the school year. Monitoring and supporting students with asthma helps ensure that those with the greatest needs receive timely and appropriate health services during the school day. Here are some tips to get you off to a good start:

When kids are healthy and feel good, they learn more effectively. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is tied to things like spread of airborne bacteria and viruses, increase in asthma and allergy symptoms, plus headaches, dizziness, cough and fatigue. That’s why good indoor air quality in schools is critical.   Help keep your students safe by reducing or eliminating IAQ problems in the classroom by reducing or eliminating asthma triggers (e.g., mold, pet dander, air fresheners, cleaning chemicals), improving ventilation and air filtration, and using asthma-friendly cleaning practices. Visit the Clean Air at School page to build awareness about the importance of clean air in schools and to empower schools to take steps to improve their air quality. 

Learn more about asthma and prevent asthma emergencies with Asthma Basics and Breathe Well Live Well® Plus, two online adult asthma education programs to help people better manage their asthma so they can live more active, healthy lives.   

Schools can play an active role in educating students about asthma by preparing designated school personnel to facilitate an asthma education program such as Open Airways For Schools® and Kickin’ Asthma. Find more information on providing asthma education to school personnel, parents and students.

Staying active benefits all students but may be daunting for students with asthma or their caregivers. Providing asthma education to Physical Education instructors or coaches, managing physical activity and offering modifications to activity when needed can keep students with asthma in the game. Learn more here: Asthma and Exercise or distribute our First Aid for Asthma poster.

Learn about the Lung Association’s comprehensive approach to addressing tobacco use among youth which includes education, intervention and alternatives to suspension and youth cessation as well as links to our youth tobacco programs and resources. Schools can provide a healthy school environment by enacting a tobacco-free campus policy that includes e-cigarettes. For students that are caught smoking or vaping on campus, schools can provide an intervention program (such as INDEPTH) as an alternative to suspension, instead of punitive approaches to educate students about the dangers of tobacco. For students who are ready to quit tobacco and nicotine use, schools should provide evidence-based tobacco cessation programs.

Vaccines

Back to school means another year of learning. It is important that students are up to date on all routinely recommended vaccinations to protect against diseases like the flu, pneumococcal pneumonia and whooping cough. This will help keep kids healthy and ready to learn.

Schools can help families by encouraging parents to have children vaccinated prior to the start of the school year. In addition, schools can consider setting up vaccination clinics on campus to make it easier for families to get the necessary immunizations that will protect their overall health as the fall and winter virus season approaches. Avoid missed school days and learn more about how vaccines reduce the chances of these diseases spreading, keeping everyone healthier. 

Brace for Asthma Peak Week

Did you know that the third week of September is referred to as "Asthma Peak Week?" It is when annually we see the highest increase in asthma episodes and hospital visits. During this period, it's important to keep a close eye on your child's symptoms and follow the steps in their Asthma Action Plan.

If your child doesn't have an asthma action plan yet, now is the best time to work with your healthcare provider to establish one. The American Lung Association provides a template Asthma Action Plan that can be completed with your child’s healthcare provider and used to help assess symptoms and respond as symptoms start.

Page last updated: July 21, 2025

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